Agriculture in Virginia is a major contributor to our thriving economy. It is Virginia's leading industry providing over 388,000 jobs and contributing nearly $36 billion in annual sales. Our Agribusiness Law Group brings together the collective experience of attorneys who truly understand how agribusiness can grow and thrive in the new economy.

More than legal expertise, we offer our clients the unique perspective of attorneys who have experience dealing with both government regulations and government funding for agribusiness.

Whether you're an individual farmer seeking new approaches to value-added agriculture or a large corporation seeking to navigate increasingly complex regulatory matters, McCandlish Holton can help.

Business, Strategic and Financing Services
McCandlish Holton offers a unique combination of legal and strategic services to assist agribusiness clients in their business enterprises. We provide an array of business services from entity formation and structuring operating agreements and buy-sell arrangements to strategic planning and contract development. We also have expertise in the licensing and protection of intellectual property for agricultural technology.

The firm understands innovative financing alternatives for agribusiness initiatives and is experienced in a variety of equity and debt financing vehicles — Farm Credit, USDA Rural Development Loan Guarantee Program, the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, and special purpose grant programs from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Environmental and Land Use
The McCandlish Holton Agribusiness Law Group has worked extensively with individual farmers and major agricultural companies to balance the needs of the industry with increased regulatory requirements.

Our skilled environmental and land use attorneys are experienced in assisting clients in such critical areas as locating agribusiness operations under various zoning ordinances; working with federal, state and local regulators to resolve environmental issues, and, should the need arise, resolving disputes through negotiation or litigation.

McCandlish Holton has successfully defended utilities, corporations, and agricultural companies against state and federal suits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Clean Water Act.

Government Relations
A distinguishing feature of our firm is our reputation in representing clients before the executive and legislative branches of government. We routinely monitor changes in all public policy areas and craft specific legislative and regulatory solutions.

Whether effecting a timely response to a discrete government relations dilemma or monitoring trends in government activity, our experienced attorneys find efficient and constructive ways to service our clients.

McCandlish Holton prides itself on developing and maintaining effective relationships with government officials from the Executive Branch, to the General Assembly, to local governing bodies.

Our skilled Government Relations Team provides an array of services:

• Liaison to Public Officials
• Negotiated Rulemaking/Regulatory Reform
• Government Contracting
• Permitting Assistance
• Effective Tax Relief
• Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring
• Coordinating Government Relations Strategies