Landed Estates Solicitors

Ownership of a Landed Estate is an onerous duty.  Underlying all of the many complex and changing issues that affect landowners is the responsibility of passing on a prosperous Estate to the next generation.  Estate Management is not a matter of preserving the past in amber, but responding appropriately and effectively to the challenges that the modern world presents with ever increasing rapidity.

Payne Hicks Beach has served the owners of Landed Estates since 1750.  We currently act for over 50 Estates, varying in size from 750 acres to well over 30,000 acres.  We are one of the few London firms that remain fully committed to an agricultural practice.

The range and depth of experience of our partners who specialise in agricultural work means that we are able to provide a seamless and wide ranging service to landowners.  This often includes advice on key factors such as tax, finance, investment, succession and the structuring of property ownership.

We are experienced in guiding you through the difficult process of generational change and succession planning, including major Trust and Farming Business Reorganisations.

We can advise on tax matters, such as maximising Agricultural Property Relief for Inheritance tax and Entrepreneurs’ relief for Capital Gains Tax, but we can also advise regarding planning, protection from trespass and development issues, e.g. alternative energy schemes and diversification.

We specialise in advising Landed Estates on how to manage, and carry out effective tax planning, substantial collections of chattels.  We have experience in acting on offers in lieu of Inheritance tax and other heritage property taxation matters, as well as negotiating public access and conditional exemption issues.

Your role is to prosper and preserve your Estate, our role is to make that possible.

The range of work which we commonly undertake for landowners includes:

• Planning the ownership and management of landed estates and farms
• Sales and acquisitions of landed estates
• Taxation advice on farming businesses and succession planning
• Advice on development and planning issues
• Advice for agricultural businesses including farming partnerships, companies and joint ventures
• Land and employment disputes.