Agricultural Law Team Expands to Meet Growing Demand

Leading full service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has enlarged the size of its agricultural law team to meet growing demand for its specialist legal services.

Over the course of the past year, partner Amy Cowdell, legal director Jennie Wheildon and solicitor Kimberley Brookes have joined the team – bringing with them more than 30 years’ combined experience in agricultural law.

Head of agriculture Peter Snodgrass, who advises his farming clients on a wide variety of matters from partnerships to agricultural tenancies, said: “The legal requirements of the agricultural sector can be complex and we recognise the importance of having access to an expert team of lawyers who understand and have experience of the multitude of challenges that can affect a farming business.

“Farmers and land managers deal with ever growing and more diverse businesses. These issues require specialist legal support and advice they can rely on. We understand farming and the pressures our clients have to contend with, so we’re thrilled that Amy, Jennie and Kim bring their experience and new strength and breadth to Shakespeare Martineau’s offering to farmers and landowners.”

As a full service law firm, the agricultural team is able to draw on wider expertise from other Shakespeare Martineau departments, including inheritance tax and wills partners Hannah Tait and Suzanne Leggott; development land legal director Fiona Martin; planning partner Gary Stephens; farm disputes associate Nicola Lediard; and partner Peter Dilks, who specialises in renewable energy installations, such as solar farms.

Other specialists include partners Justine Ball, who advises landowners on the termination and renewal of telecommunications leases; inheritance and trusts disputes partner Jonathan Stork; and commercial disputes and litigation expert James Woolstenhulme.