Agribusiness

• Sales and purchases of grazing and farming properties
  • pre-contract advice
  • structuring of purchasing entities
  • contract negotiation
  • due diligence
• Sales and purchases of water entitlements, livestock and other agricultural business assets
• Compensation for mining and gas activities, and statutory resumptions
• Carbon farming
• Vegetation clearing and other environmental regulations
• Land tenures and tenure conversion
• Native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage
• Succession planning for and restructures of family-owned and corporate agricultural businesses

• Resource management arrangements
  • leases
  • agistment agreements
  • horticultural licences
  • share farming agreements
  • management and consultancy agreements
• Livestock export and livestock processing agreements
• Foreign Investment Review Board applications
• Taxation and revenue implications of transactions
  • transfer duty
  • land tax
  • GST
  • CGT

Property transactions

We are consistently involved in some of Queensland and the Northern Territory’s headline rural property transactions. We help clients understand the legal, commercial and industry-specific risks that might affect an acquisition or impede the timely completion of a disposal, including the unique land tenures across rural Australia.

In many cases we have helped the same client, or generations of the same family, build up a property portfolio over many decades.

Succession planning

Many families want their success in the rural industry to transition smoothly to the next generation. The transfer of property and wealth across generations of farmers and graziers brings its own unique set of circumstances to be carefully considered before decisions are made.

Resources and infrastructure

We help landholders affected by mining, coal seam gas and infrastructure development in rural Queensland to achieve better outcomes for preliminary access through to major project compensation and sale and leaseback agreements.

Compulsory acquisitions

For decades, we have helped clients secure better outcomes when faced with resumption or acquisition proposals for transport, transmission line and pipeline corridors, dams and other water infrastructure, national parks, conservation projects or public works.

Carbon farming projects and offset arrangements

Partner Alex Ramsey and Senior Associate Hannah Barbour are approved advisors under the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority’s Carbon Farming Advice Rebate Program. The program provides landholders with rebates up to $10,000 to offset the cost of obtaining relevant advice related to carbon farming projects and how these projects may participate in the Queensland Government’s Land Restoration Fund.

Behind the farm gate

Day-to-day life on the land and in agricultural industries is familiar to our team. Many of our lawyers are from rural backgrounds which helps broaden our knowledge when advising on legal issues relating to day to day operations on the land.

Environmental Law

We help agricultural businesses successfully navigate unique and diverse environmental challenges. Our experience includes regulation of vegetation clearing, water infrastructure and water entitlements, intensive agriculture (including feedlots and chicken farms) and other activities regulated under environmental and planning legislation.

Employment & Migration

We help employers to manage permanent, part-time and casual employees, by providing advice on all stages and aspects of employment and workplace relations tailored for agribusiness, including hiring, entitlements, termination and post-employment arrangements.

Best Lawyers

Agribusiness and Rural Affairs

• Peter Kenny – (2013-2021), Lawyer of the Year (2016 & 2018)
• Ari McCamley – (2021)

Agribusiness

• Leading Law Firm – First Tier (2016-2020)
• Peter Kenny – Market Leader (2020), Preeminent (2016-2019)
• Ari McCamley – Leading (2016-2020)
• Alex Ramsey – Recommended (2018-2020)

Team of the Year

• Property – Finalist (2017 & 2020)