Rural Property and Business
Our team of agricultural specialists is deeply connected with the rural world, and many of the relationships we’ve built have lasted through generations. We offer practical advice and insight on succession planning, sales and purchases, renewables projects, agricultural tenancies, and the full range of issues that matter to people who live, work or operate in the rural sector.

The rural world has seen a lot of change in recent years. Land reform, Brexit, taxation changes and climate change have all created uncertainty and risk. We work with individuals and institutions across the rural sector, giving them the specific guidance that they need to move forward in this rapidly evolving environment.

The close connections that many of our senior lawyers have within the rural sector give us a deep understanding not just of our clients’ perspectives and priorities, but the realities and challenges of their day-to-day work. We greatly value the relationships we’ve developed over time, some of which have continued from one generation to the next.

Our legal expertise is exceptionally strong (with five members of our team accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as Specialists in Agricultural Law) and broad, covering everything from renewables to tax to disputes. And this is augmented by support from the other specialist teams within the firm.

All of this means that we’re able to help our clients with all the various legal issues that they might face. It also enables us to proactively guide them – alerting them to new laws or other future developments, and giving them the advice they need to manage those changes successfully.

We have expertise in all areas of rural and estate law, including:

Meet our key contacts

Petra Grunenberg

Partner and Head of Rural Property and Business

Contact by email

+44 (0)1224 343 554

+44 (0)758 588 8647

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Meet our key contacts

Stuart Greenwood

Partner

Forestry, Carbon and Natural Capital, Agricultural Tenancies, Share Farming and Contract Farming Arrangements

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Petra Grunenberg

Partner and Head of Rural Property and Business

Rural Property and Business, Rural Succession Planning, Renewables, Purchase and Sale of Agricultural and Rural Property and Rural Finance, Farming Partnerships

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Stephanie Hepburn

Partner

Right of Responsible Access, Crofting Law

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Hamish Lean

Partner

Agricultural Tenancies, Share Farming and Contract Farming Arrangements

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Richard Leslie

Partner

Land Management and Diversification, Forestry, Crofting Law

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Emma Robertson

Partner

Land Management and Diversification, Right of Responsible Access, Farming Partnerships, Crofting Law, Agricultural Tenancies, Share Farming and Contract Farming Arrangements

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Meet our full team

Kathryn Argo

Senior Solicitor

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Sophie Bailey

Senior Associate

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Laura Barron

Associate

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Heather Bird

Director

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Emma Brown

Solicitor

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Alanna Buchan

Solicitor

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Gillian Campbell

Partner

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Vicky Christie

Senior Associate

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Christopher Clark

Associate

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Emma De Sailly

Senior Associate

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Rebecca Devine

Solicitor

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Lauren Finlay

Senior Solicitor

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Gillian Gibbons

Director

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Alexis Graham

Partner

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Olivia Greener

Solicitor

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Stuart Greenwood

Partner

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Petra Grunenberg

Partner and Head of Rural Property and Business

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Emma Hendrie

Senior Solicitor

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Stephanie Hepburn

Partner

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Elaine Hunter

Partner

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Alexandra Lane

Director

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Hamish Lean

Partner

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Richard Leslie

Partner

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Keith McLaren

Partner

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John Morrison

Partner

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Harry Oliff

Senior Solicitor

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Sophie Philip-Davidson

Senior Solicitor

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Scarlett Retallack

Senior Associate

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Emma Robertson

Partner

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Alison Rochester

Partner

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Malcolm Rust

Partner

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Sarah Shepherd

Solicitor

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Ross Simpson

Senior Solicitor

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Douglas Sinclair

Partner

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Tom Swan

Partner

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Fiona Taylor

Senior Solicitor

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John Townsend

Partner

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Susie Tweedie

Senior Associate

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Related articles and insights: Rural Property and Business

8 September 2025

Right to roam v right to resort: Scottish Borders Council approves draft byelaw for Center Parcs development

Contributor: Stephanie Hepburn

Scottish Borders Council backs a draft byelaw to restrict public access at the proposed Center Parcs site near Hawick, sparking debate over Scotland’s right to roam and the future of open countryside.

Read more...

1 August 2025

Water disputes

Contributors:
Stephanie Hepburn, Ross Simpson

Private water supplies can be crucial to those living and working in rural Scotland. As demand increases and weather patterns become more erratic, disputes over water rights and responsibilities are rising. We have seen a marked increase in enquires from owners of private water supplies about these matters in recent times. 

Read more...

23 July 2025

Deer management for tenant farmers

Contributor: Hamish Lean

What rights do tenant farmers have when it comes to damages caused by deer? There are thought to be over a million deer in Scotland and the pressure that this huge population causes to farming cannot be underestimated. 

Read more...

10 July 2025

Joint ventures in the clean energy sector: Directors’ duties

Contributor: Kirstin Mackay

In this fourth instalment in our clean energy joint ventures series, we look at the topic of director duties. 

Read more...

30 June 2025

Connections reforms: Gate 2 to Whole Queue timeline and challenges

Contributor: Liz McRobb

The recently published National Energy System Operator’s connections reform timetable requires all developers who have projects with existing signed connection agreements in place to apply for a Gate 2 offer to receive an identified connection location and energisation date for their project. This marks the single biggest administrative exercise we have ever seen impacting grid agreements.

Read more...

25 June 2025

Rural sector urged to embrace opportunities to lead on sustainable land management

Contributor: Stuart Greenwood

A packed audience gathered in the Lowland Hall at the Royal Highland Showground on Friday 20th June for the annual rural business breakfast briefing hosted by Shepherd and Wedderburn and Bidwells.

Read more...

• Read more related insights.
• Read more related news.

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Contact us

Petra Grunenberg

Partner and Head of Rural Property and Business

Contact by email

+44 (0)1224 343 554

+44 (0)758 588 8647

Connect on LinkedIn

Download vCard

View Profile