Wright Hassall, a Leamington Spa-based firm with more than 170 years of history in agricultural law, has expanded to prepare for ‘fundamental change’ in the sector after Brexit.

In both the recently published Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories Wright Hassall’s agricultural team has retained its top tier ranking, with Paul Rice, Alex Robinson, Joel Woolf, and Sarah Beer all cited as notable practitioners in Chambers.

As the firm prepares to help its farming and rural estate clients get ready for their post-Brexit future, it has brought three new agricultural specialists on board with a strong understanding of the sector and Wright Hassall’s history within it.

Joel Woolf, a farmer’s son from Suffolk, has joined as partner from Foot Anstey in the South West advising on succession and business continuity, while Vanessa Blane joins as a senior solicitor from the Canal & River Trust to concentrate on HS2 and other compulsory purchase or planning matters.

Jon Clifford, who joins from Lanyon Bowdler, heads up the Rural Disputes’ team.

Wright Hassall’s agricultural team advises a range of farmers, landowners, rural businesses and farming-related organisations on all their legal matters and has close connections with the National Farmers Union, Country Land and Business Association, Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC and Warwickshire Farm Management Group.

Paul Rice the firm’s senior partner, who heads up the Wright Hassall agriculture team alongside partner, Alex Robinson, said: ’We are delighted to welcome Joel, Vanessa and Jon on board at Wright Hassall.

’We are looking forward to introducing them to our clients and professional contacts over the coming weeks and particularly at our December talk.

’Their experience in the sector will help to consolidate our agricultural offering to existing and new clients as one of the strongest in the country.’

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