What Knights Solicitors does

Knights Solicitors is a private UK law firm founded in 1994 by Matthew Knight and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The firm specialises in countryside, rural, and agricultural law, with practice areas spanning public and administrative law (including judicial review), property litigation, criminal and regulatory services, employment law, dispute resolution (planning, compulsory purchase, professional negligence, debt recovery), and specialist services covering equine/equestrian, sport and leisure, charities, and political/electoral matters. Its client base includes private individuals, farmers and landowners, public bodies and local authorities, sporting organisations, charities, developers, and corporate clients such as Wessex Water and infrastructure promoters. The firm is ranked in Legal 500 across seven practice areas and in Chambers UK, holds Lexcel Accreditation, and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

The firm operates on a traditional professional services model. Revenue is generated primarily through hourly billing at £147-£410 plus VAT depending on seniority, with fixed-fee services for matters such as settlement agreement advice (£450-£500 excluding VAT) and tiered transaction-based fees for debt recovery. A 30-minute free consultation helpline is offered to members of affiliated organisations (National Gamekeepers' Organisation and Game Farmers' Association) as a customer acquisition channel. Initial case reviews require payment on account starting at £1,000 plus VAT. Distribution is direct via the Tunbridge Wells office, telephone advice, and court representation; the firm does not operate through intermediaries or resellers. Marketing is conducted through professional publications, training seminars, legal directory rankings, and referral partnerships.

The team comprises 7-9 personnel, including principal Matthew Knight (40+ years of legal experience, former Farrer & Co and Cripps Harries Hall), consultant Richard Atkins, partner Jonathan Manser, practice manager Tracey Halpin-Peak, two level-7 apprentice solicitors, and a paralegal. Technology is limited to standard legal practice management systems with no disclosed proprietary features, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities. The firm is relocating to Jarvis House, 4 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells as of 2 January 2026.

Name

Knights Solicitors

Legal name

Knights Solicitors

Website

https://knights-solicitors.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knights Solicitors is a Tunbridge Wells-based UK law firm founded in 1994, specialising in countryside, rural, and agricultural law for private individuals, farmers, public bodies, sporting organisations, charities, and developers, operating on hourly and fixed-fee billing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Legal services
• Countryside law
• Property litigation
• Employment law
• Regulatory law

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Hourly Billing: Primary revenue stream from legal services billed at hourly rates. Rates for Apprentice Solicitors/Solicitors range from £147 to £410 per hour plus VAT depending on experience and seniority. Initial case review requires payment on account starting at £1,000 plus VAT.
2. Fixed Fee Services: Certain services offered at fixed fees, including settlement agreement legal advice at standard rate of £450-500 excluding VAT. Debt recovery services with tiered fee structures based on debt amount.
3. Free Initial Consultations: Free 30-minute legal advice sessions provided to members of affiliated organisations including National Gamekeepers' Organisation and Game Farmers' Association, acting as customer acquisition channel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knights Solicitors is a private law firm that provides legal advisory and litigation services to individuals, rural businesses, landowners, and small organisations. Its core practice areas include public/administrative law, property litigation, employment law, criminal & regulatory law, and specialist countryside services covering equine, sport, charities, and political law. The firm sells legal expertise (advice, drafting, representation, dispute resolution) rather than any product, software, or platform.

Product overview

Knights Solicitors is a unified law firm practice rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The firm operates as a single integrated legal services offering with multiple specialized practice areas delivered by the same team of solicitors. Core services include Public and Administrative Law (Judicial Review, Advisory Services, Governance), Property Litigation (Ownership Disputes, Landlord and Tenant Disputes, Public Rights of Way), Employment Law (Employee and Employer Advice), Specialist Services (Equine & Equestrian, Sport & Leisure, Charities, Political & Electoral), Criminal and Regulatory Services, Dispute Resolution (Planning, Compulsory Purchase, Professional Negligence, Debt Recovery), and Training and Seminars. The firm also offers Planning Advice and Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Services as distinct practice areas. All services are delivered through the main Knights Solicitors brand from their Tunbridge Wells office.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public / Administrative Law Legal advice, representation and dispute work in public and administrative law matters for rural individuals and small organisations, including challenges to decisions by public bodies affecting land, planning, and rural activities.
• Property Litigation Litigation and dispute-resolution services relating to land and property, including boundary, lease, and rural property disputes, for owners, landlords, tenants and rural businesses.
• Employment Law Legal advice and representation in employment matters for rural employers and individuals, including contracts, disputes, grievances, and tribunal work.
• Criminal & Regulatory Law Defence and advisory work in criminal and regulatory matters relevant to countryside clients, including rural regulatory issues.
• Equine Law (Specialist) Specialist legal services for equestrian clients, including advice on transactions, disputes, regulation, and matters affecting riding schools, studs, and horse owners.
• Sport Law (Specialist) Specialist legal services for sport organisations and participants, including governance, regulatory, and dispute work with a countryside focus.
• Charities Law (Specialist) Legal advice and support for charities, particularly those operating in rural/countryside contexts, covering governance, regulation, and trustee matters.
• Political Law (Specialist) Specialist legal services in political law matters for individuals and small organisations connected to the countryside constituency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lexcel Accredited practice management standard
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Gamekeepers' OrganisationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Gamekeepers' Organisation represents gamekeepers of England and Wales. Knights Solicitors offers all NGO members up to 30 minutes of free telephone-only advice via their legal helpline. This partnership provides client referrals and exclusive service offerings to members.
• Game Farmers' AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Game Farmers' Association represents game farmers in Britain with over 200 members. Knights Solicitors offers all GFA members up to 30 minutes of free telephone-only advice via their legal helpline, providing mutual benefit and client referrals.
• Agricultural Law Association (ALA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALA was founded in 1975 to provide a forum for professionals serving agriculture. Knights works with ALA for training delivery and publications. The firm provides content for ALA Bulletins and collaborates on agricultural law training.
• Compulsory Purchase AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for those involved in CPO work. Listed as an associate on Knights' Links page indicating professional networking relationship.
• Criminal Law Solicitors' AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CLSA represents solicitors working in criminal law throughout England and Wales. Listed as an associate indicating professional membership and networking.
• Employment Lawyers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELA represents over 6,000 qualified employment lawyers in the UK. Listed as an associate indicating professional membership.
• Kent Law SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKent Law Society supports solicitors, trainee solicitors, and law students in Kent through training, marketing, recruitment, guidance, and networking. Listed as an associate indicating local professional membership.
• BloomfieldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnights has teamed up with Bloomfields to offer a free of charge 30 minute planning surgery to answer planning queries. Joint service offering for client benefit.
• James Neil (Landmark Chambers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnights partnered with James Neil from Landmark Chambers to offer free 30 minute planning surgery consultations. Joint service offering providing pro bono planning advice.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• BPE Solicitors: Gloucestershire-based firm with a recognised Rural and Agricultural Law practice serving farmers and landowners. Regional peer with similar countryside law focus but operating primarily in the Southwest.
• Ashtons Legal: East Anglia-based firm with an Agriculture and Estates team serving rural clients across farming, property, and dispute work. Comparable regional/specialist positioning with similar practice mix but different geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Michelmores LLP: Larger Southwest UK firm with a well-known Rural Practice and Agriculture sector team. Operates a much broader full-service model but competes with Knights in the rural and agricultural law niche.
• Clarke Willmott LLP: National UK firm with an Agricultural and Rural Affairs team serving landowners, farmers, and rural businesses. Larger and more diversified than Knights but competes for similar rural clients.
• Burges Salmon LLP: Major UK full-service firm with a recognised Agriculture and Rural Affairs practice. A larger, broader incumbent that overlaps with Knights' rural clientele but offers a far wider service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Lodders Solicitors: Mid-sized UK firm with a strong Private Client and Agriculture practice serving landowners, farmers, and equestrian clients. Closely comparable niche specialisation in rural property, agricultural tenancies, and estate planning.
• Hewitsons LLP: East Midlands firm with an established Agricultural and Rural Practice serving landowners, farmers, and rural businesses. Comparable specialist positioning with overlapping practice areas in property and dispute resolution.
• Thrings Solicitors: UK law firm with a well-established Agricultural and Rural Affairs practice serving farmers, landowners, and rural businesses. Directly comparable to Knights in rural property, agricultural law, and estate planning services across an overlapping client base.
• Wilkin Chapman LLP: Lincolnshire-based firm with a strong Agricultural and Rural practice, advising farmers and landowners. Comparable regional/specialist positioning serving rural England with similar legal services.
• Roythornes Solicitors: Regional UK firm with a dedicated Agriculture and Rural Affairs team advising farmers, landowners, and food businesses. Comparable in serving rural clients with property, regulatory, and dispute work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knights-solicitors-tunbridge-wells

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knights Solicitors