England - East Anglia • Private client
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP is known for its ‘strength in depth, and breadth of knowledge and experience’ in agricultural matters. Michael Aubrey who works in Cambridge and London, is head of the firm-wide food and agribusiness sector group, and he recently advised The Oxford Fund on the £60m acquisition of the Exning Estate in Newmarket. Catherine Scott, who joined from Howes Percival LLP in January 2023, now leads the Norwich agribusiness team and brings notable experience in advising landed estates. Amanda Tagg in Cambridge is highly recommended for her knowledge of agriculture property matters. Senior associate Louisa Butcher and principal associate Nicola Dernie in Norwich recently assisted with the sale of part of an estate comprising approximately 1,244 acres of farmland, woodland, and residential and agricultural buildings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘They have strength in the depth, and breadth of knowledge and experience in this sector. We have instructed them as a family for over forty years.'
‘Virginia Edgecombe has maintained an overview of our dealings with outstanding associates Louisa Butcher and Nicola Dernie - all work faultlessly, in a timely, personal and good-humoured way.’
‘Good speed of responses, reasonable costs, and clarity of communication.’
'They have a very good grasp of rural property issues. It is a large team who, between them, can deal with almost all issues that come up with rural property.'
‘Friendly and approachable, which makes the daunting task of instructing a legal professional that much easier.’
‘Every single person who worked with us was friendly, professional, proactive and empathic to our needs. We had complete transparency in understanding fees, what work was required by them and us, and the timescales. We had solutions offered when we couldn't see a way through and communication was superb.'
‘Louisa Butcher was superb all the way through our property matter. It was a huge emotional decision for us and there were, as is to be expected, obstacles along the way, which we were guided through smoothly. Nicola Dernie dealt with a farm purchase and was also wonderful, handling our impatience to get the purchase completed very well and and always giving sound advice with full reasoning so we understood the importance of thorough due diligence.’
'The team think logically and provide effective advice on both simple and more complex matters. They have an ability to identify the key areas and to find solutions to the satisfaction of the relevant parties.'
'Both Dawn Chapman and Louisa Butcher have the ability to communicate complex issues in a simple and effective way, including the provision of trusted advice and recommendations. Both over-deliver for clients and professionals accordingly, often within tight timescales and are a pleasure to work with.'
Key clients
- The Oxford Fund
- Oxford University Endowment Management
- St John’s College Oxford
- Albanwise Limited
Work highlights
- Acting on the acquisition of the Exning Estate in Newmarket which comprises 719 hectares of commercial, residential and agricultural properties including an Equine Hospital, 155-acre solar farm and 40 residential dwellings.
- Advising a company and its JV partner on all aspects of the promotion of a 1,540 home site at Bayswater, Oxford.
- Advising Albanwise Limited in relation to the relocation of a badger sett due to the installation of a wind farm cable easement, which includes advising on a deed to allow a developer to relocate a badger sett on land owned by Albanwise prior to the cable being laid.
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Hall of fameMills & Reeve LLP
Michael leads the firm’s national agriculture sector. His areas of specialism cover the acquisition and disposal of estates and farms, farm tenancies, joint ventures, development and promotion agreements, partnership agreements, contracting agreements. Recent examples of Michael’s work include advising a consortium of landowners in relation to the promotion of 400 acres of land for development, advising an estate on the restructuring of its agricultural tenancies so as to enhance the ability to achieve 100% IHT relief, restructuring the agricultural tenancies on an estate prior to sale of the estate and advising on the termination of a farming partnership.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Amanda specialises in all aspects of agricultural property law, with an emphasis on work for institutional and corporate clients that hold agricultural land as an investment, and on rural property development. She has very wide experience of most aspects of agricultural and property law, including the acquisition, management and disposal of freehold and leasehold agricultural estates; agricultural tenancies; single-farm payment; agri-environmental schemes; and diversification of agricultural land (for example, through commercial activities such as business and research parks, residential development schemes and energy projects). Her recent work includes advising: a private investment company on the acquisition of a 1,200 acre estate in Norfolk for £11m and in relation to the acceptance of a surrender by one of its agricultural tenants of a tenancy of a substantial estate in Essex and advising on the ongoing management of both estates; a charity on the grant of a strategic land option over 300 acres of farmland to a national housebuilder (with a minimum land value of £30m), the restructuring of occupational leasehold interests and management arrangements at its research park and the potential redevelopment of parts of the park; a private client in relation to the grant of an option to a supermarket chain to construct an eco-friendly supermarket and associated food academy on allotment and agricultural land in Norfolk; and a leading international university in relation to the restructuring of agricultural tenancies on its agricultural estate in Shropshire.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Michael Aubrey, Catherine Scott, Amanda Tagg