Lodders Solicitors LLP
Senior Associate/Partner (Agriculture)
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Job Purpose
To play a key role in the delivery of high-quality legal services to the firm’s agricultural and rural clients, while actively contributing to the growth, leadership, and long-term sustainability of the Agriculture team. This includes managing complex transactions, developing and maintaining strong client relationships, mentoring junior colleagues, and supporting succession planning for leadership roles within the team.
About the Agriculture Team
Our Agriculture and Landed Estates team advises on the full spectrum of legal work for agricultural, rural, and landed estate clients, with a strong focus on non-contentious matters. The team acts for farmers, landowners, estates, trustees, and rural businesses, providing practical, commercial advice grounded in an understanding of the rural world.
The work includes farm and rural land acquisitions and disposals, agricultural tenancies, partnership matters, estate management, secured lending, and succession planning. We work closely with colleagues across the firm, particularly Private Client, Strategic Land, and Renewable Energy, offering a genuinely joined-up service to our clients.
Key Tasks/Responsibilities
Legal and Client Work
- Manage a varied caseload of complex and high-value agricultural and rural property matters.
- Advise on matters including:
- Sales and purchases of farms and estates
- Agricultural tenancies and succession rights
- Farming partnerships and structures
- Development agreements, promotion options, and overage
- Easements, rights of way, and boundary disputes
- Deliver clear, practical, and commercially focused legal advice.
- Ensure excellent client care and service, maintaining long-standing client relationships.
Leadership and Team Development
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- Support and contribute to a clear succession plan for the team, clients, and future leadership.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop junior solicitors, trainees, and paralegals.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment that encourages knowledge sharing.
- Assist with internal training and development initiatives within the team and wider firm.
Business Development and Strategy
- Build and grow your own client base within the rural sector.
- Actively contribute to the firm’s profile through networking, events, and thought leadership.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities and cross-selling potential with other teams.
- Play an active role in shaping the strategic direction and future growth of the Agriculture team.
Operational and Cross-Team Contribution
- Collaborate with other teams (e.g., Private Client, Planning, Real Estate) to deliver joined-up service.
- Monitor financial performance of matters, ensuring effective matter management and billing.
- Contribute to firm-wide initiatives and support the firm’s values, culture, and policies.
- Stay up to date with relevant legislation and market developments.
Knowledge, Education, and Experience Required
- Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with at least 7 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE), ideally with a focus on agricultural or rural property law.
- Extensive experience managing a broad range of agricultural legal matters, including sales and acquisitions of rural land, agricultural tenancies, farming partnerships, and rural development projects.
- Strong technical knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, and the Law of Property Act 1925.
- Proven ability to handle complex and high-value transactions independently and confidently.
- Demonstrable experience of developing client relationships and a track record of building a loyal client base in the rural or landowning sector.
- Experience in supervising and mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to a team’s development and knowledge sharing.
- Commercial awareness with the ability to identify and convert business development opportunities.
- Previous involvement in or understanding of succession planning—either for client relationships or team leadership—would be highly desirable.
- Experience working with private clients, landed estates, farmers, and rural businesses is a strong advantage.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with a commitment to delivering high-quality client service.
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Why Join Lodders?
Lodders is an ambitious and forward-thinking law firm, putting client service and our people at the heart of everything we do. The people at Lodders work hard together to find excellent solutions for our clients in business, land, property, and life.
Lodders is a Great Place to Work® certified firm, recognized through independent employee feedback for our inclusive culture, supportive working environment, and focus on people as well as performance.
Pay Range and Compensation Package
Competitive salary plus excellent benefits in a thriving culture of collaboration with progression opportunities.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are fully committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every individual is valued and respected. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and strive to ensure equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process and beyond.
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