About
Robert is an associate in the firm’s Rural Property team. He specialises in rural and agricultural property matters and acts for individuals and institutional clients in relation to sales and purchases (often subject to clawback) and routine landlord and tenant matters.
He regularly advises clients in relation to AHA surrenders and the grant of new FBTs, working in conjunction with colleagues in our Private Wealth team (to give advice in relation to any associated SDLT liabilities) and (where relevant) our Real Estate Disputes team.
Robert also regularly advises clients in relation to the diversification of agricultural holdings (ranging from the grant of grazing licences for bare land to complex commercial lettings of industrial units that are contracted out of the security of tenure provisions of the LTA 1954).
Experience
- The Crown Estate: Advising on the acquisition of a 2,500 acre multi-let, largely agricultural estate (subject to three AHA tenancies, two FBTs, three commercial leases and two residential tenancies) for circa £19 million, subject to clawback.
- Family Farming Operation: Advising on the disposal of a 500 acre farm (including a Georgian farmhouse, holiday cottage and the ruins of a twelfth century chapel) for circa £8million (including various complex first registrations).
- Landed Estate: Advising on the purchase of approximately 65 acres of land in the Cotswolds, subject to clawback relating to residential development.
- The Crown Estate: Advising on the surrender of an AHA tenancy, simultaneous grant of a new FBT and transfer of part for road improvements (including the grant of an option to call for a sub-under lease).
- Institutional landlord: advising On the surrender of a heavily diversified AHA Holding including the simultaneous grant of more than fifty tenancies at will pending the grant of longer term occupational arrangements
- Environment Agency: Advising on the purchase of circa 300 acres of land in Lincolnshire ultimately to be used for the purposes of flood alleviation and biodiversity net gain subject to existing clawback arrangements.
Credentials
- Admitted as a solicitor: England and Wales (2020)