Simon advises UK and overseas clients on all aspects of transacting and managing farms, estates and country houses and has been practising in the sector since qualification in 2009. Simon regularly advises on the sale of land for development, in addition to helping clients deal with manorial rights and rural rights of way, both public and private.
He also has a strong background in dealing with issues arising under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and unregistered land.
Experience
Advising on the sale of a £25m sporting estate.
Advising the landlord in (and settling) a complex Agricultural Holdings Act dispute involving an 850-acre farm.
Overseeing the administration of a large mineral estate.
Disposing of a farm in a £120m deal to provide film studios in former green belt land.
Endorsements
Simon is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and the Country Land and Business Association.
He was ranked by Chambers UK 2024 in Band 2 under Agriculture & Rural Affairs and ranked as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Agriculture and Estates.
Simon was ranked as a “Top Recommended Landed Estates Lawyer” in Spear’s 500 2024 and the Spear’s Landed Estates Lawyers Index 2024.
Testimonials
“Readily available to speak to and provides excellent advice, showing an in depth knowledge of his subject,”
Legal 500 UK 2024
”Very personable and down to earth”
The Legal 500 UK 2024
"Simon has incredible empathy for clients and is always aware of their needs as well as being an excellent technical lawyer,”
Chambers UK 2024
“Simon Blackburn lives and breathes agricultural law but is also very commercially aware and constructive in his approach with the other side – he must be the best agricultural lawyer of his generation.”
The Legal 500 UK 2024
“Simon Blackburn is as good a private client and agricultural lawyer and trusted adviser as one could hope to meet”
The Legal 500 UK 2024
“Extremely knowledgeable and efficient in all of our dealings"
Chambers UK 2024
“Diligent, quick, responsive and communicates well.”
The Legal 500 UK 2024
“An absolute delight to work with and intellectually brilliant”
Chambers UK 2024
Simon's insights
News
Sep 9, 2026
Wedlake Bell recognised in Spear’s Landed Estate Lawyers Index 2026
The Spear’s Landed Estate Lawyers Index is an annual guide to leading advisers and lawyers who support agribusinesses, farmers, landed families and family offices with complex property, succession and private wealth matters. Compiled independently by the Spear’s Research Unit, inclusion
The Contractual Controls Register: what landowners, estates and charities need to know
The new transparency regime for contractual rights over land is coming into effect on 6 April 2027. The Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026 (“the Regulations”) will require information about certain agreements affecting registered land in England
Part 2 – Should landed estates opt for enhanced employer contributions?
As employment practices evolve, landed estates may benefit from reconsidering their approach to funding retirement accommodation, and instead pay enhanced contributions into their employees’ pension schemes. This alternative may offer the opportunity for superior investment returns and tax efficiencies compared
