Private client firm Wilsons Solicitors is launching an agriculture practice in Bristol with the hire of a team led by former Burges Salmon agriculture head Peter Williams.

Williams, who specialises advising on property disputes, farming partnerships and banking, will join Wilsons on 1 April, where he will head up a team including Miles Farren and Ben Sharples, both of who join Wilsons as partners.

Williams was a partner at Burges Salmon for over 20 years, before departing with legal director Farren in November 2010 to launch Bristol boutique Ebery Williams, which Wilsons will take over this month. Meanwhile, Sharples joins directly from Burges Salmon, where he was an associate.

The remainder of the 10-strong team comprises associates, paralegals and support staff.

Wilsons managing partner Jonathan Stephens said: "Over the past 20 to 30 years we have very much focused on the private client side of things out of our office in Salisbury, but of course that involves a lot of agriculture work from time to time.

"Peter and his team are the top agriculture litigators in the country and we're more than happy that they have chosen to join us."

Williams said: "After 30 years at Burges Salmon my team and I are very excited about moving to Wilsons, a firm dedicated to the sector and private client work, where we fully intend to establish the best agricultural law practice in the country."

In a statement, Burges Salmon said: "The Burges Salmon food, farming and agriculture team, led by William Neville, 10 other partners and over 20 lawyers from across the firm, is fully committed to this sector and is recognised as the UK's leading practice. The team has great strength in depth and is integrated with lawyers within the firm from the real estate, private client, commercial and corporate practices."