Paul joined Wright Hassall in 2004 after many years in the public sector where, latterly, Paul advised first the Intervention Board ("IB") and latterly the Rural Payments Agency ("RPA") where he was the Deputy Legal Director, in all aspects of the implementation of the CAP incuding, most recently, the Single Payment Scheme.
Much of Paul's time is devoted to advising on transactions involving farms and rural businesses whether it is buying or selling a farm or leasing it in or out. It is a intrinsic part of Paul's approach to ensure that in any substantive transaction the premises are visited and any practical issues identified.
His work also includes advising on all aspects of domestic and European legislation as it impacts on farming and rural businesses. He can assist in advising on the detailed workings of the SPS and ELS and their relationship with routine farming practices. With his background as an advocate he can represent, on an individual basis, those members of the rural community who do happen to find themselves at odds with the authorities, whether it be an appeal against an RPA decision or responding to a summons issued by the Environment Agency.
Paul lectures widely on the subject of SPS and other agriculturally-related topics and was nominated again by Chambers UK 2012, a leading legal directory, as a leader in his field.
In what time Paul has left in the week he is a director of Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC. He is also an active member of the local NFU and sits on the Legal and Parliamentary Committee of the CLA and Chairman of the Warwickshire Farm Management Group.
Background
Paul qualified in the mid 1980's in a West Country practice and has since then developed and maintained an interest in the law as it affects rural communities.
After a period of time as an army lawyer and prosecutor in the CPS, Paul joined the IB as a prosecutor, initially dealing with cases such as the sale of "black" milk and the entering of non-eligible animals into the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme. Having been involved in the process that abolished the IB and created the RPA, Paul developed his role as an advisory lawyer and ended his time in the RPA advising on the practical consequences resulting from some of the policy decisions made during the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme.
Chambers UK 2012
This team, based in Leamington Spa, houses a varied offering that specialises in conveyancing, regulatory advice in relation to the CAP and all manner of rural property and tenancy disputes. The firm also has a noted equine practice.
"Practical, sensible, decisive – nothing's too much trouble."
Paul Rice engages in a high volume of transactional work and is lauded for his "astuteness on Single Farm Payment matters."
Legal 500 2011
Wright Hassall LLP’s team ‘gives very pragmatic advice’, and acts for clients such as Warwickshire Rural Hub and Meadow Quality. Paul Rice is a ‘market leader in the region’, and has ‘in-depth knowledge and the tenacity to see the deal through despite complications that might derail lesser solicitors’.
