Holly Smith

Holly is a family law solicitor, her expertise extends to advising clients in highly specialised situations, such as farming divorces. Holly regularly advises rural individuals, farmers, landowners, agricultural business owners, partners and shareholders on the division of complex agricultural assets on divorce.

Holly’s cases often involve multi-generational family farms, land and estates, trusts, business interests, inherited wealth, agricultural assets and farm partnerships.

Holly is based in the Midlands but, because of her expertise, she regularly advises farming families and rural business owners across England and Wales. Holly combines her knowledge of family law with her understanding of agricultural practices to provide clear, strategic and commercial advice tailored to the unique challenges of farming divorces.

How Holly can help you

Farming divorce & agricultural asset expertise

Holly understands that divorce involving a farm or a rural estate is rarely straightforward. These cases often include multi-generational assets, family farm partnerships and succession planning, all of which require a careful and informed approach.

Holly regularly collaborates with agricultural accountants, land agents, and rural advisors to ensure that every aspect of a farming business is properly understood and protected during the divorce and financial remedy proceedings and when preparing a nuptial agreement.

She also advises farming families and the rural community on pre‑nuptial and post‑nuptial agreements, particularly for those seeking to protect family farming assets, inherited land and agricultural businesses.

Whether seeking to protect the family farm, agricultural assets or business interests prior to the marriage by way of a nuptial agreement or, on divorce or separation, Holly works with her clients to navigate:

• Divorce or separation involving family farms and agricultural businesses
• Farm succession issues arising from separation
• Protection of inherited and pre-marital agricultural assets
• Complex financial arrangements involving farm partnerships and trusts
• Division of farming assets, land and rural estates whilst preserving the viability of the farm and minimising disruption to ongoing operations

Specialist in farming divorce cases

Holly has developed a recognised specialism in agricultural divorce and complex financial remedy cases. She understands that for many clients, a farm is more than as asset, it is a livelihood, a legacy and forms a key part of the client’s history and identity. Holly’s focus is on achieving outcomes that are commercially realistic and sensitive to the long-term future of the farm.

Holly in the media

• Nuptial Agreements for Farming Families – Heirs and Affairs Podcast
• Increase in pre-nup and post-nup agreements for farming families after budget announcement – Farming Life
• Clarke Willmott Expands Birmingham Office with Two New Appointments – Solicitors Journal

Recognition for Holly

“Holly has been an exceptional solicitor and a real source of support during a very challenging time in my life. She is professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely compassionate. She always took the time to explain things clearly and made me feel heard and supported throughout the process. I am very grateful for all her hard work and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a solicitor who is both highly capable and kind.” – Client

“Holly has provided clear, practical advice throughout a highly complex matter, and has consistently been thorough, proactive and responsive. She strikes a great balance between the personal and the professional – she is genuinely warm and easy to communicate with, which makes a real difference when dealing with difficult circumstances. She has kept me well informed at every stage and I have always felt that she genuinely understood the detail of my case. I would not hesitate to recommend her to others.” – Client