Food, Drink & the Rural Economy

We have extensive experience advising on the legal issues that can arise across the diverse range of business activities that make up the modern and ever-evolving food & rural sector, helping our clients to realise the full potential of their commercial operations

We have a strong track record working with businesses across the chain including agricultural landowners, multi-generational farming businesses, tenant farmers, feedstock suppliers, food processers and producers and logistics businesses.  

Clients instruct us to support on implementing longer term developments as well as their day-to-day legal issues. This can include buying or selling land or a commercial entity as well as negotiating commercial contracts in areas like logistics and product supply and distribution. 

We regularly help secure funding to support diversification and growth, as well as advising on tax liabilities, subsidies or available reliefs. When needed, we help to manage disputes within the business or with third parties and can advise on restructuring or debt recovery.   

With many agricultural businesses family or owner managed, we also provide tailored wealth management advice including support with succession planning and wider personal or family legal requirements. 

Our experience includes:

• Advising on a number of bespoke arrangements with an agribusiness and technology provider to install micro-district heating and ventilation systems to improve animal welfare and reduce fuel and input costs.
• Advising on restructuring and refinancing of a major UK food producer to improve costs and profits transparency between different elements of the farming enterprise.
• Working on the design, build, property arrangements, maintenance, operation and off-take arrangements for several anaerobic digestion facilities. The projects are expected to produce 18 MW of energy with a capital value of £30m. A number of the facilities are exporting biogas to the grid.
• Advising a business on the expansion of its farm shop to a nationally recognised and award-winning “food hub” and retail outlet with on-site butcher, fishmonger, baker, deli, restaurant and retail units.