The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Norwich, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Leathes Prior consistently impresses clients thanks to corporate partner Paul Warman, commercial partner Peter Sheppard, and ‘proactive, astute, and thorough’ franchising specialist Jonathan Chadd. National, international and local clients include Derrick Services UK, MAG Group and Norwich City FC.

Within Crime, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior’s Tim Cary has ‘an incomparable local reputation’, particularly in fraud cases. Recent matters include a major international corruption probe.

Within Licensing, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior attracts very high praise from clients. Tim Cary assisted with Digital Select’s licences for premium-rate telephone numbers, and Caistor Hotel on applications to operate a casino and adult entertainment centre.

Within Commercial litigation: Norwich, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior’s team is now led by Mike Barlow, with Martin Plowman focusing exclusively on ‘mediation-1st’ (‘the most prominent mediation practice in the region’). Barlow and newly promoted partner Darren Bowen, whose reputation is growing, advise clients including Countrywide Signs and AgChem Access.

Within Debt recovery, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

‘Always helpful, friendly and available’, Darren Bowen’s team at Leathes Prior includes David Richards and ‘the brilliant, personable’ Eleanor Russell. Its ‘debtcollector’ service, for claims under £5,000, stands out.

Within Banking and finance, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Leathes Prior joins the ranking this year. Paul Warman’s ‘strong team of specialist lawyers’ handles structured borrowing work, and is on panels of Lloyds Banking Group and RBS.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior has ‘an extremely competent and supportive team’, led by licensed IP Adam McCaw, who is for some ‘the leading insolvency lawyer in East Anglia’. It advises Ensors and Parker Andrews. Highly experienced former practice head Frank Brumby has moved to Isadore Goldman, along with Sue Sutton.

Within Employment, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

At Leathes Prior, Dan Chapman is ‘assertive, commercial, and on top of his game’, and is renowned for HR guidance; and Katie Franklin is ‘ultra helpful’. Recent work includes tribunal claims, and reorganisation matters for YMCA Norfolk.

Within Health and safety, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

‘A pleasure to deal with’, Leathes Prior’s Tim Cary is ‘exceptional in his no-nonsense approach and explanations of the finer points of law’. He has defended local and national businesses against HSE prosecutions.

Within Personal injury: claimant, tier 5

Leathes Prior’s Tim Cary (‘a real character, overflowing with knowledge’) and Darren Bowen have strong links with local motor insurers. The team is active across RTA, brain injury and accident-at-work cases.

Within Agriculture and estates, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

‘Patient and helpful with incredible attention to detail’, Paul Oldershaw stands out in Rob Sibley’s team at Leathes Prior, and William Riley is recommended for land sales. The firm advised Banham Poultry on a multimillion-pound farmland sale.

Within Charities, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Leathes Prior’s ‘experienced, enthusiastic and caring’ William Riley, Hazel Gill and Paul Warman leave clients ‘delighted with the timely, well-considered service’. Experienced in governance, formation, acquisition and property matters, the firm counts Mencap and YMCA Norfolk as clients.

Within Family, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Alisdair Douglas is the new head of family at the ‘friendly, professional’ Leathes Prior, having joined from Steed & Steed. Polly Morgan is ‘compassionate and understanding’. The team handles high-value divorce and ancillary relief matters.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Norwich, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

The team at Leathes Prior ‘listens carefully, is very professional and makes clients feel comfortable’. Hazel Gill (noted for her ‘great skill, experience, professionalism and personality’) and William Riley are well respected among local high-net-worth clients.

Within Education, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior, under Martin Plowman, provides an ‘excellent, prompt and professional service’; ‘it is incredibly difficult to find any fault’. Katie Franklin is picked out for schools work. Langley School and Thorpe House School are clients.

Within Commercial property: Norwich, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Leathes Prior delivers ‘pragmatic, commercial, no-frills advice’ through Rob Sibley, Paul Oldershaw and rising star Chris Hoxley. Highlights included the consolidation of Mattressman stores and warehouses across East Anglia, and the sale of the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.

Within Property litigation, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

Leathes Prior ‘constantly impresses’, particularly through the ‘structured, prompt’ Darren Bowen. Mike Barlow and Martin Plowman also feature in a new team handling dilapidation claims, and landlord/tenant and boundary disputes.

Within Social housing, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

‘Understanding, and willing to work in a collaborative way’, Leathes Prior’s team, under Rob Sibley, counts Saffron Housing Trust and Freebridge Community Housing as clients.

Within Intellectual property, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Jonathan Chadd heads the team at Leathes Prior, with rising star Kitty Rosser leading the firm’s trade mark registration and management service (‘LPIP’). The firm handled protection and enforcement work for Norwich City FC.

Within IT and telecoms, Leathes Prior is a third tier firm,

At Leathes Prior, Mike Barlow and rising star Kitty Rosser advise both regional and national clients. Recent highlights include online systems and privacy policy work for Countrywide Signs; motor claims internet service advice for Validus IVC; and work on an online mediation tool for Go 2 Mediation.

Within Sport, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior’s Dan Chapman has ‘a great understanding of the realities of a professional sports business, and continually impresses with answers tailored to the specific needs of clients’. Norwich City FC and Litespeed F3 are clients.

Within Transport, Leathes Prior is a second tier firm,

Leathes Prior’s Tim Cary acts for national and local transport businesses including Fowler Welch Coolchain and Knowles Transport. Its ‘TrafficLawyers’ online service sees it represent motorists throughout the UK.