For the fortunate few who own, or will one day own, a landed estate, enlisting the services of a lawyer is essential. These advisers are on hand to direct on specific issues ranging from tax and succession planning, to residential development and diversification.
The support of one of the best landed estate lawyers has never been more important, given the increasingly difficult landscape landowners must navigate. Country homes are often money pits requiring endless investment, while the economy and climate means careful thought is required when it comes to maximising the efficient running of a large parcel of land.
[See also: the complete list of the best landed estate lawyers on Spears500.com]
Letting land or outbuildings for industry or leisure, renewable energy projects, subsidised rewilding or development can all be positive and lucrative ways to use these sprawling estate, and can all be made simpler and provide a better return with advice from a leading lawyer.
The highest calibre of landed estate lawyers will be best equipped to guide clients and unearth issues that would not have otherwise been considered. They can make all the difference in the effective management of an estate, whatever use it’s being put to in times of change.
Jump to:
‘A big house in the country, grounds, perhaps some livestock, some crops … it’s a dream for so many people who are making their own fortunes, and a complex daily reality for families who inherit land. Without a lawyer who can deal with all of the contracts, negotiations, permissions and disputes of estate life, that dream can turn sour very quickly. The Spear’s Landed Estates Lawyers index can provide the legal help you need, wherever your country pile might be.’
Ian Douglas, Spear’s head of research
Content from our partners
Best landed estate lawyers: names to know
The Spear’s Landed Estate Lawyers Index 2024 welcomes back a number of returning advisers:
Sarah Jordan
Firm: Moore Barlow
A legal adviser to the agriculture and estates sector, Moore Barlow partner Sarah Jordan has a specialism in equestrian properties and non-contentious rural property.
Together with her team, Jordan works with clients on their rural asset management portfolios regularly advising on transactions, agricultural tenancies, sporting rights, manorial rights, unregistered land issues, land registry matters, and rights required.
Jordan also advises lifestyle clients looking to ‘set up home and connections in the country from a city base’.
Read Sarah Jordan’s full profile at Spears500.com
David Draisey
Firm: Hunters
David Draisey joined Hunters as a trainee in 2007 and became partner in 2018. He represents a wide range of landed clients on contentious matters involving wills, trusts and probate in the High Court.
A significant number of familial conflicts arise from the transfer of an estate to the next generation, he tells Spear’s. ‘It’s any number of disputes which arise in the context of running a modern estate,’ he says, adding that the transfer ‘tends to be quite a moment of friction, because landed estates are held for families in a trust structure or similar’.
Read David Draisey’s full profile on Spears500.com
James Vernor-Miles
Firm: Hunters
‘My HNW clients range from lords and ladies, captains of industry, international individuals, solicitors and barristers, charities, other law firms … the full range!’ says James Vernor-Miles, a partner and head of property at Hunters.
Vernor-Miles specialises in high-value and complex property, including landed estates and agricultural property. His career started in 1995, but he only knew he had become a trusted adviser when, ‘in the absence of any marketing expenditure, I was introduced to numerous new clients by existing satisfied clients’.
Read James Vernor-Miles’ full profile on Spears500.com
Idina Glyn
Firm: Mishcon de Reya
Glyn is a property adviser specialising in landed estates whose private client work involves assisting ultra-high-net-worth individuals with vineyards, racing yards, and art given to the nation under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. She joined Mishcon de Reya as a partner in 2024, having previously worked as a senior associate at Forsters.
Read Idina Glyn’s full profile at Spears500.com
Methodology
In selecting and ranking the best landed estate lawyers, the Spear’s Research Unit conducts extensive research of the market, including interviews with well-informed observers, industry insiders and of course the advisers themselves. These take place both face-to-face, and on video and telephone calls. Candidates for inclusion are asked to fill in a form to provide data and a description of their work and client base. In finalising its selections and rankings, the Spear’s Research Unit employs a proprietary methodology that includes a weighted scoring system. This takes into account factors including an adviser’s standing, reputation, client base, recommendations and testimonials, the firm they represent, their level of engagement with the process and certain industry-specific criteria.
Best landed estate lawyers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
Find out more
To explore all the Spear’s indices, and to use our find-an-adviser tool to identify the private client adviser who is right for your specific requirements, go to the Spear’s 500 website.
To receive relevant research updates from Spear’s – and thereby give you and your firm the best chance of being included in future Spear’s indices – please register here. If you are an adviser featured in an index and would like to update your profile or provide additional information, please email research@spearswms.com. If you are not featured but would like to be, please fill out our form
