Agricultural and rural commercial property law specialist Catherine Strickland has joined law firm Lodders' Cheltenham office as Associate in the firm's top ranking Agriculture and Estates team.

In the new role, Catherine, who lives in the Cotswolds village of Fairford, will work with Lodders' farming and landowning clients based across the South West, from the firm's office in the centre of Cheltenham.

She joins Lodders after ten years with Thrings LLP, where she had been an Associate in the firm's Agricultural Team, in particular developing an expertise acting for landowners and farmers entering into solar and other renewable energy projects.

Lodders' Agriculture and Estates team is one of the largest and most experienced teams in the region, and has consistently received the highest rankings and accolades from the law profession's top guides The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

Team head and partner, James Spreckley, says that Catherine is an excellent addition to the team and demonstrates Lodders' continuing commitment to the agricultural sector:

"Catherine is not only very personable but also a highly experienced and talented solicitor with impressive agricultural and rural property, and renewable energy law experience. She is clearly very motivated and is passionate about farming and the rural economy and all they embrace, as well as being a keen horse rider. She represents an excellent addition to the team and the firm's thriving Cheltenham operation.

"Providing advice to clients in all areas of the agricultural and landed estates sectors has been at Lodders' heart throughout its 230-year history, a commitment that continues to be central to the firm's ongoing plans. Catherine's appointment serves to illustrate this and the continuing growth strategy for the agricultural team and its focus on clients in the Cotswolds and South West out of our Cheltenham office."

Before she joined Thrings in 2006, Catherine worked at Gloucester law firm Davies & Partners Solicitors and completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Law, gaining a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in York.

Catherine said: "Lodders has long had a great reputation as a quality law firm, and receives particular recognition for its agricultural legal expertise. I was looking for a firm that is ambitious and prides itself on providing the very best legal advice and client service, and Lodders certainly delivers on all counts.

" I am looking forward to developing the role and to the variety of work, supporting the firm's agricultural clients, as well as being part of a wider team of experts with complementary skills, including Lodders' Equine Law team, and top ranking private client and corporate and commercial teams.

"Lodders is already proving a great place to work, and has a very supportive, friendly and talented team. This is a great opportunity for me to help clients in the rural sector and still have time to enjoy my two horses."

Lodders is a premier law firm in Cheltenham, the North Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.

Established for over 230 years, Lodders in particular works with private individuals, business owners, family businesses, landowners, rural communities, real estate and property owners, developers and investors. The firm has 25 partners, a portfolio of sector and market specific legal teams, over 130 fee earners and support staff across its office network, and has recorded year-on-year growth in recent years.

For more information, visit: www.lodders.co.uk

Pictured: Catherine Strickland with James Spreckley.