England - South East • Private client

Freeths LLP

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Freeths LLP caters to an array of agricultural law matters, including contentious, environmental, employment and succession planning issues. Iain Davis leads the team and is particularly knowledgeable of the development of greenfield land. Balvinder Jaj is often engaged in mortgaging arrangements and secured lending. Laura Czapski advises clients on the Agricultural Holdings Act. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Oxford.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team was most attentive with suggestions made and highly skilled at all levels from trainees to partner.’
  • ‘The team were outstanding overall.’
  • ‘When collaboration was needed from other members within the organisation, the work was carried out seamlessly and efficiently.’
  • ‘The team made themselves readily available and responded quickly to any queries. The communication between individuals of the team appeared excellent.’
  • ‘Freeths is particularly good in relation to family planning and land promotion for development. I have found Freeths have a very good knowledge and are very thorough in each department I have worked with.’
  • ‘For land development promotion agreements, Iain Davis is excellent. He is well experienced and has very good knowledge, acting in a professional capacity.'
  • ‘Iain Davis is exceptional in many ways, he has superb expert knowledge in his field and is extremely efficient.’
  • ‘Laura Czaspski sets a wonderful example of professionalism in all matters.’

Key clients

  • Trinity College Oxford
  • Carington Estate
  • Sir Edward Dashwood
  • Cornbury Estate
  • Trustees of the Swanbourne Estate
  • Clydesdale Bank PLC
  • The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
  • Trustees of the Shotover Estate
  • Tarmac Group of Companies
  • Chancerygate Group of Companies

Lawyers

Rising stars

Laura Czapski

Freeths LLP

Laura is an experienced real estate lawyer, specialising in agricultural and rural property work. She acts for farmers, landowners, charities and landed estates. Laura assists with sales and purchases of property, farms and land including conditional contracts and overage documentation.She also assists with documents for the development of agricultural land; first registrations of unregistered land and estates including mineral and manorial rights; granting easements, licences and farm business tenancies, and advising on Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies. Laura joined the firm in 2008 and qualified as a solicitor in 2013.

Leading individuals

Iain Davis

Freeths LLP

Iain specialises in agricultural and rural work, acting for farmers, landowners and landed estates. He is the head of the property department as well as the agricultural and land team. Iain’s work ranges from the acquisition, development and disposal of landed estates, farms and bare agricultural land, to advice on agricultural tenancies, farm business tenancies, and environmental matters. He specialises in the drafting and negotiation of strategic land option and promotion agreements. Recent/significant transactions include: option agreement for over 195 acres of farmland to a national house builder; promotion agreement over 215 acres of farm land on the edge of Thame; hybrid agreement for an Oxford College for over 400 dwellings; option agreements for 85 and 69 acres in relation to a proposed urban extension to a major settlement; sale of greenfield site with the benefit of a residential planning permission for £5.5m; the acquisition of the Kiddington Estate for a sum in excess of £23m; acquisition of a complex and diverse 480 acre unregistered landed estate in Wales, contracts were exchanged within one month of instructions being received; sale of land in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for development of a Centre Parcs style holiday village; purchase of brownfield site for development of a 27 unit commercial business park; sale of greenfield site for development by major landed estate client with complex uplift provisions, the sale was by way of contract race with exchange of contracts taking place within 24 hours of issue of papers; grants of options and leases of wind farm and solar parks.

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Iain Davis

Other key lawyers

Balvinder Jaj, Laura Czaspski, Clare Bellis, Katherine Burge, Rosalyn Shephard