Dan Chapman
Partner
Dan graduated in Law with first class honours from the University of Keele in 1999 and completed his studies at Nottingham Law School, before joining Leathes Prior as a trainee solicitor in 2000.
Dan qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and became a partner of the firm in 2005. He specialises in Employment Law and heads up the firm's Employment and Sports Law teams.
Dan acts for employers and regularly appears as an advocate before the Employment Tribunals. His client base covers a diverse range of employers, of all sizes, and he focuses on ensuring that he provides cost effective, dynamic, commercial and pro-active advice.
Dan supports the firm's Corporate team on the complex TUPE implications of transactional work and has developed a particular niche expertise in advising employment agencies and businesses (and is instrumental in delivering advice and solutions to clients in respect of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010). He also has an in depth knowledge of the complex Gangmasters Licensing Authority regime.
Dan is a Registered Lawyer under the FA Football Agents’ Regulations, and his growing Sports Law team acted for Norwich City Football Club plc in its dispute with the News of the World and Colchester United Football Club (Dan appearing as an advocate before the Football Disciplinary Commission). It also received considerable plaudits for its innovative rescue of the non-league club Welling United and has also successfully acted in relation to a large dispute in Formula One GP, and numerous other sporting matters, including a number of regulatory hearings.
Dan is one of the few solicitors nationwide who is a Registered Lawyer under the FA Football Agents Regulation and is the thus able to act for football clubs and players on transfers and related transactions.
Dan is consistently rated as a ‘Leader’ in Employment Law in the East Anglia region by all of the independent guides to the legal profession.
"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." [Legal 500 2011]
"Assertive, commercial, and on top of his game." [Legal 500 2011]
In 2010 it was Dan’s “excellent response times and commercial acumen” which received praise from the Legal 500. In 2009, Dan was commended for being “succinct, practical and precise” and his team for being “exemplary, first class”. The 2008 edition describes Dan as a “local leading light, whose strategy and experience are key success factors. His commercial awareness and strong sense of reasonableness make him a pleasure to work with”. The 2007 edition had confirmed that Dan “is well respected in the region for his Employment Law experience and advocacy skills”.
Dan Chapman is "straight to the point, prompt, professional and his advice is always relevant." [Chambers UK 2012, an alternative review of the profession]
Chambers UK 2011 reflects on Dan's "strong following in the sport sector" and hails him as "a savvy negotiator and a dynamic operator."
Dan is “singled out for his quick and efficient service, and comprehensive knowledge of employment law" by Chambers UK 2010. The 2009 edition notes Dan to be “exceptionally good” and “a clear communicator, very thorough and able to provide accurate, timely advice”; and the 2008 edition also praises his “speed, efficiency and thoroughness”.
The Legal Experts (2012) publication recommend only 4 employment lawyers who practice in Norwich, of which Dan is one.
Dan is an active member of both the Employment Lawyers' Association and the British Association for Sport and Law, and in March 2012 was appointed as a Trustee of Norfolk Community Foundation. Please also see www.employmentor.co.uk and www.fullcontactlaw.co.uk
