Law firm Ashfords LLP is pleased to announce that it has appointed Susie Murray as a partner joining its rural team.

Susie is experienced and well-regarded in the agriculture sector. She specialises in rural and equestrian non-contentious property matters, ranging from sales, purchases and tenancies, to secured lending, easements, sporting rights and profit à prendre.

She also advises private clients on property aspects of wealth planning and succession and supports dispute resolution teams on implementation of agreements and court orders relating to rural property.

Susie said: “There are some key issues in the rural sector at the moment, from the current Covid-19 crisis encouraging landowners to look at succession planning, to the impact of Brexit on food security. With clients seeking advice on these issues and more, it’s a particularly good time to join a firm like Ashfords that has continuing forward momentum.”

Susie has advised on disposals of multi-million-pound farming businesses including property arrangements for tax planning, environmental and overage provisions.

She has acted for lenders in the taking of security and institutional investors on acquisitions of investment property, advised landed estates in relation to sporting rights and leases, mines and minerals rights, as well as advised in respect of collaboration agreements including licence, share farming, contracting and tenancy agreements.

Read more: Dairy farmers can apply for £10,000 to help cover losses

Darren Blackburn, partner and head of residential property at Ashfords, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Susie into the fold. Her depth of expertise across a range of rural disciplines will be of significant benefit to the firm. It will enable our already strong rural team to continue delivering the best possible service to clients in the south west and further afield.”

Susie is a member of the Devon County Agricultural Association, the CLA, a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association, and a professional member of the NFU.