Neal Patterson
Neal specialises in non-contentious property matters for agricultural clients.
About Neal
Neal is an agricultural property specialist who deals in the acquisition and disposal of farms, bare land and estates.
He acts for Landlords and Tenants with Farm Business Tenancies and Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Leases for commercial use.
He has experience of working with banks in dealing with finance and charging of land and assets.
Neal has dealt with several promotion and option agreements both for development and renewables including solar and a battery leases.
Neal is keen to ensure that farming is recognised and valued as an industry and is willing to take time to discuss the wider business needs with clients to ensure a thriving and successful business endures for future generations.
"I can recommend Neal. We are currently working on some complicated matters and Neal's depth of knowledge and advice is excellent."
Experiences
- Selling a part of a farm on several different land titles and dealing with a surrender of part of an FBT to enable a purchaser to take vacant possession.
- Acting for various lenders in taking charges over properties including acting for a private bank in dealing with a charge in excess of £3miilion over an estate.
- Dealing with Deeds of Easements and Deeds of Variations including for rights of way and services.
- Preparing and advising on commercial leases for both Landlord and Tenant clients.
Career
Originally from Northern Ireland, Neal was brought up in the same small rural community as Harry Ferguson, the tractor magnate. Spare time was spent helping friends on their farms with cattle, sheep, and general farm labouring.
He studied Modern History (M.A. (Hons) 1996) and Law (accelerated LL.B. England and Wales qualifying degree 1999) at the University of Dundee. He then completed his Legal Practice Course at De Montfort University in Leicester.
Following completion of his training contract Neal qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and has worked for high street and larger independent legal practices dealing in high-net-worth residential property and agricultural property.
In 2011 Neal took a position as an in-house solicitor for a national charity where he looked after their property portfolio and advised on their corporate trust holding body and the various property trusts which they managed.
Neal was lured back to private practice in 2019 with the opportunity to return to working in agriculture, first with an NFU Panel firm and then for a substantial national law firm in their Landed Estates and Agriculture team.
In November 2022, Neal was selected to attend the Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management at the Royal Agricultural University. He was admitted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers in October 2023.
Neal joined Wright Hassall LLP as a partner in the Farms and Rural Estates team in April 2023.
Memberships
- Agricultural Law Association
- Worshipful Company of Farmers Alumni Association
- Country Landowners Association (CLA) Leicestershire Branch Committee
- Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers
Interests
Outside work Neal is active in his local rugby club as a player for the veteran’s team and coach for a Sunday morning children’s team. He is also involved in The Wooden Spoon Society, the Children’s Charity of Rugby.
When not involved in rugby Neal is a runner and has competed in various 10K’s, Half Marathons and even one triathlon.
When he does sit still Neal likes to read history, biography or farming books. He has a passion for Irish History, polar exploration and food and environmental popular science.
Neal is an associate member of the Belted Galloway Cattle Society and a member of The Ferguson Society. He dreams of one day owning his own TE20.
