Regional law firms Foot Anstey and Thrings – both with offices in Bristol – have retained their places on the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) panel of specialist agricultural lawyers.
Foot Anstey has been re-appointed for a further three years to the South West region panel while Thrings continues its role on the panel covering the South East.
Both firms were reappointed following an intensive six-month review that considered legal services, fee structures and commitment to the organisation and its members, alongside feedback from members and NFU staff.
They will now be among just 15 firms across England and Wales to provide specialist legal advice to NFU members in farming and non-farming areas spanning succession planning, diversification, tax, planning, probate, family and conveyancing.
NFU members are also eligible to receive discounted fees in certain circumstances and other costs packages.
Thrings, which has the largest specialist agricultural team of any law firm in the UK, has been a member of the NFU legal panel since its inception in 2008.
South West NFU regional director Melanie Squires said she was delighted with the reappointment of Foot Anstey, adding: “Our rigorous and robust review process has been ongoing for the past five to six months.
“Our appointed firms have both strength and depth in agricultural and horticultural matters together with other non-agricultural related specialist areas that affect our members.” 
Foot Anstey head of agriculture and rural business Joel Woolf said: “We have worked hard to develop our relationships with the NFU across Devon and Cornwall. We look forward to continuing our specialist work assisting the sector in the region at this at this time of reduced commodity prices.”
Thrings’ appointment covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
The firm’s head of agriculture Peter Cusick said: “Thrings is very pleased to have been reappointed to the NFU legal panel. The firm has a long association with the NFU and our team of agriculture specialists is looking forward to continuing to provide the highest level of client care and quality of advice to NFU members, while building on the excellent relationship we have with the NFU at all levels, during the next three years.” 
NFU South East regional director William White added: “We are delighted that Thrings has been reappointed and will remain on the NFU legal panel for the South East for the next three years.
“Our farmer and grower members will be able to call on the firm’s outstanding expertise in agricultural law and its excellent value provided from the 12.5% discount which is exclusive to NFU members.
“Thrings has been retained for both its strength and depth in agricultural and horticultural matters, together with other non-agricultural related specialist areas that affect our members. We look forward to working closely with the firm in the future.”
Thrings, whose team of agriculture lawyers works across its offices in Bristol, Bath, London, Reading and Swindon, has been providing specialist legal advice to farmers, landowners and those involved in the business of agriculture for more than a century.
