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Jon Clifford

Jon Clifford

Partner

Worcester

Bio

Jon is a Real Estate Disputes Partner.

Jon has been a trusted adviser in the landed estates and agricultural sectors for more than 25 years.

He acts for owners of both large estates and small holdings – from advising on disputes arising out the simplest of misunderstandings, to overseeing fiercely-contested matters in the Supreme Court.

Alongside land and property disputes, Jon’s expertise also covers breach of contract, farming partnership disputes, contentious probate (including particular expertise in proprietary estoppel claims), professional negligence, and disputes concerning Farm Business Tenancies (FTBs) and Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancies (AHAs).

Jon is also a trained mediator, Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association, and Chairman of the Worcestershire branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

Examples of Jon’s work include:

  • Advising an Oxford College on the likely status of an occupier of agricultural land, and serving the appropriate notices to recover vacant possession.
  • Representing both landlords and tenants in agricultural tribunals regarding proceedings for succession of an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy.
  • Guiding the parties involved in the sale of a farm over a private water supply and the grant of appropriate easements and statutory declarations.
  • Overseeing proceedings against trespassers, and for the possession of land.
  • Bringing a successful judicial review claim against the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
  • Assisting parties with the dissolution of family farming partnerships, including reverse-engineering years of accounts and other activities.
  • Representing a farming son in a proprietary estoppel claim against his parents.
  • Advising on landlord and tenant matters, rights of way, and boundary disputes.
  • Advising on breach of contract claims where suppliers have been unable to fulfil their obligations to the growers.
  • Advising on an obscure question over a tenant’s rights to acquire the freehold of land it occupied, requiring input from five Supreme Court judges.