England - London • Private client

2

Agriculture and estates

Payne Hicks Beach LLP

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Payne Hicks Beach LLP has a ‘great combination of high-end private client expertise and a central London location, making the agricultural practice first class’. The nimble team works with the owners of over 50 farms, estates and country houses varying in size from 150 acres to well over 30,000 acres. Some of these estates are worth over £300m, and many of which have houses and grounds that are open to the public. Practice head Simon Blackburn advises UK and overseas clients on all aspects of managing farms, estates and country houses. Robert Brodrick acts for trustees and owners of landed estates on various tax and estate planning matters, and Rosamond McDowell advises a substantial number of landed estate owners, estate managers and trustees on a broad range of planning, trust and probate matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team has evident strength in its depth of knowledge and contacts within the sector. It also can draw on highly experienced colleagues in other departments of the firm when required to give concise advice to clients'.

  • ‘Simon Blackburn - Simon is readily available to speak to and provides excellent advice, showing an in depth knowledge of his subject. He is also very personable and down to earth which clients and other professionals quickly relate to'.

  • ‘Quick, knowledgeable and personable. Prepared to put the work in'.

  • ‘Simon Blackburn is as good a private client and agricultural lawyer and trusted adviser as one could hope to meet'.

  • ‘Simon Blackburn is diligent, quick, responsive and communicates well. First to say if he is not sure about something and happy to find the answer, or right person who knows the answer'.

  • ‘PHB is one of the few London firms with a dedicated agricultural and estate property practice'.

  • ‘Simon Blackburn lives and breathes agricultural law but is also very commercially aware and constructive in his approach with the other side - he must be the best agricultural lawyer of his generation. Rupert Burchett is a charming and impressive associate who instils confidence'. 

  • ‘The team are pragmatic, fast thinking, agile and most of all superbly able. I find Rupert Burchett to be incredibly client friendly, able and cuts through detail efficiently and pragmatically'.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Simon Blackburn

Simon Blackburn

Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Simon is Head of the Landed Estates and Agriculture Team.  He advises UK and overseas buyers on all aspects of transacting and managing farms, estates and country houses and has been practising in the sector since qualification in 2009. Simon regularly advises on the sale of land for development, in addition to helping clients to deal with manorial rights and rural rights of way, (public and private); he also has a strong background in dealing with issues arising under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and unregistered land. One of Simon’s specialisms is acting as an independent conveyancing solicitor in matrimonial proceedings for both residential and rural property where the parties cannot agree to instruct either of the firms representing the parties. Qualified 2009, joined Payne Hicks Beach 2018, partner 2018.

Robert Brodrick

Robert Brodrick

Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Robert advises on tax, trust and estate planning for wealthy individuals, their advisers and trustees. He acts for a wide range of clients including non-domiciliaries, international families with assets in multiple jurisdictions as well as UK based families and the owners of landed estates and business people.  Robert’s practice is divided into three main geographic areas of clients: Middle East; US/UK and UK domestic (which also includes UK resident non-doms). He is a Trustee of a number of UK trusts including several that hold heritage assets, and he also acts as Executor.  He is known for his sensitive handling of difficult family situations.  Robert advises on contentious trust and probate work, and has recently been involved in applications to vary and rectify trusts both in the UK and offshore. Robert has developed a reputation for advising a number of high profile US families based in the UK (alongside their existing US advisers) and he is also experienced at advising Middle Eastern families on the creation and reorganization of trusts, including Sharia compliant structures. He is also known for his sensitive handling of complicated family situations.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Simon Blackburn

Other key lawyers

Robert Brodrick, Rosamond McDowell, Rupert Burchett

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