Long experience in the field
 
In some ways farms are just businesses and farmland is just land, and the advice you need is common to everyone: real estate, employment, pensions, tax planning and business contracts. As any individual or organization which owns rural land or runs an estate will know, however, there are so many specific issues and potential risks requiring specialist knowledge that it’s essential to take the right advice from a team with long experience in the field. 

William Sturges’ estates and agriculture business group brings together expert practitioners in all the relevant disciplines to offer landowners, estate managers, developers and land buyers timely and sector-specific counsel.
 
Clearly, a significant proportion of our work involves advising on buying, selling and managing land and farms. Within this we offer support in planning, development and construction projects, tenancies, employee housing and other occupancy arrangements, and overcoming land title problems.
 
In shaping land transactions we ensure clients benefit from the best advice on planning and access issues, including rights of way, irrigation, drainage and reservoirs, minerals extraction and sporting rights. Land use developments such as telecommunications masts, wind farms and other green energies, pipelines and highways often require expert support in creating new leases, easements or wayleave agreements.

Families running agricultural businesses turn to us for advice on ownership structures (including issues of splitting legal title), succession and tax planning. Historic estates may need advice on the tax treatment of significant buildings, art and chattels as part of this.

The day to day sector business advice we provide includes help with entitlements and EU payment schemes, subsidies and quotas, dealing withTrading Standards or DEFRA investigations, contract farming agreements and other licences. As employers, farmers and estate managers need advice on the normal employment matters including employment regulations, contracts and business handbooks, arbitration and tribunals, but also specialist knowledge of Health & Safety procedures in this high-risk work environment.