Services - Rural Property and Countryside Matters

Rural property work has always been at the core of Murray Beith Murray’s business. Since the firm was first established in 1849, we have acted for many owners and occupiers of rural property and continue to do so. Our rural property and private client teams work closely together with a view to providing seamless advice to our rural clients and we take particular pride in our ability to consider the totality of your affairs and to assist you in determining and pursuing your long-term objectives.

We will be happy to act for you in relation to your rural property requirements, whether you are a long term owner seeking to expand your estate or a new buyer venturing into rural property ownership for the first time. Buying a rural property is likely to have a significant impact on certain aspects of your life, not least your finances. Combine this with the ever-expanding volume of law regulating the ownership and management of land, together with the increasing complexity of regulations relating to environmental matters and agricultural subsidies, and the whole process can seem hugely daunting. We recognise this and have developed expertise in relation to both the property aspects of acquisition and management of rural land and the tax and financial aspects of these operations. We will happily liaise with your Land Agents, accountants and other professional advisers to ensure your wishes are carried out tin the most efficient manner possible.

If you are seeking to dispose of a rural property, we will again be happy to assist you. We have developed close working relationships with the major land and estate agents and will liaise with them to ensure that your sale moves forward as expeditiously as possible. Again, we will happily consult with accountants and other advisers with a view to ensuring this.

Whether you are a landowner, farmer or conservationist, or using land for sporting activities, renewable energy schemes or other purposes, we will draw on our wide experience in rural property law to provide you with comprehensive, expert advice.

We also advise on landlord and tenant law; land use and development; and land diversification such as wind farms, forestry, nature conservation and environmental issues. In addition, we can handle security work required in connection with the financing of a purchase and on the issue of succession to property.

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Hugh Younger Senior Partner

hugh.younger@murraybeith.co.uk

Hugh is the Senior Partner and has more than 25 years experience of private client work. He specialises in wealth management and succession planning, and has a particular interest in estate planning for landowners.

Hugh’s work involves advising individuals and families on a range of complex legal and financial issues, including wills, trusts, inheritance tax planning, capital gains tax and general financial management.

Hugh and his team advise a number of landowners on estate planning and rural property matters, and have significant experience in the purchase and sale of large houses, estates, farms and salmon fisheries. They also advise on issues relating to land use, including; agriculture, wind farms, forestry, buildings of historic interest, sporting leases, nature conservation and environmental issues.

Hugh is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and he is on the Board of Northern Venture Trust, which is a Venture Capital Trust.

Areas of work

• Wealth management
• Estate planning
• Succession planning
• Rural property
• Land use and development

Richard Black Associate

richard.black@murraybeith.co.uk

Richard Black is an Associate in the firm’s Rural Property Group. He joined the firm as a trainee in 1981, began specialising in rural property matters in 1985 and was made Associate in 1992.

His specialisation in rural property matters has given him a wealth of experience in representing clients of all kinds including individuals, partnerships, trusts, companies, pension funds and others in the purchase, sale and management of rural properties of all kinds. He has an ability to offer sound practical advice and tries wherever possible to take a solution-based approach to clients’ problems.

He acts for primarily land and estate owners and works for them in acquisitions, disposals, securities, leases, granting of servitudes and the numerous other matters on which legal input is required. Where necessary, he will act in conjunction with colleagues in Rural Property, Residential Property and other teams within the firm, as well as outside advisers to achieve the results and solutions the client requires.

Areas of work

• Purchase and sale of estates, farms and salmon fisheries
• Rural land management and development
• Agricultural and sporting leases

Ross Simpson Associate

ross.simpson@murraybeith.co.uk

Ross is an Associate in the Rural Property Group, specialising in rural and commercial property. His clients include private individuals, trusts, partnerships and companies. Ross' strong background in a diverse mix of property transactions means he is expertly placed to offer clients sound, commercially intelligent advice.

His wide-ranging rural practice spans general estates work, farm purchases, servitudes and wayleaves, salmon fishings, forestry holdings, telecommunication mast sites, building plots and residential sales. He handles the complexities associated with rural land transactions including crofting issues. Ross' expertise also extends to renewables and he deals in all aspects of advising landowners in relation to option agreements and leases for proposed renewables developments.

Ross' substantial commercial experience has seen him act for clients in many sectors including retail, office and industrial. He advises on acquisitions, disposals, portfolio management and leases. He has a keen interest in property development and has worked at all stages of the development process including title investigation, options, site assembly and project funding. Ross has experience of acting for both developers and land owners.

Areas of work

• Purchase and sale of estates, farms, woodland, etc
• Rural land management and development
• Commercial land use and leasing
• Sporting leases
• Renewables