England - London • Private client
Michelmores LLP
The ‘commercially astute’ team at Michelmores LLP is co-led by Ben Sharples and Vivienne Williams. Sharples excels in advising on biodiversity net gain and other issues such as nutrient neutrality, while Williams specialises in contentious agricultural work and is well respected for her advice on an array of landlord and tenant issues, farming partnerships and co-ownership disputes. The agile team draws on the expertise of its colleagues to advise on a myriad of other issues from transactional property and strategic development work, to advising clients on planning and commercial matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘One of the leading firms in this practice area, with a number of very experienced solicitors who know a great deal about agricultural disputes’.
‘Ben Sharples: an outstandingly good solicitor, with an excellent grasp of the law and of the technical aspects of agriculture and property, and an outstanding tactician. The best there is'.
‘Michelmores is without a shadow of the doubt the most skilled, capable and impressive team of agricultural litigators and non-contentious lawyers in the country. It should be the first port of call for anyone with a rural or agricultural matter that requires specialist and high-quality advice'.
'It occupies a market-leading position and serves all sorts of agricultural and rural business, large and small. It has a breadth of agricultural specialists that, so far as I am aware, is unrivalled by any other firm'.
‘Vivienne Williams is a leading figure in her field and in the sector nationwide. She is exceptionally focused and calm, providing clear leadership and razor-sharp insight into both legal and strategic issues. She is assisted by a range of extremely capable and able associates with deep and reassuring agricultural expertise, including Erica Williams'.
‘A leading team of highly experienced agricultural and rural affairs specialists - one of the go-to firms in this highly specialist sector. Adam Corbin - calm, authoritative and knowledgeable, Adam is an excellent choice for any complex or high value matter'.
'Vivienne Williams - A leader in her field, second to none'.
‘Viv Williams - extremely able, easy to work with and very switched on. Charlotte Razay - future partner and experience of litigating complex disputes'.
Key clients
- Forestry Commission
- Clinton Devon Estates
- Environment Bank Limited
- Hestercombe Garden Trust Limited
- Pontypool Park Estate
- Nijjar Group Holdings Acton Limited
- Bradford Estates
- Foundation for Common Land
- Avon Needs Trees
- FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group)
Work highlights
- Acted for the defendants in the reported case of Williams v Williams and Others [2022] concerning an agricultural partnership dispute and claims in proprietary estoppel following the death of one of the partners.
- Advised the Forestry Commission concerning the first nutrient neutrality deal to be finalised in England.
- Advised the Foundation for Common Land in relation to two pilot projects in the New Forest and Malvern Hills AONB in the context of DEFRA's Landscape Recovery Scheme Test and Trial projects.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ben Sharples, Vivienne Williams