Christopher is a commercial property lawyer and specialises in agricultural property and land management work. Chris has recently joined the firm from regional agricultural heavyweight Clarke Willmott, for whom he has worked since qualifying as a solicitor. During that time Christopher has specialised entirely in agricultural property work and has acted for private landowners and estates of all sizes and also institutional clients.

In particular, Christopher specialises in non contentious agricultural and rural property matters including the acquisition and disposal of agricultural land and buildings, particularly farms and country homes. In addition to this transactional work Christopher can also provide advice in relation to the following:

• The transfer of agricultural subsidies and quota’s including the Single Farm Payment and Milk Quota

• The grant of Deeds of Easement (for example relating to rights of way, water etc)

• The grant of Deeds of Covenant (for example relating to ‘overage’ or ‘development clawback’ deeds)

• The grant of telecommunications Leases or way leaves

• The creation of Sporting Rights (for example shooting or fishing rights)

• Secured lending or re-financing work

Chris also often acts for developers in providing detailed advice in relation to commercial site acquisition and set-up prior to residential or commercial development and options in relation to future development.

Chris is a former pupil of Truro School and has returned to Cornwall after 10 years away from the county in Devon and Somerset. He is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and is also a keen tennis and squash player.

Click here to download his latest article published in the national Law Society Gazette publication

Client Comments:

"I just wanted to drop you a line to give you some positive feedback about Chris Stephens who I have recently had the pleasure of dealing with.
We were going through the process of acquiring another property in Windsor, which for a number of reasons we have now pulled out of, and Chris was handling the conveyance for us.
Chris was most helpful and professional throughout the limited process we conducted and I just wanted you to know that he is a pleasure to deal with and appears to be very competent.
Hopefully we will have cause to use his and your services in the future."