The firm’s Agribusiness team is one of the largest and most well-respected in the country. The Banking and Property Finance team works closely with them to provide expert advice on all aspects of lending and taking security over agricultural land and buildings.

We provide clear, straightforward advice on:

• Ownership structures and trust advice (to ensure that security is granted by the correct parties, and that they take independent legal advice if necessary)

• Taking charges over unregistered land and also charges of part of a title

• Covenants, easements or other third party rights which may impact upon the value or marketability

• The terms of any Farm Business Tenancies or Assured Shorthold Tenancies of residential accommodation

Examples of recent work in this area include:

• Acting for a lender taking charges over ten parcels of arable land and co-ordinating with the customer’s solicitors to line up completion of the loan with completion of two purchases from unconnected sellers.

• Acting for a lender making a loan to the trustees of two separate Settlements to acquire woodland adjacent to the farm (including reporting on the terms of Assured Shorthold Tenancies, Farm Business Tenancies and a shooting licence). Giving advice on the trust and ownership structure, including the need to take a third party charge and for the trustees to take independent legal advice.

• Helping a poultry business to secure private funding to acquire a rival business. Providing advice on the terms of the facility agreement and financial covenants.