Lifetime achievement honour for agricultural lawyer

A widely respected agricultural lawyer with more than 55 years’ experience in the rural legal world has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

Jim Quinn, from law firm mfg Solicitors was recognised at the 2019 Worcestershire Law Society Awards where he was awarded the honour for his commitment to helping generations of county farmers, landowners and their families.

Qualifying in 1964, Mr Quinn became a partner within a year and has been instrumental in mfg’s growth, mentoring new lawyers and building a revered reputation to become one of the leading agricultural solicitors in the UK.

The 79 year-old father of three continues to work as a consultant for mfg, advising on matters ranging from rural energy projects to agricultural tenancy cases.

Maynard Burton, chairman of mfg Solicitors, said: “Very few people will ever celebrate six decades in the same profession, let alone with the same firm. Jim is a remarkable solicitor with a reputation that he has built and honed over several decades.

“He is known as ‘Mr Agriculture’ in the industry and this only underlines how respected he is. Jim’s award is a wonderful milestone in an illustrious career. We are all extremely proud of him.”

On receiving the Worcestershire Law Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Wolverhampton-born Mr Quinn added: “I am extremely humbled to have been recognised by the Worcestershire Law Society. I’ve enjoyed working with so many fantastic people over the years and making a difference to people’s lives. The agricultural industry is constantly changing but I continue to enjoy working with clients and guiding them through the various issues they are facing. The farming sector has played such an important role in my life.”

Mr Quinn was a leading legal figure in the 1970s and 1980s when new agricultural tenancy legislation was introduced. He quickly became an expert on the new 1976 act and in the world famous Antrobus case, Mr Quinn took on and defeated HM Revenue & Customs in a case which was based around farmhouses and whether they should be free from inheritance tax.

Headed by partner Iain Morrison, mfg’s award-winning agricultural and rural affairs division represents public and private sector clients across the UK including farmers, landowners and rural businesses.

The Worcestershire Law Society Awards recognise excellence across the county’s legal sector. The Society was formed in 1841 to support and promote the work of the legal profession across the county.