Birketts expands agriculture team in Bristol

10 Feb 2026Appointments

From left to right: Arron Joliffe, Laura Prouse, Kate Lucas, Danielle Spalding, Edward Venmore

Birketts has welcomed a team of five agriculture specialists to enhance its Bristol office's capabilities in supporting rural clients

UK Top 50 law firm Birketts has announced the addition of five agriculture specialists to its Bristol office, aiming to strengthen its already prominent agricultural team. The new arrivals include Partner Edward Venmore, Legal Director Danielle Spalding, Senior Associate Kate Lucas, and Associates Arron Joliffe and Laura Prouse.

Edward Venmore brings extensive expertise in rural land and farming business matters, advising clients on various litigations such as rural land disputes and agricultural tenancies. "With talented lawyers like Danielle, Oliver, Kate, Arron and Laura, we are building a team capable of delivering exceptional support to the landowners, estates and rural businesses we serve," he said, reflecting on the firm's commitment.

Danielle Spalding represents a diverse client base, including farmers and developers, and her background equips her to manage complex disputes in the agricultural landscape. She expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I’m thrilled to be joining Birketts at such an exciting time for the firm’s growing agricultural practice in the West."

This expansion reflects Birketts' strategic aim to enhance its agricultural presence in the West of England and Wales. Chris Coupland, Partner and Head of Agriculture, articulated his excitement about the team's integration, indicating that the firm is poised to provide "next level legal advice on all aspects of agricultural business – whether litigation or transactional."

The influx of talent aims to further support the unique challenges faced by landowning clients and rural businesses in the region, reinforcing the firm’s dedication to agricultural law excellence. With this move, Birketts is set to make a significant impact on the agricultural sector in the West.

Legal News desk contact: editorial@solicitorsjournal.com

Latest Articles

Global justice still dominated by men

A new report highlights the alarming gender disparity in global justice institutions and calls for change

Digital fraud targeting elderly increases significantly

A legal expert has raised concerns over a 300% rise in digital fraud targeting vulnerable elderly individuals through power of attorney manipulation

Leveson 2 and youth justice

Beyond jury trial reform, Leveson 2 contains important recommendations for youth justice that deserve closer legal scrutiny

MXV v Secretary of State for Home Department: HIV detention and Article 3 duties clarified

Detention of HIV-positive foreign national examined under Article 3 ECHR and Hardial Singh principles.

Nino Henriques Nunes v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Transitional arrangements and discretionary leave policy

High Court clarifies application of pre-2012 criminality rules to discretionary leave settlement applications.

MWL International Ltd v HMRC: Estoppel and legitimate expectation in tax disputes

Upper Tribunal dismisses retrospective NICs challenge based on 1993 pooled car agreement.

Ferdi Colak v Government of Türkiye: Yalvac assurances and retrial attendance in extradition proceedings

High Court grants limited permission to appeal on Yalvac prison assurances and retrial attendance.

Companies House and the architecture of financial crime

Long-overdue reforms promise tougher oversight, but without enforcement capacity, Companies House risks remaining vulnerable to organised financial crime

Client account proposals threaten justice access

The Law Society of England and Wales criticises the MoJ's proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme as unfair, flawed, and detrimental to access to justice for vulnerable clients

Intelligence agencies bolster UK's foreign interference defences

Britain's universities receive vital briefings from MI5 and cybersecurity agencies to combat foreign interference threats

Phillips v Garraway: rent payable in services and the Housing Act 1988

Appeal concerning whether services without agreed monetary value constitute rent under Housing Act 1988.

AP Wireless II v EE Limited: tenancy at will versus periodic tenancy in telecoms sites

Holding over after lease expiry creates tenancy at will, not periodic tenancy, in telecoms dispute.

Updated guidance supports bereaved families

The updated Estate Administration Banking Protocol aims to simplify processes for probate practitioners and banks during estate administration

Grandparents’ rights and royal rifts: a Californian perspective

From Windsor to California courts, the law prioritises children’s interests over family status or sentiment

Why legal AI still struggles with ‘why’ and ‘how’

As firms rely more heavily on AI tools, understanding their architectural limits is becoming a professional necessity

SJ Interview: Joelle Grogan

Dr Joelle Grogan is a legal scholar specialising in the rule of law in times of crisis. She presents The Law Show on BBC Radio 4, and is Co-Academic Director of the Rule of Law Clinic at the CEU Democracy Institute (Budapest), and a Senior Research Fellow at the UCD Sutherland School of Law. Her work focuses on constitutional accountability, emergency powers, and legal misinformation. In this interview, she examines the pressures facing the rule of law in the UK, from executive power and court delays to media narratives, emergencies, and the impact of AI on legal practice.

AI in Law: responsibility never delegated

As AI becomes routine in legal practice, regulators and courts insist accountability stays firmly with the human professional