Spear’s Review

‘Priorities for overseas buyers investing in the UK remain value, asset protection, education and the rule of law,’ says long-time Farrer & Co partner Edmund Fetherston-Dilke, whose landed estates clients include the Duchy of Cornwall, which has land holdings in excess of 130,000 acres. 

He is seeing ‘more residential transactions where the shares are bought in the entity holding the property’, which can lead to ‘eye-watering tax and cross-jurisdictional work’. No stranger to deals in the £10 million to £20 million range, he is noted for his ‘willingness to help and achieve a workable solution at a cost-effective rate’.

Notable work includes the purchase of an estate of over 4,000 acres and the acquisition of an extremely valuable English country house.

Adviser Profile

Edmund is a partner in the property team. His practice has grown over many years to include agricultural estates work, residential and commercial property. His clients vary, and include institutional land owners, charities, property companies, individuals and farmers. Edmund was appointed the solicitor to the Duchy of Cornwall in June 2020. 

Edmund has significant experience in looking after a variety of landed estates. He is familiar with the panoply of issues that can be encountered, including rights of way, forestry issues, agri-environmental schemes and the special regimes applying to agricultural tenants. Edmund advises both on the management of landed estates as well as the sale and purchase.