A law firm for life
Agriculture

Agriculture Lawyers Ayrshire

Scotland’s agricultural sector produces products for the Scottish economy worth £2.9 billion a year, making up a large percentage of Scotland’s food export industry. However, like any sector there are many challenges to be faced. While many can be tackled on the ground directly by those working in the industry, there are some that need to be handled by external professionals from other sectors, such as law and finance.

At the McKinstry Company our close and longstanding relationship with the agricultural industry lets us respond quickly and effectively to our clients’ needs.

Expert Agricultural Sector Lawyers

From tenant farmers to major landowners, The McKinstry Company helps clients meet their legal obligations and protect their interests. We regularly advise on:
agriculture solicitors ayrshire - the mckinstry company

  • Business structures and family partnerships
  • Succession
  • Diversification
  • Land management including access and servitudes
  • Tax planning
  • Buying, selling and leasing

 

Farm purchase and sale

We have been helping clients buy and sell farms for generations. The process can be complex, so experience and understanding from your legal team is essential. We will work with your accountants and the bank to ensure the contract for sale is right for you and that everything runs smoothly. We understand the importance of such a sale to you and your family, and so all of our farm purchase and sale work is handled by a highly experienced member of our team.

Servitudes

Rights of access over your land can cause a number of problems, particularly where they have not been drawn up properly. Rights of servitude can also be complicated and require skill and experience to navigate. You may be offered a standardised agreement by a service provider giving them very broad rights to use your land, for example to run cables, carry out maintenance and rights of way. However, such broad rights can restrict the control you have over your land and interfere with your business, so it is essential to seek specialist advice.

Agricultural Tenancies

The law of agricultural tenancies is very complex. However, our lawyers have excellent experience advising on all aspects of agricultural tenancies for both landlords and tenants. We can assist with; Short Limited Duration Tenancies (SLDTs), Limited Duration Tenancies (LTDs), Grazing Lets, Rent Reviews, succession and termination of tenancies.
agriculture solicitors ayrshire - the mckinstry company

Renewables developments and infrastructure schemes

We can assist with all elements of renewables and infrastructure development, including interference with utilities, contract variations, negotiation of renewable energy deals, and all related contractual legal issues.

Rural disputes

Like every other sector, agriculture has its own set of distinct challenges that can result in disputes. However, land and rural property disputes can often be complex, and require expert experience and legal expertise to be resolved properly. Our team here at The McKinstry company have varied experience in helping clients with disputes relating to:

  • Appeals of planning decisions or compulsory purchase orders advice
  • Tenancy disputes in agricultural holdings
  • Disputes concerning the structure of agricultural, farming and rural businesses
  • Succession disputes including succession to leases and Wills and contentious estates.
  • Regulatory appeals, including rural support payments compliance

Family Business Succession

There are a range of business structures available to those in the agricultural sector. From partnerships, limited companies to sole traders, we can advise on the best business structure to suit your needs and ensure everything is in place to support whatever structure you decide on. We can advise on how to hand the farm or business down to the next generation including providing advice and assistance with tax and retirement planning, and long-term care needs. For more information on how we can help you with family business succession, click here.

A Comprehensive Legal Service

agriculture lawyers ayrshire - the mckinstry company We understand that our farming and agriculture clients need assistance with a wide range of legal services. That is why we are proud to be lawyers for life, and can help you with employment, family law, wills and power of attorney.

We have experts in each of these service areas ready to help, that can provide specialist advice for your specific needs and circumstances.

One Step Ahead

Our agriculture team stay up to date with developments affecting our clients and can provide you with specialist advice on how to deal with upcoming changes. We can assist with advising you in agricultural and community tenant’s rights to buy, changes to the land registration system in Scotland, and the Scottish Governments land reform proposals. For straightforward and practical advice that works for you, contact us today.

Contact The McKinstry Company Agriculture Lawyers, Ayrshire

At The McKinstry Company our team have years of experience in advising the agriculture sector on all areas and have been at the forefront of recent developments with renewables growth etc. Our team provide a friendly and knowledgeable service at a time to suit you.

For more information about what we do, and immediate access to our expert services contact Debbie Dunlop on 01465 915021. For our agriculture legal services FAQs please click here.

Debbie Dunlop Partner
Contact Debbie
View Debbie's Profile

Based in our Girvan office, Debbie is a Partner who is highly experienced in Private Client work, particularly in the agricultural and farming sectors. She used to enjoy travelling the world, but now married to a farmer, she spends her weekends in wellies, feeding cattle or on the back of a quad bike. Debbie is also a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

Having lived in Rome for a number of years, Debbie also studied Law at the Université d’Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand – as a result, she is fluent in both Italian and French. She can also speak a bit of Spanish, thanks to travelling around various Central and South American countries, including walking the Inca trail. She has managed to convince her husband that the cattle in Argentina will be worth a look at some time soon!

A keen runner, Debbie has competed in 10Ks and half marathons, even completing the Rome Marathon. This now comes in handy during lambing time chasing after ewes.

Ayr Sandgate

Queen’s Court House
39 Sandgate
Ayr, Ayrshire
KA7 1BE

01292 281711
enquiries@mckinstry.co.uk

  • Disability access
  • Parking close by

Girvan

146-148 Dalrymple Street
Girvan, Ayrshire
KA26 9BQ

01465 713118
enquiries@mckinstry.co.uk

  • Disability access
  • Parking close by
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Some of our happy clients

  • Really helpful and friendly always replied to calls and emails. Thank you very much for all your help and advice and hard work.

    Mr S, Auchinleck

  • First class throughout 100% better than last time we moved house and used a different firm. Always responded to promptly with appropriate detailed replies. First Class

    Mr N, Ayr

  • Thank you for the support during a difficult time.

    Mrs M, Ayr

  • Every email was timely and actioned quickly. Kirsty and Libby were exceptional to deal with. They kept me informed in a timely manner with the added complication of our sale being carried out whilst we are currently based in America.

    Anon.

  • My emails were always responded to in a timely manner no matter who I was dealing with. Thank you to Nat and Kirsty who helped throughout our move and during some difficult times when lock down was first announced! They have both been great.

    Miss K, Dalry

  • Everything was done extremely professionally.

    Mrs G, Ayr

  • Very happy with the way my case has been dealt with despite working restrictions due covid 19 - thank you. Calls & emails always responded to within reasonable timescale. Very impressed with lawyers and staff I have dealt with during current case and previous divorce case very friendly and efficient.

    Mrs H, Ayr

  • All very prompt, efficient, clear, friendly and personable. Not overwhelming with legal jargon. Many thanks for making the process of setting up a will so straightforward.

    Mrs D, Troon

  • We required our Wills to be amended and that was done without any problems whatsoever.

    Mrs F, Ayr

  • Very business-like and helpful

    Mr M, Ayr

  • I was very impressed with the professionalism shown by all members of staff I had any dealing with. All calls and emails were relevant to the sale of my flat. All questions I had were dealt with at the time. For any further legal matters I will certainly be using The McKinstry Company

    Mr H, Ayr

  • Excellent service most happy with attentiveness and customer service.

    Mr F, Condorrat

  • Nat & Libby efficiently dealt with every question I had.

    Mrs K, Ayr

  • Kirsty understood our weird schedule when we were often 8 hours behind UK time, and simplified things for us by liaising via email. She was extremely approachable and dependable. In Kirsty’s absence, Jodie and Nathaniel would step in and communicate with us, and were very helpful too.

    Mrs N, Ayr

  • Great service and always on hand to answer our questions. Prompt and efficient response.

    Mr H, Ferniegair

  • Questions and communication were answered promptly

    Mr W, Sinclairston

  • Speaking from my own personal experience I was perfectly happy with the service I received. Everything was done to my satisfaction.

    Mrs I, Largs

  • Very efficient, timely and very mannerly on the phone

    Mr McN, Mauchline

  • The service was superb.  Kirsty and team were extremely helpful.

    Mr and Mrs R, Ayr

  • First class service from start till finish. Always there to give help and advice.

    Mr R, Ayr

  • Great service and advice from a good professional company.

    Mr R, Kilmarnock

  • Excellent, very friendly and professional. I will be using you for all my property transactions in the future!

    Mrs S, Godstone

  • My case was handled sensitively and smoothly.

    Mr N, Ayr

  • Everyone concerned in the sale of our property was very efficient and kept us up to date with all happenings.

    D Ferguy, Cookstown

  • Great service.  Would recommend you to others.

    Mr S, Kirkmichael

  • Communication was always available when required. Made me feel confident throughout the process.

    Mr L, Ayr

  • Always replied or phoned back when I needed my questions answered.

    Miss McF, Patna

  • A very prompt and friendly service, a pleasure to deal with.

    Mr R, Aberdeen

  • Robert was very supportive.

    M Carruthers, Kilmarnock.

  • Great, Rebecca was very pleasant to deal with and went out of her way to help with our case

    S Everett, Kilbarchan

  • The solicitor / paralegal I was dealing with was very professional and performed to a high standard. I was very impressed.

    B Ferguson, Methil

  • Local firm, word of mouth good reports.

    K Rooney, Glasgow

  • All queries were dealt with in a prompt and professional manner and I was kept informed of progress as events developed. Thank you very much for making a difficult situation much easier to deal with.

    Mrs McG, Ayr

  • Communication via telephone and email was regular, prompt and comprehensive. All queries and questions were answered with no delays or problems. My experience with the McKinstry Company was pleasant and smooth.

    Mr McK, Ayr

  • My family and I received excellent service from everyone with whom we had contact. The service was of the highest standard and, as I have in the past, I will continue to recommend the company to anyone seeking legal assistance.

    Mrs S, Ayr

  • All emails and calls were dealt with promptly. Very impressed. Very very pleased with service.

    Mr and Mrs H, Hull

  • I enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Very professional.

    Mrs A, Ayr

  • Mr Honeyman was very professional and knowledgeable which made us feel reassured. Very happy with the service and if I needed a solicitor again I would get in touch.

    Mr B, Ardrossan

  • Prompt quick efficient communication.

    Mrs K, Cumnock

  • Ease of making appointments and timescale for completion of business all good.

    Mr & Mrs T, Maybole

  • Gave reassurance and comfort at a stressful time. I felt ten times better after our first meeting and support provided ultimately exceeded my desired outcome.

    Mr N, Saltcoats

  • The supportive way that the advice was provided along with the willingness to fit appointments in with our requirements

    Mr R, Ayr

  • The whole process was handled with upmost professionalism throughout.

    Mr McN, Kilwinning
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