Agriculture and Rural Affairs Solicitors

Our Top Tier Legal 500 Agriculture Team provides open and client-focused advice on a broad range of rural matters from farm sales and boundary issues through to succession planning and business structures. The Team is based at our dedicated agricultural office at Gadbrook Park, Northwich and operates across the whole of the North West, Noth Stafforshire and North Shropshire.

Providing legal assistance to an extensive range of clients from estate owners to tenant farmers, smallholders and agri-business, we pride ourselves on building long-term relationships and get to know you and your objectives. We provide detailed, common-sense legal advice as well as practical assistance, tailored to your individual situation and needs.

Butcher & Barlow understands your business and the challenges and opportunities you face day to day. Working in collaboration with our other teams in Company and Commercial, Commercial Property, Dispute Resolution and Private Client departments we aim to become an integral part of your professional support team.

Butcher & Barlow have close links with the agricultural and farming communities as well as strong working relationships with Land Agents and other rural specialists across the region. We are happy to meet jointly with you and your other professional advisers at a location convenient to you.

If you would like to arrange an appointment to discuss your situation, whether that be by video, telephone or in person, to discuss your requirements, please get in touch with any member of our team. Alternatively, complete our enquiry form and we will call you back as soon as possible.

How can we help you?

Whether a small paddock or a hundred acres of land, our team will share the load and guide and advise you through every step of the process. We will cover everything from the fundamentals of the transaction, to looking at rights of way, overages, subsidies, and tenancies.

As rural enterprises diversify or grow, it is important to ensure that the correct business model is in place to ensure both tax efficiency and that it meets the long term needs, protecting your core assets and objectives of the business owners. Working with the Corporate and Commercial Team and your accountants, we will listen, advise and guide you to ensure you are provided with the appropriate solution for you, your family and your future generations.

Having a written agreement in place for the use of land is of paramount importance if you are to minimise the possibility of a dispute. Our team will assist with all manner of agreements from business tenancies to Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies, Grazing Licences to Sporting Rights. We also have the expertise to guide and advise on options and leases of mineral rights and renewable energy. We act for both landlords and tenants and will work with you and your land agent to achieve the outcome that best meets your objectives.

We are able to advise on and prepare or update all manner of commercial agreements from partnership agreements to contract farming agreements, distribution agreements and employment contracts. We will ensure that all parties understand their rights and obligations, and if something has gone wrong, our Dispute Resolution Team will assist in its resolution.

If you are selling land which may have a potential for future development, we will help determine the best way to ensure that your interests as a seller are protected and that you can share in any future profit. We will also advise on existing option and promotion agreements which may be unclear and open to ambiguity.

From rights of access to agreements with third parties such as utility suppliers, we will guide you through your rights and obligations, and assist in negotiating the rights you need or wish to reserve for yourself.

Whether you are considering investing in wind turbines, solar energy or biomass, our team will advise on existing and on-going projects to new emerging technologies.

Butcher & Barlow provide an all encompassing legal service to the Equine industry including horse riders, horse owners and equestrian businesses and organisations. From property matters to contracts to disputes, the team have been personally involved with the industry for years and can therefore relate to, and fully understand, the issues being faced.

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    Case Study: Untangling the farm business from the family home

    Background Barbara Thompson*  farmed with her son John and daughter-in-law Joanne in a three-way partnership. Over time, the partnership borrowed...

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    Rebecca Jepson

    Partner

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    Kate Wilson

    Associate

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    George Flanders

    Solicitor

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    Meet the
    Agriculture and Rural Affairs Team

    Our people are what makes Butcher & Barlow what it is. Each one of our team is committed to building a solid, long-lasting working relationship with our clients across Bury, Manchester, Cheshire and North Staffordshire.

    What our clients say about our Agriculture & Rural Affairs Service

    George is an outstanding young Solicitor who is wise beyond his years. He helped us with a complicated land transaction, involving multiple parcels of land. I would say one of George’s best attributes is his clear and timely communication. He was clear from the outset with how he could help us, how long it would take and at what cost. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone and look forward to working with him again in the future.

    Mr A

    We engaged Butcher & Barlow to purchase some agricultural land. Tom was assigned and remained a single point of contact through the whole process. He was easy to contact and communicate with and was very clear about what I needed to do at each stage. I would have no hesitation in working with him / the company in the future.

    D Neary

    Superb professional advice. George Flanders guided my husband and I through a recent overage transaction provision in a thoroughly professional and straight forward manner. We were impressed with his legal knowledge, attention to detail and explanations of the situation. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending George for any such matters.

    A Bell

    Tom was very professional. He has a good manner with clients and look forward to working with him again.

    Mr B

    I can't recommend Mike Bracegirdle and Karen Miller from Butcher & Barlow highly enough. Our house purchase was completed quickly, smoothly and on-time thanks to their professionalism and diligence. They were patient, thorough and always quick to respond. Every step was explained in plain language, which meant we felt confident throughout the entire process. We are incredibly grateful for their expertise, dedication, attention to detail and proactive communication. A truly outstanding service, thank you! Highly recommended for anyone buying a property.

    Mrs N

    The team's knowledge of complex rural land transactions was outstanding, along with their ability to propose solutions to clauses that may not have been in the best interest of our family.

    The Legal 500 – 2026 Rankings

    Benjamin Davenport-Lawton was efficient in the way in which they dealt with instructions on behalf of mutual clients and were able to recognise and gave attention to the particular challenges which the work required, within tight timescales.

    The Legal 500 – 2026 Rankings

    A great team. Nothing ever seems too much trouble to any of the staff. Always a warm welcome when you arrive at their office. You trust their confidentiality completely.

    The Legal 500 - 2025 Rankings

    Rebecca Jepson is always available when we need her and has been a great support. Her farming background has helped us when dealing with various complex Landlord and Tenant matters. She has very good client skills and ensures she does her upmost for our mutual clients.

    The Legal 500 - 2025 Rankings

    They are fully aware of the difficulties that we face in the industry on a day-to-day basis, which we found refreshing and beneficial. We have used Butcher & Barlow several times in the past and we will use them in the future if we need to. We would highly recommend them as a team and a company.

    The Legal 500 - 2025 Rankings