Rural Business Solicitors in Kent

With offices in Maidstone, Canterbury and Tenterden, we have a proud history of advising Kent’s farming and landowning community for generations. Our rural business solicitors in Kent offer a complete legal service to agricultural businesses, landed estates and rural enterprises across the region.

Our rural solicitors combine specialist legal expertise with a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the rural economy. Whether you are buying or selling farmland, restructuring your business, resolving a dispute, or planning for the next generation, we provide a one-stop legal service tailored to your needs.

With multi-disciplinary expertise across property, employment, corporate, disputes, and succession, we have strong industry connections with organisations such as the CLA and NFU.

Whatever your rural law needs, our rural business solicitors take the time to understand your business and visit your operations to ensure that our advice is fully tailored to your requirements.

From family farms to large estates, we are committed to delivering clear, practical legal advice that supports your commercial success and protects your legacy.

Who We Help

Our rural business lawyers support a wide range of clients across the rural economy. We work with:

• Farmers managing day to day operations, diversification, and long-term planning
• Landowners seeking to protect and maximise the value of their land
• Estates requiring joined-up advice across property, tax, and estate planning
• Equine businesses needing specialist equine legal advice on land, facilities, and commercial arrangements
• Rural enterprises of all sizes, from start-ups to established businesses expanding into new areas

With a wealth of experience in agriculture and the wider rural sector, we understand the practical realities behind legal decisions and tailor our advice accordingly.

Whether you need advice on land, structure, or future planning, our team is here to help. Get expert legal advice tailored to your business and your long-term goals.

Commercial Property Law for Rural Businesses

Our Commercial Real Estate specialists advise on every aspect of rural land and property transactions. We regularly assist with:

• Buying and selling farms, estates, and rural land – from due diligence to completion.
• High-value residential property – advising on the acquisition and disposal of premium country homes, equestrian properties, and rural residences with acreage, including complex title issues, land use considerations, and mixed residential and commercial elements.
• Farm, estate and agricultural tenancies – drafting, negotiating, and advising on Agricultural Holdings Act and Farm Business Tenancies.
• Development and diversification projects – including renewable energy projects, solar farms, carbon and nature credit schemes, leisure facilities, and commercial conversions.
• Property access and rights of way – ensuring your business operations remain unhindered and access rights are clearly defined and protected.
• Mineral leases and land use agreements – protecting your interests in specialist arrangements.
• Section 106 agreements and planning obligations – advising on negotiation, compliance, and long-term impact on land use and value.
• Adverse possession and unregistered land – resolving complex title issues that commonly arise in rural and agricultural property.

We work closely with surveyors, agents, and planners to deliver commercially sound, legally robust solutions that safeguard your assets and support long-term growth.

Marsha Marriner, who heads up our rural and agricultural property team, is particularly well-known in the agricultural community.

Corporate Law for Rural Enterprises

Rural businesses often operate through complex ownership and management structures. Our experienced Corporate law team helps you:

• Choose the right business structure – partnership, LLP, or limited company.
• Draft and update partnership agreements and shareholder agreements.
• Manage joint ventures for diversification projects.
• Handle corporate governance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Advise on mergers, acquisitions, and disposals of rural businesses.

We ensure your structure is tax-efficient, fit for purpose, and able to adapt to changing commercial and family circumstances.

Dispute Resolution in the Rural Sector

Disputes can be disruptive and costly, particularly in close-knit rural communities. Our Disputes team offers pragmatic, commercially focused advice on:

• Land and boundary disputes
• Rights of way and access issues
• Contractual disagreements with suppliers, contractors, or tenants
• Partnership and shareholder disputes
• Agricultural tenancy disputes

We aim to resolve matters swiftly through negotiation or mediation, but where necessary, we have the litigation expertise to protect your position in court.

Succession Planning for Rural Businesses

Passing on a rural business requires careful planning to protect both the enterprise and family harmony. Our Succession team will:

• Develop succession strategies that balance business continuity with family objectives.
• Advise on inheritance tax implications, including agricultural property relief and other available reliefs.
• Implement wills, trusts, and partnership agreements to secure the future of the business.
• Support generational handovers with clear legal frameworks.

Our goal is to ensure your business thrives for decades to come, while minimising tax exposure and avoiding future disputes.

Rural Business FAQs