A HEREFORD law firm has expanded with the appointment of an experienced lawyer to head the agricultural team in the county.

Jonathan Clifford has joined the dispute resolution department at Lanyon Bowdler in Broad Street, with the firm building on its work with farmers and landowners across Herefordshire and South Shropshire.

Brian Evans, overall head of the agricultural law team at Lanyon Bowdler, said Mr Clifford brought a wealth of specialist knowledge to the firm.

He said: “As an NFU legal panel firm, we have always viewed agricultural law as a valuable part of our business, and it was important to expand our team to meet the growing demand from farmers and rural businesses.

“Jon has a wide range of experience across agricultural litigation matters, and has worked in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire before, so he knows the area well.

“He joins us from Clarke Willmott in Bristol which is also on the NFU legal panel, so Jon understands the importance of working with NFU members.”

Before joining Clarke Willmott four years ago, Mr Clifford, who lives near Bromyard, worked for MFG in Worcester, Telford and Oswestry so has strong agricultural connections in the area.

He said: “I am delighted to have joined Lanyon Bowdler at an exciting time for the firm, with a clear role to expand the agricultural work we do across Herefordshire and south Shropshire.

“I am looking forward to getting out and about to meet clients old and new, helping them with any legal disputes they may have and allowing them to get on with running their farm or business.”