Family businesses are subject to unique pressures, from succession and generational tension to questions about roles, entitlement and leadership.

In this exclusive podcast episode, Peter Brewer, Partner in our Dispute Resolution team, speaks with family business adviser George Bryan to explore how these challenges can escalate into disputes – and how the right structures can reduce this risk.

Together, they discuss the practical steps family-owned businesses can take to protect relationships, value and long term business continuity, with George sharing insight from more than 30 years in his own multigenerational family business, Drayton Manor.

They also cover:

• How succession and family expectations shape conflict

• How family constitutions and shareholders’ agreements can prevent future disputes

• When to professionalise management and bring in external expertise

• The impact of skills gaps and overlooked development opportunities.

To learn more about how our Dispute Resolution team supports family owned businesses, visit the HCR Law website. You can find out more about George’s advisory work and get in touch with him on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Rory Hutchings, Partner and Head of our Agriculture and Estates team, sits down with Robyn Sermon, CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia, Dr Bernard Moonga from the University of Zambia and President of the Agriculture and Commercial Show Society of Zambia and Will Prichard, Welsh farmer and owner of Natural Wagyu, to explore what the digitalisation of agriculture means for farmers worldwide.

They discuss how digital tools are already boosting efficiency, productivity and yields and how AI, autonomous machinery and data‑driven decision‑making are reshaping day‑to‑day farming across continents.

The panel also address the realities on the ground, including the cost of adopting agriculture technology and the risk of pricing out smaller farms, the skills gap, data‑ownership concerns and the practical challenges of implementing new systems for farmers.

They also discuss:

• How social media and digital storytelling are shifting perceptions of farming careers

• Whether the UK is falling behind on tech adoption

• Why understanding the commercial value of technology is essential before investing

• How collaboration, education and hands‑on support can help farmers decide when and how to embrace innovation.

Drawing on perspectives from Wales, Western Australia and Zambia, Rory and the panel share real‑world insight into how technology is reshaping agriculture today.

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.

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

This episode was produced in collaboration with the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. Find out more about HCR Law's services for Agriculture and Estates here.

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.

This shift opens 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/