Landowners Legal Advice

Our agricultural and rural property department provides practical specialist legal advice on all contentious and non-contentious matters affecting landowners and farmers.

Our experts in this area are Bruce Richardson, Beth McDermott, Jonathan Hannon and Jane Jackson who can be contacted at law@arnisonheelis.co.uk or on 01768 862007.

Our Expertise includes

  • The sale and purchase of farms and farm land
  • The sale and purchase of sporting rights
  • Agricultural Holdings
  • Farm Business Tenancies
  • Common land and rights of common
  • Wayleaves and Easements
  • Telecommunication Masts
  • Energy Renewables
  • Single Farm Payment Scheme
  • Clawback/overage agreements, options and pre-emption agreements
  • Farming Partnerships
  • Farming Companies
  • Agricultural arbitration and tribunals
  • Creation, management and variation of trusts, estate planning, Wills and Probate

Our Team

Bruce Richardson

Consultant
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Bruce Richardson

Consultant

Bruce is Head of Agricultural Law and supervises this department. Bruce graduated from Sheffield University with an honours degree in geography and for the following six years or so worked for the National Farmers Union, firstly in Cumbria and then in Northumberland.

He returned to full-time education to study law in York, later qualifying as a solicitor in 1993 with a law firm in Carlisle specialising in agricultural law.  Bruce has dealt with thousands of agricultural law cases since joining Arnison & Co in 1995.  Bruce is a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

Outside of the office his interests include rugby (latterly as a supporter), golf, tennis and skiing.

Beth McDermott

Solicitor
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Beth McDermott

Solicitor

Beth joined Arnison Heelis in May 2019, bringing with her over four years of prior experience at a local law firm. She qualified as a Solicitor in October 2017 after completing her Master’s Degree in Law at Northumbria University.

Beth specialises in Property Law, with a strong focus on both commercial and agricultural transactions. Over the years, she has handled hundreds of cases across a wide range of property matters, including:

  • Agricultural land transactions
  • Residential purchases and sales
  • Transfers of equity
  • Mortgages and re-mortgages
  • Landlord and tenant matters
  • Land Registry applications and enquiries
  • Auction sales and purchases
  • Lease extensions
  • Option Agreements
  • Commercial leases

Known for her practical and thorough approach, Beth is committed to providing clear, client-focused advice across all aspects of property law.

Outside of the office, Beth enjoys spending time in the Lake District, where she can often be found walking her dogs or mountain biking.

Jonathan Hannon

Solicitor
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Jonathan Hannon

Solicitor

Jonathan is a Solicitor in Arnison Heelis’ conveyancing team.  Having graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2014 with an LLB in Law Jonathan briefly worked in Manchester for a residential conveyancing firm before moving back home to Cumbria in 2017 and has worked in conveyancing ever since.  He joined Arnison Heelis in July 2021 and brought with him a wealth of experience in dealing with numerous conveyancing transactions including: freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, re-mortgages, transfers of equity, declarations of trust, newbuild matters and right-to-buy purchases.

Outside of work Jonathan is an avid music fan and has played saxophone and bass guitar for a couple of local bands.  Besides music he enjoys playing tennis and the occasional bit of wild swimming (when the weather suits him).

Email: law@arnisonheelis.co.uk

Jane Jackson

Director
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Jane Jackson

Director

Jane joined Arnison Heelis in August 2012, having previously worked at Crutes Mounseys in Carlisle for nearly 14 years.  Jane started fee earning in 2004 whilst she undertook the Chartered Legal Executive course and qualified as a Fellow in March 2014.  Jane is also one of the founding members of Penrith Futures, a local networking group.

Jane has a wide range of experience specialising in Property Law, mainly working in the agricultural department. She is a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

Jane has dealt with hundreds of different cases, including:

  • Agricultural land transactions including common rights
  • House purchases and sales
  • Transfers of Equity
  • Mortgages and re-mortgages
  • Landlord and Tenant
  • Land Registry applications and enquiries
  • Auction sales and purchases
  • Lease extensions

When she’s not working, Jane enjoys travelling and has a keen interest in the history of art.