Practice area: Natural capital

Harvey Tomes

  • 21 September 2024
Harvey Tomes

Harvey is a Senior Associate in the Rural Land and Business team.

Harvey acts as a trusted adviser for private clients and landed estates, advising across a broad spectrum of matters with a particular practice in acting for clients on a long-term basis where multi-generational land ownership, tax and trust matters intersect with property transactions and changing land use. This broad practice includes advising on the purchases and sales of landed estates and super prime London property; strategic land development; renewable energy projects; natural capital transactions and biodiversity net gain agreements; and assisting with partnership agreements and tax and succession planning (working closely with colleagues in Forsters’ Private Wealth team).

Harvey is a member of the Central London Estates team and advises urban estates in relation to transactional matters (ranging from the disposal and acquisition of assets to the refinancing of London portfolios) and various estate management matters. Harvey has particular experience in advising historic family-owned London Estates with statutory Estate Management Schemes.

Harvey has particular interest in heritage and period properties, having advised on many listed buildings and also on conditionally exempt property.

Natural capital

Rolling green hills are adorned with scattered trees and stone walls, creating a peaceful rural landscape. In the distance, soft hills rise under a clear, bright sky.

At Forsters, we are passionate about the opportunities that natural capital promises for the rural economy, the environment and for the wealth of social and economic benefits that will come with it. We know that the current structures for natural capital opportunities are bespoke and require careful structuring to implement long-term change and to mitigate the risks involved. In addition, our team has gained unique and balanced insights into the foundations of agreements for financing natural capital.

With such drastic change to the use and management of land comes opportunity but also risk. The Rural Land and Business Team works closely with colleagues across the firm, drawing on experts in planning, private wealth and tax planning, litigation, and corporate structuring to deliver the highest quality advice to landowners and land managers to be part of these new markets.

The team’s expertise in this area is reflected in their recent public appearances for the Agricultural Law Association speaking on the future role of Conservation Covenants, and for the Hong Kong Association speaking on the natural capital investment opportunities. Rural Land and Business Partner, Polly Montoneri, has been a figurehead for natural capital in recent years: she is the chairman of the Natural Capital and Forestry Committee for the Country Land and Business Association and works closely with the CLA at government policy level.

Adam Saunby

  • 29 August 2024
Adam Saunby

Adam is a trusted adviser to high net worth individuals and owners of some of England and Wales’ most iconic landed estates and farms. With a strategic understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing rural landowners today, Adam works to ensure they remain resilient and adaptable in a changing legal and environmental landscape.

Adam’s work includes complex transactions and long-term estate management, covering agricultural, commercial and residential property. A key focus of Adam’s practice is the evolving role of land in delivering environmental benefits. He advises on natural capital projects and biodiversity net gain agreements, helping clients navigate emerging markets and regulatory frameworks while safeguarding the long-term value of their assets.

Adam also acts for estates and landowners in refinancing substantial property portfolios, often collaborating with Forsters’ Banking and Finance team to deliver tailored solutions. His experience includes negotiating option and pre-emption agreements, contracts conditional on planning consent, and structuring complex overage arrangements on farms and estates.

Recognising that rural property ownership often intersects with broader wealth and business considerations, Adam works closely with colleagues across Forsters to provide a fully integrated service. This includes drawing on expertise in private wealth planning, tax, property litigation, planning, corporate, employment and banking.

Rebecca Bion

  • 29 August 2024
Rebecca Bion

Rebecca provides practical and holistic advice, cutting through complex family, legal and taxation issues to give clients the information they need to achieve their objectives. Her client base is varied, and she acts for UK-resident and domiciled individuals, landed estates, charities, large families, executors and trustees on all aspects of estate and succession planning, tax, trust and probate matters.

Her work includes the preparation of wills; capital tax planning advice, including the availability of agricultural and business property relief and ways to maximise those reliefs; the creation and administration of trusts and charities; complex and high-value probates and estate administration; and mental capacity matters, including the preparation and registration of lasting powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney and deputyship applications.

Rebecca has significant experience acting for land and business owners in establishing structures that facilitate the transfer of family assets between generations. She also has extensive experience advising on heritage property matters, including the availability of conditional exemption, offers in lieu of tax, and the interaction between inheritance tax and estate duty regimes.

Her expertise extends to preparing deputyship applications and guiding clients through the associated court process. She works closely with our Family and Divorce team where clients require pre-nuptial agreements and advises on bespoke business agreements for landed estate business owners.

Rebecca is also a qualified Notary Public, providing an additional and relatively uncommon skill that complements her wider practice.

Polly Montoneri

  • 29 August 2024
Polly Montoneri

Polly advises landowners on development and renewable energy projects, with extensive experience negotiating agreements for schemes ranging from small-scale developments to large and complex projects. She has a strong understanding of the sale and purchase of rural property, including commercial farms, country estates, rural properties and heritage assets. Polly also specialises in natural capital matters, advising landowners on biodiversity net gain (BNG) agreements and contracts for natural capital projects.

Polly provides commercial and practical advice, working closely with clients to protect their interests and identify potential issues at an early stage. She focuses on negotiating clear and effective agreements that help minimise risk and provide certainty throughout a project or transaction.

She works closely with colleagues across the firm, including specialists in Private Client, Tax, Corporate, Planning and Banking and Finance, to provide joined-up advice tailored to her clients’ objectives.

Recognised as a ‘Top Recommended Lawyer’ in Spear’s 500 2023, Polly is also a member of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), helping her stay up to date with developments in rural policy and the evolving rural economy.