Expanding our food and agribusiness expertise with exciting new partner hire

Catherine joins the firm to lead and grow the Norwich agricultural property team. She will work across the food and agribusiness, and private wealth sectors. Catherine will work alongside private client partner, Lauren Parker, to build on the firm’s well-established landed estates practice.

Catherine is currently the only lawyer in Norwich listed in leading legal directory The Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for agriculture and estates. She joins Mills & Reeve after more than 25 years at Howes Percival where she formerly led the private client services group.

Following Tim Ryan’s move to consultant, Catherine will assume leadership of the Norwich agricultural property team and work with colleagues to consolidate existing client relationships and generate further growth. Client needs and relationships will continue to be at the heart of the team’s development.

With experience acting for farms and estates across the country, a trustee for various families, a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association, Catherine is well positioned to broaden Mills & Reeve’s reach in East Anglia and nationally.

On her appointment, Catherine said: “I couldn’t be more pleased to be returning to Mills & Reeve, where I originally trained. This is a very exciting opportunity and comes at a time of great change in the agricultural sector. I’m delighted to be leading the highly regarded team and helping to deliver on the firm’s growth strategy in this area.

“Food and agriculture are currently at the forefront of the reshaping of the UK economy following Brexit, with rising costs, supply chain issues and ongoing pressures at the heart of discussions. At the same time, there is a global focus on climate change, with topics such as biodiversity net gain, carbon capture and renewables garnering a wider audience. This brings with it an increasing need for legal input and expansion in the sector.”

Lauren added: “I am delighted to welcome Catherine to the firm and look forward to collaborating with her. She brings with her a wealth of sector knowledge to support our clients in achieving their strategic goals.”