Our Disputes Team has been involved in a number of high-profile claims and cases. Highlights include:
• Successfully representing an appellant farmer in the Court of Appeal, on the issue of equitable relief, in a partnership dispute and proprietary estoppel claim concerning promises about the inheritance of farmland worth over £10m (Moore -v- Moore [2018])
• Successfully represented a farming son in a High Court proprietary estoppel claim involving farm land and assets worth £8-10m. The dispute centered on a 650-acre farm in Oxfordshire. The case was successful following seven-day trial in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division. (Gee -v- Gee [2018])
• Winning a farm partnership dispute at arbitration concerning the ownership of a family farm worth £4m. The case involved interpretation of a partnership agreement, the value of the outgoing partner’s share and the correct valuation basis for farming assets
• Representing farmers nationwide in the large-scale and well-publicised High Court litigation arising from the foot and mouth disease outbreak
• Winning agricultural rights of way cases, including an important decision for one of Europe’s largest soft fruit companies following a five day trial. The Defendant landowners unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal as a result of which our client’s right of way to its farmland was protected
• Acting for substantial producer organisations (top and soft fruit growers) in the withholding of grant aid payments by the RPA and the temporary suspension of the companies from the EU Fruit and Vegetables Scheme. One of these cases was referred to the European Court of Justice
• Winning substantial sums for agricultural clients in cases involving breach of contract, negligence and nuisance, such as those relating to the milk market, horticulture, crop damage, land value, seed supply, escaping oil, fertility issues in animals, equestrianism and the supply of goods and services
• Dealing with contentious trusts and inheritance disputes, including contesting the validity of Wills, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, issues arising out of the administration of estates and trusts including the removal of Executors/Trustees, undue influence claims and litigation under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
• Providing urgent injunction advice to a large agricultural company following a Channel 4 News investigation to avoid broadsheet newspaper reports the following day
