£225 + VAT (member) / £275 + VAT (non-member)
Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.
Chaired by Emma Robertson of Shepherd & Wedderburn, our new Rural Conference will include topics ranging from partnership succession, the agricultural support regime and crofting to carbon credits, tax and relinquishment of agricultural holdings.
Brian Inkster from Inksters, Margi Campbell of Saffery, Heather Bruce from Turcan Connell, Doug Bell of Crofthill Consulting, Robert Sutherland from Terra Firma Chambers and Katie McNab of Shepherd and Wedderburn will join Emma on the speaking panel.
What's being covered?
Relinquishment and assignation: the Swiss cheese of the agricultural holdings legislation?
What to look out for and contract for (when you can!) when acting for the landlord, the prospective outgoing tenant, or the prospective assignee tenant in the relinquishment or assignation of a secure 1991 Act Holding under the new legislative provisions.
Heather Bruce, Turcan Connell
Partnership property – planning for succession
In Scotland many farming businesses are operated by partnerships usually comprising family members. The traditional partnership structure can give rise to a multitude of issues for legal advisors. This presentation will look at the issues that arise in ascertaining what comprises partnership property which can be key in advising individual partners on succession to attempt to balance potential legal rights claims against maximising APR/BPR reliefs together with a focus on key considerations when preparing a Partnership Agreement.
Emma Robertson, Shepherd & Wedderburn
Is tax getting harder for rural businesses?
In this session we will consider:
- what are we seeing HMRC querying on IHT forms and how are they approaching this?
- where we are now with IHT reliefs?
- the tax side of natural capital and BNG
- the impact of non-agricultural diversification renewables
Margi Campbell, Saffery
Rural case law review
A review of key recent cases concerning, amongst other matters, agricultural tenancies, rural litigation practice and procedure, conveyancing, servitudes, the Electronic Communications Code, and other cases of likely interest to the rural law practitioner. The review will consider not only the outcome of these decisions, but what effects they may have and what lessons can be learnt from them.
Robert Sutherland, Terra Firma Chambers
Crofting Law in 2026
In this session we will look at recent crofting caselaw and its likely impact on your advice. We will also consider the latest position in relation to crofting law reform.
Brian Inkster, Inksters
Agricultural support update
Doug will update delegates on the current position in relation to agricultural support schemes in Scotland. Particular consideration will be given to the implications of the various schemes on farm conveyancing. Doug will also provide an insight into the future direction of farm support policy. The Scottish Government continues to grapple with the design of a post-CAP support regime, but Doug will provide an update on the possible changes and their potential implications on the sector.
Doug Bell, Crofthill Consulting Limited
Rooted in law: the legal framework of carbon credits in Scotland
As natural capital markets expand in Scotland, understanding the legal mechanics behind carbon units has never been more important. The session debunks some of the jargon surrounding carbon credits and examines the application of the Woodland Carbon and Peatland Codes. It will also consider how to structure contracts to manage long-term liability as well as practical considerations of the effect of carbon units when buying and selling Scottish property.
Katie McNab, Shepherd & Wedderburn
