Leading agricultural team moves to Wilsons

Please find below a revised press release re ‘Leading agricultural team moves to Wilsons. Unfortunately the previous version contained a number of matters that required alteration. Please therefore ignore that press release and use the following. Thank you. Leading agricultural team moves to Wilsons On April 1st 2011 leading agricultural lawyer Peter Williams, editor of Scammell and Densham’s law of Agricultural Holdings, will join Wilsons, the specialist Private Client law firm with offices in London and Salisbury. After more than 30 years at Burges Salmon where he developed the premier agricultural team in the country, Peter left in November 2010 with Legal Director Miles Farren, setting up interim practice Ebery Williams, waiting for the right opportunity. Peter Williams commented: “After 30 years at Burges Salmon, I am very excited about moving with my team from Ebery Williams to Wilsons, a firm dedicated to the sector and private client work, where we fully intend to establish the best agricultural law practice in the country. Wilsons is a natural fit for us, because of its culture and style which appeals to clients and their reputation for excellent lawyers.” In acquiring Peter and his team, Wilsons, already well regarded for its agricultural practice, may assume pole position as the leading national firm, bolstered by the arrival in March this year of Ben Sharples from Burges Salmon. Ben joined Wilsons as a partner. Jonathan Stephens, Managing Partner of Wilsons Solicitors LLP said: “This is a significant day in our history and we are delighted that Peter and his team have chosen Wilsons. This move is very much part of our expansion plans. Wilsons is now a national practice, delivering excellent service in our specialist areas”. At a time when many firms have been paring back, the last 3 years has seen Wilsons invest heavily, with a new head office opening May 2012, the opening of their London office in 2009 which brought senior private client and charity appointments and more on the way; and now a new office in central Bristol. Jonathan Stephens said of his ambitions for Bristol “Our strategy is a simple one: to continue the growth of our business with the appointment of exceptional lawyers. The core of our business remains our work with wealthy individuals, families and businesses, providing all of their legal needs from tax planning and family to property and commercial. Peter’s arrival is part of that strategy. I am always interested to talk to people who would like to be part of our future growth.” Notes to Editors: The arrival of partners Peter Williams and Miles Farren brings Wilsons partner count to 34. Joining with them are solicitor and deputy district judge Dinah Close and paralegal Emma Nigogosian. Peter, Miles and Dinah are all ranked as ‘leading individuals’ in the agricultural sector by the independent legal directories. Since the early nineties when legal directories came into being, the agriculture team at Burges Salmon had been the undisputed national leader. This was built on the national reputations achieved by Andrew Densham (retired) and Peter Williams and critically, the authorship of Scammell & Densham, the leading textbook for Agricultural Holdings. Peter Williams added, “I have now completed the Supplement to the 9th edition of Scammell and Densham, which will be available later this year.” More information can be found on our website www.wilsonslaw.com Key facts and figures about Wilsons: • Founded in Salisbury 1731. • Recognised as one of the top private client and charity law firms in the UK. • Staff of approx 190 – 32 partners (15 individually named in Chambers directory as ‘leaders in their fields’) and approx 60 lawyers. • Clients include: ­ families with landed and inherited wealth ­ wealthy businessmen, entrepreneurs and other high net worth individuals ­ onshore and offshore trustees and executors ­ charities, independent schools and City Academies ­ companies • We have a growing international client base, now accounting for over 10% of our turnover, with existing client based in 45 jurisdictions ranging from the Channel Islands to Hong Kong. Chambers 2011 quotes: “Nothing is ever an obstacle and they think outside the box.” “It is a sympathetic firm, which offers a timely and effective service and is financially competitive.” “It is like a top London firm for half the price.” “Straightforward, calm and reassuring” “They are approachable, customer-focused and come across as real people.” “Clarity of communication, compassion and swift replies.” Legal 500 2010 quotes: “approachable and knowledgeable” “heavyweight team” “unquestionably at the top” “brilliant” “charming and conscientious” Contacts: Peter Williams, Ebery Williams LLP: 0117 329 7001 peter.williams@wilsonslaw.com www.wilsonslaw.com Jonathan Stephens, Managing Partner, Wilsons Solicitors LLP: 01722 427744 jonathan.stephens@wilsonslaw.com www.wilsonslaw.com Claire Gates, Head of Marketing, Wilsons Solicitors LLP: 01722 412 412 claire.gates@wilsonslaw.com www.wilsonlaw.com Tim Maltin, Managing Director, Maltin PR: 07590 057 22 tim@maltinpr.com www.wilsonslaw.com Photographs of Peter Williams and Jonathan Stephens are available at: http://www.maltinpr.com/peter-williams Biography of Peter Williams: Peter Rhys Williams specialises in agricultural property disputes and advice including farming partnerships and banking. Formerly Head of Agriculture at Burges Salmon, he is also editor of the definitive textbook, Scammell and Densham's Law of Agricultural Holdings (9th edition), as well as Joint Author of Halsbury's Laws, Agriculture volume and Joint Author of Butterworths Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents, Agriculture volume. His clients range from land owners to tenants to lenders and borrowers to a range of agricultural businesses Peter has been ranked by Chambers Guide and The Legal 500 in the top tier for Agriculture, not only for the south-west• but nationally. In Chambers he has been described by lawyers from other firms as "outstanding", "ruthless", and "can win the unwinnable". In the 2010 Legal 500 Peter was the only solicitor outside London to be ranked in the top tier of leading individuals in London for Agriculture and Estates. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an Honorary Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Fellow of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants and a Member of the Agricultural Law Association. Biography of Miles Farren Miles’ areas of expertise are agricultural and contentious trust and probate disputes, many of which involve farming families. Experienced in the specialist area of Agricultural Holdings (1986 and 1995 Act), he is expert on Proprietary Estoppel and all forms of land based disputes (not including commercial property disputes). His memberships includes ACTAPS, the Agricultural Law Association and the Property Litigation Association where he sits as the agricultural specialist on the Law Reform Committee Further information about Ben Sharples Ben is dual qualified, having originally trained as a rural practice chartered surveyor. He spent 5 years working with a national firm of surveyors, acquiring membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Fellowship of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. He then joined Burges Salmon in 2001 and trained there qualifying in 2003. His practice is wide ranging and virtually all contentious. It encompasses traditional agricultural landlord and tenant work, partnership disputes, regulatory and European law issues relating to animal health and agricultural subsidies, property litigation with a particular bias towards residential tenancies and contractual disputes. Given his dual qualification, Ben is increasingly looked to for professional negligence matters. Ben gained his Higher Rights of Audience qualification in 2010. He is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and the Property Litigation Association. Ben is also a contributor to Scammell and Densham's Law of Agricultural Holdings (9th Edition) and its supplement. He routinely lectures to the RICS and CAAV and was recently asked to review the text on their joint publication on rent reviews under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.