A PARTNER at a leading North-east law firm has been appointed to an expert group that will advise the Scottish Government on its review of agricultural holdings legislation.
Hamish Lean, partner at Stronachs and a specialist in agricultural law, will counsel the Scottish Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead MSP, on delivering a sustainable tenant farming sector as part of the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review.
Mr Lean, who currently sits on the Law Society of Scotland’s Rural Affairs Committee and the NFUS Legal and Technical Committee, is a frequent practitioner in the Scottish Land Court and is an influential voice on agricultural law topics.
He will advise the Scottish Government over how it can get the best out of the land and the people farming it, and how it can work to provide increased opportunities for new entrants.
It is expected that an interim report will be produced by June 2014, which will include an update over considerations to any Absolute Right to Buy (ARTB) legislation. A final report will be produced in December 2014 containing any recommendations, including proposals for any legislative and fiscal changes.
Commenting, Mr Lean said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to this review group and I look forward to playing a key role in evolving agricultural holdings legislation.
“I have been an accredited agricultural lawyer for 13 years and have always had a very keen interest in the tenanted sector.
“Indeed, I provide a legal helpline for the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and am acutely aware of the unique importance of agricultural tenancies in a successful rural Scotland.”
Managing partner at Stronachs, David Rennie, said: “It is widely acknowledged that Hamish is one of Scotland’s top ranking farming law experts and I am certain that his experience will prove invaluable to the government’s review group.
“Not only is Hamish’s appointment a clear endorsement of his outstanding abilities, it is also a fantastic accolade for Stronachs.
“Stronachs prides itself on providing its clients with expertise of the highest quality and Hamish’s inclusion in such an influential panel is testament to the high regard that the services which he, and in turn Stronachs, provides.”
Stronachs LLP has offices in Aberdeen and Inverness, and is now one of the few independent law firms owned, managed and operated from the North-east of Scotland providing legal and commercial advice across the UK and on an international basis.
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