Overview

Natural Capital is now recognised as a key issue for land. 

What went from something seen as a fringe interest has become mainstream and is now an emerging focus of government support. This is energising those involved in land to ask the question: “What should we do about it?”

How can we help?

The experts in our leading Net Zero, Environmental and Estates practices are at the forefront of this sector. We have a wide breadth and depth of experience helping private landowners, institutions, corporates, intermediaries, developers, utilities and public bodies avoid the legal pitfalls of these type of schemes, whilst maximising the opportunities that can come from nature-based solutions to climate change.

Whatever the nature of your project, we can provide you with a dedicated team of experts to meet your requirements, bringing together experienced experts from our real estate, planning and compulsory purchase, environment, corporate, dispute resolution, private client and finance teams.

Areas of focus

We have considerable expertise advising on:

  • The acquisition of land for natural capital projects
  • Regenerative agriculture schemes including in the context of share farming structures
  • Advising on the strategic approach to incorporating Natural Capital into a land portfolio
  • Advising on the creation and operation of habitat banks
  • Drafting offsetting agreements to deal with brokerage arrangements, landowner due diligence, project establishment and maintenance, offsetting validation and monitoring
  • Developing innovating tenancy agreements to enable Natural Capital projects to flourish
  • Consenting issues for local planning authorities
  • Environmental credit sale agreements and guiding clients through emerging legislation and practices
  • Environmental credit schemes such as the Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code
Whether this is your first venture into natural capital, or you are looking for advice on your existing projects, get in touch to discuss how we can help you achieve your sustainability aspirations.
Experience

Charitable foundation

Acting on the acquisition of a large number of farms and estates with the intent of creating a UK wide portfolio of innovative land projects associated with rewilding and regenerative agricultural practices by repurposing land through habitat creation / restoration, biodiversity net gain and carbon sequestration schemes and participating in environmental credit markets.

Institutional landowner

Advising on the creation of a bespoke habitat bank for BNG

Start-up business

Drafting a suite of documents for a project to acquire land alongside High-Net-Worth individuals and repurpose it for carbon offsetting, agri-environment and natural capital projects.

Conservation purchase

Acting on the acquisition of a large mixed-use Scottish estate, bought for conservation purposes, subject to very tight timescales and commended by land agents for our efficient handling and expert advice.

Institutional landowner

Advising on an extensive portfolio of agricultural tenanted holdings to build soil health maintenance and enhancement into their tenancy agreements.

The Government

Advising on all aspects of setting up an innovative double-blind auction in relation to environmental credits (arising from the Energy Company obligation placed on energy companies).

Water utility

Advising a major water company in relation to the carrying out of peatland restoration work involving a consortium of landowners and the registration and allocation of peatland carbon units.

Charity & a non-departmental public body

Advising on the delivery of significant environmental improvements to the River Severn (the largest project of its kind in Europe).

Major UK forestry organisation

Advising on developing its carbon offsetting brokerage scheme introducing landowners to corporates to help offset carbon through tree planting.

Meet the team
Ross Simpson

Ross Simpson Partner

  • Real Estate
  • Estates and Land
  • Food and Farming
Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy Partner

  • Estates and Land
  • Private Wealth
  • Agricultural Disputes
Sarah Raby

Sarah Sackville Hamilton (Sarah Raby) Director

  • Environment
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Cathryn Tracey

Cathryn Tracey Director

  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
  • Renewable Energy
  • Local Government 

Private Wealth and Natural Capital: Issues For Clients and Advisers

Natural Capital and what it means in the world of Private Wealth

What others say...

Vibrant, proactive, personable and engaging – quick to respond and they know their stuff inside out. Well-resourced team. Meetings were slick, regular, productive and accountable. In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the law. Advice was faultless and resulted in complete confidence in our legal team and subsequently the wider team acting on the transaction, creating a great ethos and ultimately a fantastic result for the client.

Client quote, Legal 500

Key contact

Ross Simpson

Ross Simpson Partner

  • Real Estate
  • Estates and Land
  • Food and Farming

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