NFU Legal Assistance Scheme & NFU LEGAL PANEL SERVICE

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1 NFU Legal Assistance Scheme & NFU LEGAL PANEL SERVICE For NFU Farmer & Grower members

2 NFU LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME Financial support for legal and professional costs. The NFU Legal Assistance Scheme (LAS) is a unique, discretionary benefits scheme offered as an optional extra to our Farmer & Grower members at just 33 (+VAT) a year. With around 90% of F&G members subscribing to it, the scheme provides you with financial support, professional guidance and a contribution towards costs should you face a legal dispute relating to your farming and growing business. How can the Legal Assistance Scheme help you? By calling NFU CallFirst our Specialist Advisers will provide you with free preliminary legal advice. If your query isn t resolved by one of our team, they will refer you to one of our expert Legal Panel Firms where you can benefit from a free initial discussion of your case, as well as a free initial written report to assist with funding applications. Our LAS Advisers are on hand to offer professional guidance and moral support to members throughout their legal cases, and have covered concerns over tenancy, machinery, flooding, wind turbines, and land disputes to name a few. What s more, the LAS advisers are available to discuss any concerns members may have about their legal cases. If eligible, financial support will be between 25-75% of your own professional costs up to a maximum of 6,000 at local LAS level. Additional funding may also be approved by the National Legal Board in exceptional cases, taking various factors into account. For example, in one case, LAS funding saved an NFU member legal costs in excess of 100,000 and his home and the farm he s occupied for over 30 years. Recent Legal Assistance Scheme successes. I wanted to thank the NFU and the Legal Board for the financial support they have given me. Words cannot really express my gratitude for the support and the generous offer to provide the maximum contribution to my legal costs. After all of the difficulties of the past 2 years it is good to know that long standing relationships still count for something. Ken Bowell, Worcestershire The superb level of support which has been forthcoming from the NFU/LAS, both moral and financial, has been tremendously helpful in our long fight for survival, and we will be eternally grateful for it. Neil Cockburn, Hereford Excellent service. Well worth the NFU membership. Everyone - from Group Secretary to solicitors - was first class. Susan Stockdale, West Riding of Yorkshire We were delighted to receive further financial assistance from the LAS (when the Council sought a conviction on different grounds after we d successfully defended a prosecution for fly tipping). And we were very pleased when the High Court agreed that the Magistrates were correct, confirming that we were not guilty. Dr Shirley Fuller, Buckinghamshire 2 NFU Legal Assistance Scheme NFU Legal Assistance Scheme 3

3 Offering more than just a contribution to legal costs You could also receive contributions towards: Mediation costs in inter-member disputes Tenants rent reviews budgetary advice up to 600 Professional fees for BPS Independent Panel Reviews up to 500 Professional fees in NVZ Appeals Professional fees relating to Fly Grazing issues How to qualify This specific service is available to you at an annual cost of 33 (+VAT) if you are an NFU Farmer & Grower member. You must be a subscriber to the LAS at the time the dispute arises. If you are eligible, financial assistance will be considered from the date the matter is formally brought to the attention of an NFU CallFirst Adviser, your local Group Secretary, or any NFU member of staff. Each case is decided on its facts and legal merits, and awards are discretionary. It is important to note that the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme is not a legal expenses insurance policy, nor does it cover third party, your opponents or any adverse costs; but offers its subscribers exclusive beneficial services. We re happy to answer any questions about our Legal Assistance Scheme - and anything else for that matter. Just call NFU CallFirst on or visit nfuonline.com 4 NFU Legal Assistance Scheme NFU Legal Assistance Scheme 5

4 NFU LEGAL PANEL SERVICE You re in safe hands with the NFU Legal Panel Service. In addition to the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme, the is another member benefit exclusive to our Farmer & Grower members. The Legal Panel Service provides you with direct and free access to a team of 16 legal firms who have been specifically selected for their proven track record of excellence. Chosen by the NFU for their reputation and experience in agricultural and horticultural matters, these specialists focus on representing you and giving you peace of mind, with a 12.5% discount on hourly rates and fixed fees for other specified services. How can the Legal Panel Service help you? What to do if you have a legal query. With free and direct access for total peace of mind Step 1: NFU CallFirst We understand that it can be a difficult and worrying time when seeking legal advice, that s why direct access to our legal firms is so invaluable. Their strength and depth of expertise gives farmers and growers reassurance. They also provide assistance in other non-farming legal areas such as farm sales, property, tax planning, business structures, wills, trusts, family, diversification matters, conveyancing and many more. With high standards and discounted member rates As part of your NFU membership you already have access to the NFU Specialist Advisers by calling NFU CallFirst on They will offer you initial advice and will try to resolve your query. Step 2: Referral If your query can t be resolved by the NFU Specialist Advisers, they will refer you to one of our expert Legal Panel Firms. Guaranteeing you a high level of service, all of our legal firms work closely with us, and more importantly with you, assisting with your application to the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme if your case is eligible for financial support. Our legal firms high standards are continually maintained. In addition to each and every one complying with Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements, they are regularly monitored and reviewed by the LAS team. The also offers you great savings. Each one of our Legal Panel Firms offers our NFU Farmer & Grower members hourly rate savings of up to 12.5% on agricultural and horticultural legal services and advice. We re happy to answer any questions about our Legal Panel Service and anything else for that matter. Just call NFU CallFirst on or visit nfuonline.com 6 7

5 Directory of LEGAL PANEL FIRMS EAST ANGLIA 8 Essex, Hertfordshire & Suffolk Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire & Norfolk Tees Law Hewitsons LLP Tees House, 95 London Road, Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3GW Shakespeare House 42 Newmarket Road Cambridge, CB5 8EP Contact: Caroline Metcalf E: caroline.metcalf@teeslaw.com T: M: Contact: Denise Wilkinson E: DeniseWilkinson@hewitsons.com T:

6 EAST MIDLANDS Nottingham & Lincolnshire Wilkin Chapman LLP The Maltings, Brayford Wharf East, Lincoln, LN5 7AY Contact: Andrew Holt E: T: M: Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland Josiah Hincks Solicitors 22 De Montfort Street Leicester, LE1 7GB Contact: Andrew Eagle E: T: NORTH EAST Northumberland, North Riding, Durham & Tyne and Wear Jacksons Law Firm 17 Falcon Court, Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton on Tees, TS18 3TU Contact: Adrienne Patterson E: T: NORTH WEST Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside & Greater Manchester Napthens Darwen House, Walker Business Park, Blackburn, BB1 2QE Contact: Andrew Holden E: T: M: Derbyshire Bowcock Cuerden LLP South Cheshire House, Manor Road Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5LX Contact: Philip Cuerden E: T: York East Riding, York West Riding & South Yorkshire Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors LLP Forsyth House, Market Place Malton, YO17 7LR Contact: Jenni Bartram E: T: Cheshire Bowcock Cuerden LLP South Cheshire House Manor Road, Nantwich Cheshire, CW5 5LX Contact: Philip Cuerden E: T:

7 SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST WEST MIDLANDS WALES Kent & East Sussex Knights Solicitors Regency House, 25 High Street Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1UT Contact: Peter Burfoot E: T: Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Clarke Willmott Blackbrook Gate Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton, TA1 2PG Contact: Tim Hayden E: T: M: Staffordshire, Shropshire & Herefordshire Lanyon Bowdler Chapter House North Abbey Lawn, Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 5DE Contact: Brian Evans E: T: South to Mid-Wales JCP Solicitors Limited Venture Court, Waterside Business Park, Valley Way, Enterprise Park, Swansea, SA6 8AH Contact: Rory Hutchings E: T: M: Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Thrings LLP 400 Thames Valley Park Drive Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6 1PT Contact: Derek Walsh E: T: Devon & Cornwall Foot Anstey LLP Senate Court, Southernhay Gardens Exeter, EX1 1NT Contact: Edward Venmore E: T: M: Warwickshire & Worcestershire Shakespeare Martineau Bridgeway House Bridgeway, Stratford Upon Avon CV37 6YX Contact: Richard Thorpe E: T: North to Mid-Wales Allington Hughes Bank Buildings Llanrwst, Conwy LL26 0LS Contact: Mark Evans E: T: M:

8 Legal Panel Service BENEFITS IN A NUTSHELL NFU CallFirst: for initial advice. Save up to 12.5%* on standard rates. Free preliminary phone discussion with a solicitor. Free initial written report from your Legal Panel Firm to assist LAS funding applications. Your case is in safe hands thanks to specialist knowledge and expertise. Great accessibility with at least two firms in your region. Comprehensive advice, whatever your problem commercial or domestic. * Up to 12.5% discount is only available for NFU Farmer and Grower members on the firm s hourly rates for cases arising directly from a member s agricultural or horticultural business. The NFU reserves the right to change this offer at any time. Discount rate correct at time of print, January

9 For more information call NFU CallFirst on or visit or Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information and content provided in this document at the date of publication (December 2016), no representation is made as to its correctness or completeness and no responsibility or liability is assumed for errors or omissions. Terms and conditions may apply to services and benefits which form part of the membership offer. For the most up-to-date information please visit or Alternatively, call NFU CallFirst on NFU261 - Jan 2018