Fellowship honours for two Shropshire agricultural lawyers

Nicola Davies, a solicitor in Lanyon Bowdler’s dispute resolution team in Telford, and Susan Grazier, associate solicitor in the commercial and agricultural property team based in Ludlow, are now among the limited number of professionals across the country to have achieved the prestigious title of Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA).

They join Steven Corfield, a principal agricultural consultant, and Edward Nutting, a solicitor and partner, who are both existing Fellows of the ALA, to increase the expertise that Lanyon Bowdler can offer to its agricultural clients.

The ALA promotes the understanding and development of the law and practice in agriculture, the environment, food and other related issues, providing a forum for professionals serving in those sectors.

The course provides additional training in those areas of law relevant to rural practice and which are not taught at institutional level. The Fellowship of ALA awards those who attend the advanced training and pass a written examination a badge of excellence by which they may distinguish themselves.

Brian Evans, managing partner at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “This is a prestigious qualification which is held in high regard in the legal profession and having two new Fellows is an important endorsement of Lanyon Bowdler’s position as a leading agricultural law firm.

“Congratulations go to Susan and Nicola for all their hard work and dedication in completing the tough process set by the ALA and joining the elite lawyers in this field of law.

“This is great news for the firm and means our clients can be confident that they are getting the very best professional advice when they come to us.”

Susan is the daughter of a former farmer and was born and bred locally.

She joined Lanyon Bowdler in 2018 and provides advice on a wide range of agricultural and commercial property matters, including freehold transactions, agricultural holdings tenancies, farm business tenancies and diversification business leases, farming partnership agreements, option agreements, easements and renewable energy installations.

Susan said: “I am delighted to have passed the ALA exam and believe my knowledge and experience will be extremely beneficial to our clients. Being a Fellow of the ALA is a genuine honour and I am really pleased to have achieved the title.”  

Nicola Davies joined Lanyon Bowdler in October and has built up extensive experience in rights of way matters, basic contract disputes and proprietary estoppel claims, and has a particularly keen interest in agricultural matters. 

As well as having built up impressive legal knowledge, Nicola also has the benefit of being local, having grown up on the family farm on the Shropshire/Welsh border, meaning she has a keen understanding of the issues faced by farmers and rural landowners and tenants.

She said: “Completing the complex Fellowship course involved a lot of commitment and study, but all the hard work has paid off and I am delighted to have been awarded this prestigious title. Being a Fellow is a highly respected achievement and can only be of significant benefit to our clients.”