United Kingdom: Land Law & Agriculture

Divorce proceedings in the agricultural sector present unique challenges when farmland, livestock, machinery, and generational assets are at stake. From protecting inherited property and ensuring full financial disclosure to managing tax implications and safeguarding business viability, farming families face complex decisions that can impact decades of work and future succession plans.

Private landowners may unknowingly lose control of their property when members of the public acquire rights of way through continuous use over 20 years, even without the owner's knowledge or consent. This analysis examines the legal mechanisms available to protect against such claims, including the strategic use of section 31(6) statements under the Highways Act 1980, and explores recent Court of Appeal guidance on what constitutes an 'interruption' to public use following the landmark Roxlena Ltd v Rambler

Farming families face unique challenges when it comes to protecting generational land and business interests through marriage. Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements offer practical solutions to safeguard family farms, inherited property, and business assets while providing clarity for both spouses in the event of relationship breakdown.

For many rural communities in Scotland, fires in moorlands and forests are one of biggest threats they face. And one look at the statistics shows that the problem is becoming even more serious...

On 15 April 2026, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) published three policy updates representing a significant reshaping of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) regime in England.

Increasingly, Scotland’s rural businesses are looking to diversify. That can take many forms.

Eating more nutritious food improves physical and mental health, reducing the risk of serious illness and enhancing quality of life. One UK study showed that life expectancy can increase by up to 10 years.

To mark our 175th anniversary, James Bowen, a trainee patent attorney in our Chemistry & Life Sciences team, discusses the issue of food insecurity...

The Health and Safety Executive's "Your Farm, Your Future" campaign highlights livestock safety, advising landowners on signage, animal management, and maintaining safe public access paths to reduce injury risks and ensure legal compliance with access rights.