Agriculture team at Cumbrian legal firm ranked one of the best in the country

THE agriculture team at a Cumbrian law firm has been ranked as one of the best in the country for the fifth consecutive year.

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ agriculture team received top ranking in the prestigious Chambers UK Legal Guide 2025 which lists the UK’s best law firms and solicitors.

The industry recognition comes less than a month after the department retained its Band 1 rating in The Legal 500 professional law rankings.

Director Mark Jackson was one of three team members singled out for praise in the Chambers Guide which cited the firm’s ‘long-standing expertise across agriculture and rural areas’ and its ‘efficient, knowledgeable and courteous’ lawyers.

Mark said: “To be recognised as one of the best rural property teams in the country is testament to the knowledge, expertise and dedication of the whole team.

“Many of our team are part of the rural community so are uniquely placed to understand the challenges our clients face on a daily basis

“We’re proud to follow in the footsteps of Tim Cartmell and others who came before us at the firm and we are committed to developing the next generation of agricultural solicitors through our thriving trainee solicitor and apprenticeship programme.”

Head of department, Jonathan Carroll and Director Katherine Pretswell-Walker were also name checked in the Chambers Guide. Both started their careers as trainees at Cartmell Shepherd and have progressed to directors at the legal firm. 

Cartmell Shepherd’s agriculture department is one of the biggest in the north of England, with 11 staff dedicated solely to rural property work. The team has been strengthened in the past six months following the firm’s acquisition of Nicholson Portnell Solicitors which added the expertise of solicitor Simon Jewitt to the team.

Mark said: “I am very proud of the achievements of the team in the last few years and particularly the way in which our associate solicitors Bethan Griffiths, Emma Blamire and Holly Berwick have worked hard to become outstanding agricultural specialists. The team has been strengthened further this year with the addition of the very capable Sam Fawcett and Joseph Halvorsen as trainees, who I am sure will become the next generation of agricultural lawyers in time.”

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors operates across Cumbria, Northumberland and nationally and has offices in Rosehill Carlisle, Carlisle city centre, Brampton, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Penrith and Cockermouth.