Law firm receives top ranking for work in agricultural sector

The agricultural team at a leading law firm has been named among the best in the country.

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ Agriculture and Estates department has been recognised for its expertise and knowledge of the farming sector in a national legal guide, which ranks lawyers and law firms throughout the UK.

The Chambers UK Guide 2022 placed the team in the top tier of legal firms for the second year in a row.

Jonathan Carroll, who is Head of the Agriculture and Estates department and a director of Cartmell Shepherd, was included on the individual list for the third consecutive year, along with fellow director Mark Jackson. Katherine Pretswell-Walker, who was appointed as a director of Cartmell Shepherd in April, was highlighted as an Associate to watch for her contribution.

The rankings come just weeks after the Agriculture and Estates team was highlighted for praise in the Legal 500, a UK professional law ranking which analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world.

In the guide, Jonathan and Mark were recognised as “leading individuals”, while Katherine Pretswell-Walker was described as a “rising star”. The firm also retained its Band 1 rating in the Legal 500 rankings, which it has held for a number of years.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which operates across Cumbria and Northumberland, said the results reflected the firm’s commitment to providing the best possible legal services to its clients.

He said: “For the team to be nationally recognised for its work in the rural sector is a huge achievement and a testament to their knowledge and expertise.

“We are continually investing in our team which enables us to offer the highest quality legal services for our clients.”

The Chambers UK Guide 2022 described Jonathan as ‘having a wide breadth of expertise’ and as somebody who ‘can turn his knowledge to most matters relating to agricultural property’. It added that ‘he is highly knowledgeable about agricultural landlord and tenant matters.’

The guide said Mark ‘is efficient and very good with clients, and also knowledgeable on matters related to agricultural and rural property.”

The team also includes Associate Solicitor Bethan Griffiths, and Solicitors Holly Berwick, and Emma Blamire. Emma, who comes from a farming background, won the Agricultural Student/ Rural Skills Award at the Cumbria Farmer Awards 2021 earlier this month, with judges praising how she uses her knowledge of the agricultural sector to give an insight into her work as a solicitor.