More than 60 people, from as far afield as Cheshire and Warrington, attended a seminar in North Yorkshire run by CLA North in partnership with Silk Family Law and accountants Armstrong Watson.
“Keeping it in the Family” looked at the risks in farming businesses – from family fallouts or divorce.
CLA North regional director Dorothy Fairburn introduced the seminar at Gilling West Village Hall, close to Silk’s North Yorkshire offices at Aske Stables.
The first speaker was Andrew Robinson, partner at Armstrong Watson, a well-known expert in advising farming businesses and landed estates and chairman of the Northern Farming Annual Conference. Andrew spoke about personal and corporate risk in family run agricultural businesses, including ownership of the business and tax issues.
Andrew was followed by Wayne Lynn , a partner at Silk Family Law, where he specialises in complex financial issues, including cases involving business assets, trusts and pensions. Wayne outlined the complex matters relating to assets and finances that can arise in a farming business if divorce happens.
Margaret Simpson , one of Silk’s founding partners, was the final speaker. Highly regarded for her expertise in handling complex farming and land-owning cases, Margaret looked at the benefits of pre- and post-nuptial agreements for farming families.
The seminar ended with an expert panel question and answer session chaired by Silk partner and in-house counsel, Ian Kennerley . Questions ranged from tax benefits of family trusts to the legal position of couples who live together.