England - South East • Private client
Thrings LLP
Recently been bolstered by its 2022 merger with Okells Francis, Thrings LLP advises farmers and rural landowners with battery storage, solar power, and wind energy matters. Duncan Sigournay leads the team from Bath and handles the purchase and sales of agricultural and equestrian land, while Mark Charter is noted for his experience in significant secured lending for farms and estates. Jonathan Thompson is adept in family business succession planning, and Josephine Taylor is often engaged in matters involving unregistered land. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Romsey, unless stated otherwise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team is engaged on many levels with the business.'
- ‘The partners and associates we work with are responsive and you feel that the matter in hand is at the top of their pile! There is an interest in the wider activity of the business which helps put in context the priority or importance of instructions.’
- ‘There is a depth of expertise in the business, and we are given direct access to these individuals when required.’
- ‘The practice was unique in many ways but the key one was that they were happy to take phone calls and discuss solutions.’
- ‘Good technical abilities whilst providing pragmatic approach for clients.’
- ‘Depth of knowledge and strong ability to problem solve for clients.’
- ‘Josephine Taylor and Jonathan Thompson are experienced, pragmatic, protective, and have a desire to get things done quickly and efficiently.’
- ‘Mark Charter is very calm and measured and is able to explain specific/complicated legal points clearly and straightforwardly, so it is easy for clients to understand particular issues at hand. Very knowledgeable.’
Key clients
- National Farmers Union
- Country Land and Business Association
- The Badminton Estate
- The UK’s major banks
- Denhay Farms Ltd
- Countryside Education Trust
- EU Plants Ltd
- Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust
- DJ Houghton Catching Services Ltd
- Koppert
Work highlights
- Advised 34 landowners in relation to options for easements and leases for the new Fawley to Heathrow oil pipeline.
- Sucesfully represented a client in a Supreme Court proprietary estoppel case and appeal in Guest v Guest.
- Represented the executors of the estate for the late John Mitchell Spencer in a multi-million-pound proprietary estoppel claim concerning farmland and quarries in Lincolnshire.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Duncan Sigournay