Murray Beith Murray LLP

Private Client - Rural property and estates

Partner and Head of Rural property & estates

Areas of work: land and property | agricultural law | land reform | leasing rural property | sporting rights | servitudes | registration | rectification of title

Andrew has many years of extensive experience in the Rural sector, including advising a wide range of farms and estates on property matters, both at transactional and strategic levels.

Liaising closely with Murray Beith Murray LLP Private Client Partners, Andrew recognises the importance of understanding both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ consequences of any instruction before instructions are put into action.  Given ever rising asset values and tax complexities, getting the tax planning and succession aspects of any instruction right adds real value for clients.

Andrew also brings a particular interest in ensuring that the structural aspects of both transactions and the operational and trading side of clients’ affairs are optimised.

Andrew works with a range of other advisers including land agents, accountants and bankers across Scotland to deliver the best outcomes possible for clients.  Andrew is always keen to meet clients on their property to better understand their affairs.

As one of a small number of lawyers in this Sector who are Accredited as specialists in Agricultural Law by the Law Society of Scotland, Andrew has significant experience in agricultural tenancies – acting for both landlords and tenants – and has advised extensively in this practice area.

In 2024 Andrew was appointed vice-president of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA) following his continued appointment as Legal Advisor in 2021, and a previous role as Secretary and Legal Advisor of the regional South of Scotland and Border Valuers Association for 11 years.

In 2022 Andrew became the first lawyer in Scotland to qualify for Fellowship of the Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Acting for a number of farming families and rural businesses, Andrew works closely with Murray Beith Murray's private client teams to advise on partnership and succession issues. Andrew acts for clients across Scotland and beyond.

Andrew is Legal Advisor to the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA), having previously acted as Secretary and Legal Advisor to a regional Agricultural Valuers body for 11 years.

Andrew trained with Maclay Murray & Spens and qualified in 2003.

Army officer, 1994-98; Tods Murray 2003-04; Turcan Connell 2004-09; partner (rural property), Lindsays, January 2010 to August 2019; Partner (rural property), Murray Beith Murray, September 2019 to date. Honorary secretary of Royal Scots Dragoon Guards regimental trust, and was Secretary of the South of Scotland and Border Valuers’ Association for 11 years.

Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers’ Association (SAAVA) | Agricultural Law Association | South of Scotland and Border Valuers Association | Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Agricultural Law since 2014

School attended: Rossall School

Universities attended: Dundee University (1991-94 MA); RMA Sandhurst 1994-95; Glasgow University (1998-2000 LLB); Edinburgh University (2000-01 Dip legal practice).