In this episode, James Frankland, Partner in our Agriculture and Estates team, sits down with Lisa Millington, Head of Agricultural Private Client, to give you the latest update on the rollercoaster that has been Inheritance Tax reforms for farmers and rural business owners.

James and Lisa begin with the Autumn 2025 budget, unpacking how Rachel Reeves’ announcement lived up to the hopes and fears of the farming community, and in particular the announcement that the relief allowance would be transferrable between spouses after all.

They then move on to the pre-Christmas U-turn, which saw the shock announcement that the £1 million Agricultural and Business Property Relief allowance would be uplifted from £1 million to £2.5 million, creating a potential £5 million relief for married couples.

— a shift that opened up meaningful estate planning opportunities, particularly for younger farming families looking ahead to future lifetime gifts. They explain how HMRC’s emphasis on “unused” relief interacts with existing spousal exemptions, and what that means in practice.

• Why the change represents a huge improvement — but not a complete solution
• How the U-turn may have been influenced by the Farm Profitability Review
• The types of farming businesses that benefit most (and those still left exposed)
• Real‑world examples of how clients’ inheritance tax positions are shifting
• Why this is about supporting businesses as well as farms

Looking ahead, James and Lisa outline the steps farmers can still take before the rules come into force in April, reflect on rumours of possible delays, and clarify whether existing planning is now redundant (spoiler: it isn’t). They share practical actions — from reviewing structures to considering trusts — and discuss what we may expect from HMRC as implementation unfolds.

Talk Farm highlights the challenges and opportunities shaping rural life in the UK. Each episode offers expert industry commentary and practical guidance for those navigating the issues facing agriculture and landed estates today.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Find out more about HCR Law's services for Agriculture and Estates here.

In this episode of Talk Farm, Bryn Thomas speaks with Abi Reader, Vice President of NFU Cymru and dairy farmer, as she nears the end of her four-year term and looks ahead to a possible presidency.

Their discussion explores the current state of Welsh farming, including strong beef and lamb prices, challenges for poultry and arable farmers, and key topics such as water quality, TB, inheritance tax, and the sustainable farming scheme.

They also address environmental issues, net zero ambitions, and the challenge of balancing food production with sustainability. Abi highlights her outreach in schools, including ‘Cows on Tour’, the importance of farm safety, and the need for recruitment and skills development to ensure a thriving agricultural sector.

Talk Farm highlights the challenges and opportunities shaping rural life in the UK. Each episode offers expert industry commentary and practical guidance for those navigating the issues facing agriculture and landed estates today.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Find out more about HCR Law's services for Agriculture and Estates here.

In this episode of Talk Farm, Bryn Thomas speaks with Abi Reader, Vice President of NFU Cymru and dairy farmer, as she nears the end of her four-year term and looks ahead to a possible presidency.

Their discussion explores the current state of Welsh farming, including strong beef and lamb prices, challenges for poultry and arable farmers, and key topics such as water quality, TB, inheritance tax, and the sustainable farming scheme.

They also address environmental issues, net zero ambitions, and the challenge of balancing food production with sustainability. Abi highlights her outreach in schools, including ‘Cows on Tour’, the importance of farm safety, and the need for recruitment and skills development to ensure a thriving agricultural sector.

Talk Farm highlights the challenges and opportunities shaping rural life in the UK. Each episode offers expert industry commentary and practical guidance for those navigating the issues facing agriculture and landed estates today.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Find out more about HCR Law's services for Agriculture and Estates here.

The latest episode of our Agriculture and Estates podcast, Talk Farm, explores one of the most pressing issues facing UK farms today: workforce challenges and immigration compliance.

Co-Host Rory Hutchings is joined by Aled Owen, Partner in our Agriculture and Estates team, and Lynne Adams, Legal Director in our Employment and Immigration team, to unpack a recent case they advised on involving migrant workers and the lessons it offers for the farming community.

The case concerns a leading dairy farm in Wales, known for its high standards in animal welfare, regulatory compliance and progressive waste management. After Brexit, the farm hired migrant workers to address a labour shortage but was later raided by immigration authorities.

This episode covers:

· How the regulator’s intervention unfolded and the employment arguments at the heart of the case

· Why dairy farms have become a focus for enforcement action by immigration authorities

· What farms can do to protect themselves from similar challenges.

Talk Farm highlights the challenges and opportunities shaping rural life in the UK. Each episode offers expert industry commentary and practical guidance for those navigating the issues facing agriculture and landed estates today.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Find out more about HCR Law's services for Agriculture and Estates here.

Relationship therapist Adele Ballantyne and family mediator Sarah Smith join HCR Law Partner, Hannah Nicholls to explore the challenges of parenting through separation.

They share insights from their work supporting families, discussing mediation, child-inclusive practice, and ongoing family consultancy.

In a fast-changing world for families and relationships, Family Matters explores the legal and emotional sides of family law, offering expert insight and real-world guidance on everything from divorce and finances to children and co-parenting. Each episode cuts through legal jargon to focus on what really matters to people navigating family change.

The show is presented by Christopher Finch and Hannah Nicholls, with guests from HCR Law’s Family Law team. If you need advice or support, our team is here to help.

Discover how farmers and communities can reduce staggering levels of UK food waste with special guest Roz Scott from Still Good Food

Did you know that an estimated 3.3 to 3.6 million tonnes of food never leave UK farms each year? Talk Farm returns for a second series, and we’re kicking off by delving into this urgent issue and uncovering how innovative solutions—and passionate people—are tackling the challenge from the ground up.

Join host James Frankland as he sits down with Roz Scott, Gleaning Coordinator at Still Good Food. Roz brings her expertise from the frontlines of the fight against food waste, sharing insights from her work rescuing surplus produce and empowering communities. Discover how her organisation, Still Good Food, is making a real difference by connecting farms, volunteers, and those in need.

This episode includes:

• Behind-the-scenes look at how gleaning is helping UK farmers reduce waste and boost sustainability
• Roz Scott’s journey and the mission of Still Good Food to rescue surplus produce and feed local communities
• Eye-opening statistics: 3.3 to 3.6 million tonnes of food wasted on UK farms every year
• The influence of supermarkets and supply chains in driving farm-level food waste
• Benefits for farmers: cutting costs, building community, and supporting foodbanks
• How listeners can get involved in gleaning and food redistribution in their own areas
• Exploring the history and roots of gleaning in agriculture

In increasingly turbulent times for agriculture and landed estates, Talk Farm sets out to identify the human impacts of legal and political developments, offering industry commentary and practical guidance that cuts through the noise.

The show is hosted by members of our Agriculture and Estates team, many of whom are working farmers as well as experts in agricultural law. Learn more about our services for farmers and rural professionals.

In this special episode of Family Matters, Beverley Morris is joined by George Mathieson and Jonathan Galbraith for a deep dive into the complexities of pensions in divorce. They discuss how pensions are valued, common client misconceptions, the use of Galbraith Tables, and why certain assumptions around retirement ages can lead to costly complications.

They also shed light on issues such as lost benefits, pension attachment orders, and when a report is truly needed – offering practical guidance for legal professionals and clients navigating financial settlements.

In a fast-changing world for families and relationships, Family Matters explores the legal and emotional sides of family law, offering expert insight and real-world guidance on everything from divorce and finances to children and co-parenting. Each episode cuts through legal jargon to focus on what really matters to people navigating family change.

The show is presented by Beverley Morris. If you need advice or support, our team is here to help.

https://www.hcrlaw.com/service/family-law/

In this episode of Family Matters, host Christopher Finch is joined by Partner and Co-head of Family Worcester Anita Hennessey and Consultant Andrew Caldicott to discuss how the family court has changed over time and what those changes mean for families and legal professionals today.

They explore the wide range of issues that come before the family courts, including divorce, financial disputes, child arrangements, domestic abuse, and child protection. The discussion highlights how societal changes, like the rise in cohabiting couples and blended families, have influenced the types of cases the courts handle.

The team reflects on how modernisation, such as the introduction of online systems and the decline of direct contact with local courts, has made processes more efficient in some ways, but also more challenging for clients.

In a fast-changing world for families and relationships, Family Matters explores the legal and emotional sides of family law, offering expert insight and real-world guidance on everything from divorce and finances to children and co-parenting. Each episode cuts through legal jargon to focus on what really matters to people navigating family change.

The show is presented by Christopher Finch and Hannah Nicholls, with guests from HCR Law’s experienced Family Law team. If you need advice or support, our team is here to help.

https://www.hcrlaw.com/service/family-law/

Mental health in farming has always been a problem, but it’s only in recent years that this has become prominent in the national conversation.

• Only 55% of farmers feel positive about their mental health, according to a survey conducted by Farmers Weekly.
• 95% of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today, according to a 2024 study by the Farm Safety Foundation.
• According to the Office for National Statistics, 62 farmers died by suicide in England and Wales in 2023.

For the final episode in series one of Talk Farm, host Rory Hutchings sits down with Malcolm Thomas, trustee and former Chairman of the National Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

Malcolm’s long and celebrated career has been dedicated to driving positive change in the agricultural sector, from his close involvement with RABI and his lifetime membership of the Young Farmers’ Club movement to leadership roles in the National Farmers Union. Malcolm has deservedly been awarded an MBE for services to agriculture in Wales.

In this conversation, one-time colleagues and long-term friends Malcolm and Rory discuss the factors driving poor mental health in the farming community, from unpredictable weather and livestock disease to lack of public support and loneliness.

As the government moves ahead with its plans to make significant cuts to Agricultural Relief and Business Property Relief, the challenge for farmers and landowners is becoming more acute.

Malcolm shares his perspective on how we can support those who are struggling, starting with improved agricultural education for the country more broadly and progressing to provide clear support paths for individuals who find themselves in trouble.

Resources for those in need:

• RABI offer a number of supports to those struggling with their mental health, including ‘Click & Chat,’ their online mental wellbeing service and connecting those in need with counselling support.
• The DPJ Foundation provide a 24/7 confidential counselling referral service for members of the agricultural community.

In increasingly turbulent times for agriculture and landed estates, Talk Farm sets out to identify the human impacts of legal and political developments, offering industry commentary and practical guidance that cuts through the noise.

The show is presented by Rory Hutchings and James Frankland, Partners in HCR Law’s Agriculture and Estates team. Learn more about our services for agricultural professionals.

In this episode of Family Matters, host Christopher Finch is joined by James Grigg, Head of Family at HCR Law, to talk about how finances are handled during divorce. They explain why getting divorced doesn’t automatically deal with money matters and how the courts step in to divide assets and support families.

James offers insight into how the law shapes these decisions and why no two cases are ever quite the same. They also explore how the legal approach has evolved to better reflect modern families, especially where children are involved.

In a fast-changing world for families and relationships, Family Matters explores the legal and emotional sides of family law, offering expert insight and real-world guidance on everything from divorce and finances to children and co-parenting. Each episode cuts through legal jargon to focus on what really matters to people navigating family change.

The show is presented by Christopher Finch and Hannah Nicholls, with guests from HCR Law’s experienced Family Law team. If you need advice or support, our team is here to help.

https://www.hcrlaw.com/service/family-law/