Harrison Drury expands rural practice with agricultural law specialist appointment

Law firm Harrison Drury has expanded its rural practice in Clitheroe with the appointment of agricultural law specialist June Higgins.

June joins the firm as an associate solicitor and will advise clients across the north west and Yorkshire on agricultural property matters. 

Before joining Harrison Drury, June spent four and a half years in the rural team at Napthens LLP. She is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and has organised industry events including the North West Next Generation Rural Professionals Forum.

At Harrison Drury, she will help develop the firm’s rural events programme and strengthen its relationships with farmers, landowners and professional advisers across the region.

Hannah Hughes, partner and head of the firm’s commercial property team, said: “Agriculture is a huge part of the economy and community surrounding our Clitheroe office, which spans the Ribble Valley and North Yorkshire.

"June’s appointment reflects Harrison Drury’s commitment to address local need through growing its specialist rural practice - combining technical expertise with strong local knowledge and relationships.

“Succession is one of the most significant decisions a farming family or rural business will face. June’s agricultural and property experience will help our clients put the right plans in place for their businesses, land and families, in the way that suits them best.” 

June’s appointment comes as farm succession, access to land and the long-term resilience of farming businesses receive renewed national attention.

The government’s Farming Roadmap 2050, published in June, comes following many changes to the tax regime facing farming businesses and identifies the need for stronger succession planning and clearer routes for new entrants as important to building a resilient farming sector.

The latest Defra figures show 37 per cent of English farm businesses were reviewing their succession plans, while one in five had not considered the issue. 

June said: “Harrison Drury felt like the right fit for me because I believe they listen and invest in their people and this shows in their continued growth across the region.

"Being able to continue developing my career close to home, within the rural communities I support, is really important to me. I am passionate about the agricultural sector, especially providing farming families and businesses with legal support in succession planning and their legal needs.

“I’m looking forward to maintaining existing relationships and utilising my experience of organising events to help us bring people together across the rural sector and share expertise and make new and renew existing connections in Lancashire and Yorkshire.”

Harrison Drury employs more than 200 people across nine offices and, in November 2025, was named in the Best Companies Index as one of the best companies to work for in the UK for the third year in a row.  

In 2026, the firm placed third in Legal 500’s list of the ten most highly recommended law firms in the North West and achieved its highest-ever Legal 500 recognition, with 13 teams ranked and 50 lawyers individually recommended.