Expert determination

Email: allisbeasley@brachers.co.uk
Professional Qualifications: Solicitor Advocate, Accredited Mediator

Allis Beasley is a Partner at Brachers LLP, specialising in real estate disputes. She qualified at Hogan Lovells, before heading up the real estate disputes team at Stevens & Bolton, and then joining Brachers in 2011. Allis is highly recommended as a Ranked Lawyer for real estate litigation in both Chambers as well as Legal 500. She is a Solicitor Advocate and also a part-time Judge in the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, where she determines cases relating to land registration, adverse possession, easements, boundary disputes, rectification and beneficial interest claims. 

Allis is a qualified mediator, acting as a judicial mediator for the First-tier Tribunal and as a mediator in property disputes. She is a trustee of East Malling Trust, which supports scientific research in the horticulture industry. She has spoken at the RICS South East Rural Forums and regularly writes articles for the publication the South East Farmer.

Email: allisbeasley@brachers.co.u

Email: CBeer@savills.com 

Professional Qualifications: MRICS, MCIArb, TEP, Accredited Mediator

Clive, a Chartered Surveyor, member of the Institute of Arbitrators/Accredited Mediator, Trust and Estate Practitioner (STEP) and experienced expert witness, became a Director of Savills in 2003 and in 2007 became Chairman of Savills Rural Professional Practice for the United Kingdom. In 2010 he launched the successful Savills International Mediation service and has significant experience in resolving high net worth contentious matters. 

Clive is a creative mind that is careful with risk: a lateral thinker not afraid of original solutions or unusual personalities. This background assists him in being an effective and high profile advisor to family offices and private clients throughout the UK and internationally. 

Clive has proven track record of building and working with a close professional team to consider and advise clients on the effective management of their investment assets, be those property based or not. International trusts and tax is an imperative part of well rounded advice and Clive ensures that clients use the best portfolio of advisors, resulting in successful outcomes and smooth running of family affairs.  

Email:  CBeer@savills.com 

Email: nerys@maesltd.co.uk 

Professional Qualifications: Solicitor, FALA, Accredited Mediator

Founder of a specialist agricultural law firm in 2011, Nerys is a recognised lawyer in her specialist fields of agricultural, environmental and planning law and has been a fellow of the agricultural law association since 2009. Her doctorate was in the implementation and enforcement of agricultural law and policy at international and regional levels of governance. she is knowledgeable about the legal and administrative devolved structure of the UK and is a fluent welsh speaker.

Nerys is an experienced and successful mediator, having qualified as an ADR accredited mediator in 2011. She has a reputation for her pragmatic and common sense approach to resolving disputes. Nerys has acted as mediator in many mediations across England and Wales on a variety of matters including equine disputes, estate disputes, property disputes, proprietary estoppel and landlord and tenant matters. She is also a CEDR exchange member.

A renowned expert in rural disputes, Nerys has worked with a vast number of rural professionals and businesses to manage change, succession, and collaboration.

Nerys was raised on a dairy farm and now runs a beef and sheep enterprise with her husband.

Email: nerys@maesltd.co.

Email: cmcnall@18sjs.com 

Professional Qualifications: Barrister, FALA, Accredited Mediatior 

Christopher McNall is a barrister specialising in agricultural law (especially tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, proprietary estoppel and Inheritance Act claims, and disputes involving crop failures and animal deaths) and is a CEDR accredited mediator. He edited the latest edition of the Agricultural Land section of Halsbury's Laws of England, and is the author of 'A Practical Guide to Agricultural Tenancies' and Practical Law's Rural Affairs 'View from the Bar' column.  

He has wide experience of advising and representing parties in disputes before Courts and Tribunals and in arbitrations. He also sits as a fee-paid judge of the County Court and the First-tier Tribunal and is Principal Judge of the Agricultural Land Tribunal for Wales/Tribiwnlys Tir Amaethyddol Cymru, where he has dealt with a wide range of tenancy and drainage disputes. He has also acted as an independent 'Third Party' appointed by the parties to determine disputes. 

Email: cmcnall@18sjs.co

Email: peters@falcon-chambers.com Professional Qualifications: Barrister, FCIArb 

Edward Peters is a property litigation specialist, experienced in all aspects of landlord and tenant and real property law – agricultural, commercial, and residential. He has been a barrister at Falcon Chambers since 1999, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2014.

‘Outstanding.’ (Chambers UK Guide)

Agricultural and rural disputes form a substantial part of his practice, encompassing Farming Partnerships, Farm Contracting Agreements, the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, and a very great variety of other property disputes; and, as to forum, contractual arbitrations, statutory arbitrations, and proceedings in the First-tier Tribunal, Agricultural Land Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

He has extensive experience of valuation issues, in many and diverse contexts. 

He is an editor of Muir Watt on Agricultural Holdings, Woodfall’s Law of Landlord and Tenant, and various other works concerning property law. 

Email: peters@falcon-chambers.com 

Email: ben.sharples@michelmores.com

Professional Qualifications: Solicitor, FRICS, FAAV, Accredited Mediator  

Ben has worked in the rural sector for 25 years having practised as a Chartered Surveyor and valuer for five years before becoming a solicitor specialising in resolving agricultural disputes.

Ben's dual-qualification enables him to apply the skills of both professions in analysing problems and making expert determinations across the broad range of rural property disputes. This combination of lawyer and surveyor means Ben can act when either or both disciplines are required. 

Ben is a member of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) Property Committee which briefs the membership on new legal issues, policy and practice relating to the occupation of land. He is also a contributor to the 10th Edition of Scammell, Densham & Williams' Law of Agricultural Holdings and has reviewed and contributed to the text of the CAAV numbered publications on Rent Reviews under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, Contract Farming Agreements and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Email: ben.sharples@michelmores.com

Email: shea@falcon-chambers.com

Professional Qualifications: Barrister, FCIArb 

Caroline Shea KC is a King's Counsel (appointed in 2016) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (appointed in 2014). She has specialised in property law since starting her career as a barrister at Falcon Chambers in 1995, where she continues to practice. Caroline specialises in rural and agricultural law, and co-authors Muir Watt and Moss (15th edition, 2018) on the law of agricultural holdings. 

As an arbitrator and expert, she is appointed in claims involving both agricultural and general property law. Typical disputes in which Caroline is appointed include: Notices to Quit, especially under the 1986 Act; rent reviews; restrictive covenants and easements; family trusts; development agreements; proprietary estoppel; dilapidations; boundary issues; questions of construction. She is listed as a leading silk for rural and agricultural law, and for general property litigation, in both the major directories, and in 2019 was nominated by Legal 500 as Real Estate Silk of the Year.

Email: shea@falcon-chambers.com

Email: mark.shelton@om.uk

Professional Qualifications: FCA, FBIAC, MAE

Mark Shelton is a forensic accountant, specialising in agricultural disputes. He has forty years’ experience of working in the agricultural industry and has acted as an expert accountant for over twenty years. He practises in the southwest regional firm, Old Mill Accountancy LLP, and was previously a Director in one of the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms.

His areas of expertise include quantum, business valuation and accountancy. He is regularly instructed as an expert in commercial, partnership, shareholder, landlord/tenant, and matrimonial disputes involving businesses in the agriculture, food and related sectors.

He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a fellow and former National Chairman of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants. He is a member of, and accredited as an expert by The Academy of Experts.   

Email: mark.shelton@om.uk

Email: mtownsend@savills.com

Professional Qualifications: FRICS, MCIArb, FAAV, TEP

Mike Townsend is a Director of Savills. He has a wealth of experience in dispute resolution, valuation and estate planning garnered during 40 years practicing as a chartered surveyor and is a member of STEP and an Arbitrator, Independent Expert and an Accredited Mediator.

He has been a member of the RICS panel of Arbitrators for 10 years and during that time has acted as arbitrator on a wide range of issues including the validity of notices to quit under the special cases A to H.

His deep understanding of the rural property market alongside his extensive experience in the dispute resolution arena and his knowledge and understanding of arbitration law and procedure enables him to assimilate and filter evidence quickly and efficiently.

Mike’s approach is technically thorough and detailed with a good measure of practicality and common sense.

Email: mtownsend@savills.com

Email: vivienne.williams@michelmores.com

Professional Qualifications: Solicitor

Vivienne is a partner in the Agricultural team at Michelmores LLP, with over twenty years experience of advising on all aspects of contentious agricultural work.

She studied Jurisprudence at St Hugh's College, Oxford and in Chambers and Partners 2020 it is noted "she is excellent – her technical knowledge is first class."

Vivienne specialises in agricultural landlord and tenant, including farm business tenancies, succession and notices to quit. Her practice includes farming partnerships and dissolutions, contractual disputes, co-ownership, contractual and trust disputes. She also advises on rights of way, subsidies and farming structures including contracting and joint venture agreements. 

Vivienne contributed to the LexisNexis Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents, Agricultural Tenancies Volume, and more recently to the 10th Edition of Scammell, Densham and Williams's Law of Agricultural Holdings. 

Email: vivienne.williams@michelmores.com

Email: windsor@falcon-chambers.com

Professional Qualifications: Barrister, FCIArb

Emily Windsor is a barrister practising from Falcon Chambers, London. She is listed as a leading practitioner for both Real Estate Litigation and Agriculture in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Guides.

Clients have described her as “brilliant”; “a true expert”; “stand-out” and “very pragmatic and clear”.

Emily has wide experience of property litigation at all levels, with particular expertise in agricultural arbitrations. She regularly sits a Deputy District Judge and arbitrator. She is also frequently invited to act as a legal assessor. Until recently, Emily was also a board member of the Bar Standards Board.

Email: windsor@falcon-chambers.com

Email: jeremyzeid@icloud.com

Professional Qualifications: FRICS, FCIArb, FAAV

Jeremy is a rural practice Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer with over 25 years’ experience. He regularly acts as an arbitrator to resolve a wide variety of rural property related disputes including statutory arbitrations under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 as well as disagreements under Contract Farming and Partnership Agreements.

He specialises in the valuation of rural, agricultural and equestrian property and is frequently appointed as an Independent Expert to determine valuation disputes under Option Agreements and Overage Deeds in relation to residential development land throughout East Anglia.

He holds a Masters Degree in Arbitration Law & Dispute Resolution Practice from Kingston University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Email: jeremyzeid@icloud.com