Head of Rural Property, Agriculture, and Estates - Partner

Head of Rural Property, Agriculture, and Estates - Partner - Newcastle

Lex Exec is working with a highly respected full-service law firm with a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality, partner-led advice and exceptional personal service. The firm places real emphasis on values, collaboration, professionalism and long-term client relationships, often spanning multiple generations.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced rural and agricultural property lawyer to step into a senior leadership role with genuine influence over strategy, people and growth.

The firm is seeking a senior practitioner ideally with 8+ years PQE to lead its Agriculture and Rural Services offering. The role is suited to an established Partner or a senior lawyer ready for Partner, with a strong real estate focus and deep experience in rural and agricultural property work.
Exceptional candidates with lower PQE may be considered.

The Agriculture and Rural Services practice is well established and ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers. While the successful candidate must be a real estate specialist, the role carries firm-wide responsibility for the sector, working closely with colleagues across Real Estate, Corporate, Wills Trusts and Estates, Employment and Dispute Resolution.

This position offers the opportunity to shape, mould and develop the team, setting strategic direction while remaining closely involved in high quality client work.

• Sale and purchase of estates, farms, forestry and rural land
• Advising on rural development projects including housing and renewables
• Drafting and negotiating lease and option agreements
• Agricultural tenancies including creation, variation and termination
• Rural lettings including residential, commercial and sporting leases
• Title issues, boundary disputes and voluntary registration
• Advising on land use, overage agreements and rural business structures

• Leading the Agriculture and Rural Services offering across the firm
• Strategic planning and development of the team
• Business development and client relationship management
• Supervising and mentoring a junior rural property lawyer
• Working collaboratively with partners and teams across the firm

You will be a confident and commercially minded leader with significant experience in agricultural and rural property transactions. You will bring strong client facing skills, an appetite for business development and the ability to lead a team strategically while maintaining technical excellence.

This role will appeal to someone who values collaboration, professionalism and long term client relationships, and who wants to play a visible role in the future direction of a respected practice.

Lex Exec is a specialist legal recruitment consultancy working with leading law firms across the UK. We partner discreetly with firms and lawyers at senior level, providing honest market insight and a tailored, relationship led approach to career moves.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lex Exec directly.