Would you like to learn more or speak to one of our team?

Our Top Tier Legal 500 Agriculture Team assists individual farmers, rural landowners and their families in managing all aspects of their finances and personal lives. The Team are based at our dedicated agricultural office at Gadbrook Park, Northwich and operate across the whole of the North West.

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.

We will work with you to ensure both financial security and personal peace of mind whether that be in putting in place succession plans for your business or during the breakdown of a relationship.

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 below 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.

Succession planning is an essential part of ensuring your assets, your business and your family are protected and able to thrive in the future. We will take time to learn about your situation and your goals, whether that be in respect of the business or personally and will create the best plan to achieve these goals.

 

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.

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.

Farming families can be structurally complex, often with more than one generation or arm of the family being involved in the business and residing on the farm. Knowledge of the farming business therefore is essential to be able to properly advise if a relationship breaks down. The team at Butcher & Barlow have been personally involved with the industry for years and can therefore relate to, and fully understand, the issues being faced.

 

For further information on how Butcher & Barlow can assist if you are affected by HS2, click here.

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    Succession Planning

    Succession planning for landowners

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    Succession Planning

    Who will succeed you in the farming business?

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    Disputes

    Arbitration or expert determination?

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    Property matters

    Tenancy FAQ’s

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    Property matters

    Lease and tenancy agreement reviews

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    Property matters

    Tenant farmers and rent reviews

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    Business

    Who will succeed you in the family farming business?

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    Business

    Choosing the best business structure for your farming enterprise

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    Business

    Agricultural Property Relief

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    Michael Bracegirdle

    Partner

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    Tim Bailey

    Tim Bailey

    Partner

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    John Hyatt

    Partner

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    Meet the
    Agriculture and Rural Estates 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 and Cheshire.

    Agriculture and Rural Affairs Insights

    Farm buildings and tractor

    Spring Budget for Farmers

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    Are you affected by green-laning?

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    What our clients say about our Agriculture and Rural Affairs Service

    I found Butcher & Barlow Solicitors by searching the internet. Mike Bracegirdle, Partner, made contact because of an enquiry I made to them. Several members of staff have been involved in a very complex process of selling our home, purchasing a new build property, and dealing with a rental agreement whilst we waited for our new home to be ready. Every member of staff we have dealt with, either on the phone or in person, has been extremely professional and knowledgeable. They have taken time to explain the stages we are up to and if we have been unsure on anything they have given advise. Each member of staff, including Mike Bracegirdle, have pulled out all the stops to ensure the three processes completed in a timely manner, sometimes under great pressure with tight deadlines. We cannot fault this company, excellent service every step of the way. Thank you to all involved

    Mr & Mrs Tams

    Mike Bracegirdle is extremely knowledgeable regarding the agricultural sector. He is always available when we need him and he has been a great support.

    Legal 500

    This team is always available to help when we need it. The agricultural partner is from farming background and this helps tremendously with our issues related to our farming business. I would recommend this firm to other farming associates.

    Legal 500

    The team comprises highly experienced and qualified staff. They provide an efficient and quality service. They are always contactable and responsive. They deal with work in a timely manner and communicate through the whole process.

    Legal 500

    Good client service, attention to detail, very proactive and responsive.

    Legal 500

    Really good, well-managed team, whose attention to detail is excellent. Very good client skills and ensure they do their upmost for their clients. Very proactive growing team, but have not forgone client service for growth.

    Legal 500

    Really good, well-managed team, whose attention to detail is excellent. Very good client skills and ensure they do their upmost for their clients. Very proactive growing team, but have not forgone client service for growth

    The Legal 500

    Graham Gigg is very well known in the agricultural sector and is considered to be a trusted adviser. He is extremely approachable and has a great depth of knowledge of the law.

    The Legal 500 2021

    Mike Bracegirdle has acted for us now on several occasions in respect of property conveyancing. He was recommended by a Surveyor well known to your Firm and who we trust implicitly. Mike is a true professional and as clients, we feel completely safe and secure in his hands. His team are also very efficient but I suspect that he expects them to adopt the same standards as he does. He is very quick to respond to any queries and his answers are always pertinent. Despite whatever work pressures he may/may not be under, he always delivers the same standard of service and achieves the expected deadline.

    V Phillips

    It is always nice to know that when you introduce someone that they are upholding good standards.

    Rural Surveyor

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