Kathleen McArthur, Partner at Scottish law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, has been advising clients in the agricultural and rural sectors for more than 20 years.  

A sponsor of this year’s Royal Highland Show, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP has a long-standing history of working with individuals, families, and business owners from an agricultural background, and offers a wide range of services which are tailored specifically for their needs.   

Kathleen said: “The Royal Highland Show is incredibly important to WJM.  The firm has been a sponsor of the Young Masters Show Jumping Series for the last few years and the finale takes place at the show.  

“As well as encouraging and supporting young people into the sport, we also recognise how important it is to connect with clients from agricultural and rural backgrounds, as this is an area we have so much experience in as a firm. 

Kathleen McArthur: “The Royal Highland Show is incredibly important to WJM” 

“We recognise that these clients often have unique needs, and our team is well-equipped to advise on a whole host of issues, including wills and powers of attorney to much more specialist areas such as land transactions and farm diversification.   

“Our specialist consultancy arm – Family Business Solutions – can also work with farming families to look at succession planning. The team of family business experts can advise on the structure of the business, offering an impartial viewpoint, and working with each member of the team to agree a plan which will ensure a smooth transition and handover when older members of the family decide to take a step back.   

“There are so many issues affecting those in the agricultural sector at the moment, such as the long-lasting impact of the pandemic, the rising price of land in Scotland, new net-zero emissions targets, and the tax implications of changing the main use of land on a farm for non-agricultural activities when diversifying.  

“That’s why it’s so important that we can provide joined-up, expert support which encompasses general legal advice, business strategy, wealth planning, and guidance on tax matters.” 

To find out more about Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, go to www.wjm.co.uk