News Stories

Have you ever wanted to be a better negotiator?  Get a better deal for you or your client?  Settle cases earlier and on better terms?

The Leathes Prior Insolvency Department recently represented a local Insolvency Practitioner in his response to a second appeal to the Court of Appeal, made by a former bankrupt.  

The Partners of leading East Anglia law firm Leathes Prior are delighted to announce that Chris Hoxley, currently an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate Team, has accepted their invitation to join the Partnership with effect from 1 May 2013. Dave Richards, currently Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution Team has also been promoted to Associate.

Leathes Prior organised the annual Golf Challenge, involving 30 local businesses and played between May and September 2012, raising money for Balls to Cancer.

How Changes in family legal aid affect you

The legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (the Act) came into force on 1^st April 2013. It makes significant and wide ranging changes to the legal aid scheme and removes legal aid alltogether for most aspects of family law.

Trainee Solicitor Stephen Wilson will be running the London Marathon to raise money for the charity Phab.  This will be Stephen’s first marathon and he has been training for it since December.

Alison Waterman, Vicki Mitman, Kitty Rosser, Claire Watson and Leah Phung are taking part in the Race for Life on Saturday 18 May, 2pm at the Norfolk Showground.

Leathes Prior is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring the Pedal Norfolk Cycling Festival, taking place at Holkham Hall on May 4th, 5th and 6th.  Although centered around cycling this festival is being designed to attract all the family with activities and entertainment for a fun day out.

We are delighted to be retaining Catherine Hepworth within the Employment Team upon her qualification as an Assistant Solicitor with effect from 1st April 2013.

Vicki Mitman and Ed Savory of Leathes Prior’s Franchising team provide their thoughts on franchising your business.

Norwich’s franchising expertise was flying the flag for Britain last week at the Annual International Franchise Association Convention in Las Vegas when Elvis dropped in to welcome them!

Vicki Mitman, a solicitor in Leathes Prior’s franchising team, is hosting the inaugural East Anglia regional meeting for Encouraging Women Into Franchising (EWIF).

The Leathes Prior Employment Team represented Blakeney Manor Hotel at Norwich Employment Tribunal, in the defence of a constructive dismissal claim brought by a long serving manager.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/375356/Walkies-led-to-fine-row

There has been much debate about the demise of HMV and Blockbuster.  These two high street entertainment giants were once at the heart of our retail world, much like the mighty Woolworths who were the first of the giants to be slayed over the holiday period of 2008 – 2009.

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A report from Wymondham Rugby FC’s latest match.  Leathes Prior is proud to be main sponsor of the Club.

For your chance to win a NCFC shirt signed by our sponsored player, Marc Tierney, visit our facebook page to find out how to enter.

Leathes Prior Solicitors are delighted to have secured the appointment of Chantal Clarke, who joins the firm on 10th December 2012.

Leathes Prior are pleased to announce the appointment of Barry Mears as a Business Development Consultant.

At the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC (Birmingham), Ed Savory, an Associate in the firm's Franchising team, was interviewed and provided his views on the key legal considerations for franchisors.

The Chambers and Partners’ UK 2013 independent guide to law firms and individual lawyers has recently been released and, as with the Legal 500 guide, Leathes Prior continues to gain accolades across the board.

A report from Wymondham Rugby FC’s latest match.  Leathes Prior is proud to be main sponsor of the Club.

Leathes Prior are delighted to announce the appointment of Chartered Legal Executive Jill Wheeler, who joins the firm on 1^st November 2012.

Ed Savory, an Associate in Leathes Prior’s Franchising team, attended a forum of bfa Affiliates in London on Tuesday 16^th October 2012.  The bfa Affiliates are accredited professional advisers made up of lawyers, accountants, bankers, consultants and others who have demonstrated their expertise in franchising.

The Information Commissioner’s new powers to impose fines of up to £500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act) or of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (Privacy Regulations) have now been widely reported. 

British Franchise Association (BFA) Code of Ethics could apply whether or not the Franchisor is a bfa Member

Alisdair Douglas, head of the Family Team at Leathes Prior, has had his membership of the Law Society Advanced Family Law Accreditation scheme continued.

Ed Savory of Leathes Prior's Franchising team provides prospective franchisees with some useful guidance to taking legal advice in the latest edition of the Franchise Magazine.

The 2012 edition of the Legal 500, considered to be the leading independent guide to the legal profession, was released today. 

Wymondham kicked off their 40^th anniversary season with a narrow home defeat to a well-organised Ipswich YM side.

The Partners of Leathes Prior are delighted to announce that Leo McMahon, currently trainee solicitor within the firm’s Wills, Trusts and Probate Team, has qualified as a Solicitor with effect from 17 September 2012.

Leathes Prior successfully represented Norwich based business AgChemAccess Limited in its legal battle with the Health and Safety Executive after a dispute over enforcement action taken against the company in July.

Jack suffered serious injuries to his pancreas and spleen in December 2009 and was in Great Ormond Street Hospital for six weeks.  As a result of ongoing complications he is now unable to pursue his preferred career in the army and missed a substantial amount of school.

Vicki Mitman, a solicitor in the firm’s Franchising team, recently attended the bfa roundtable discussions in Warwick. 

The Leathes Prior ladies enjoyed Norfolk Chamber’s Look the Business event at John Lewis on 16 August 2012. 

A recent Court of Appeal decision highlights the increasingly far reaching liability of employers for the actions of their employees.

With injunctions being served by Facebook, and the first "Twibel" case in the UK (libel duty comments made by Twitter) being won, a recent case regarding contracts made by email highlights how the law is attempting to keep pace with our ever changing forms of media.

Leathes Prior's Sports team has continued to develop its expertise in assisting football clubs to survive in the difficult economic climate by advising Welling United of the Blue Square South division on its successful conversion to a Community Interest Company.  See www.wellingunited.com  for further details.

Section 73 of the Charities Act 2006 (CA 2006) requires the Minister for the Cabinet Office to appoint a person to review the operation of CA 2006 within five years of its commencement.  Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts was appointed as the reviewer and on 16 July 2012 his report, Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities, was published and presented to Parliament.  The 159 page report contains over of 100 detailed recommendations. 

Ed Savory, an Associate in Leathes Prior’s Franchising Team, attended the bfa London & South East Regional Forum. Each quarter, franchisors and advisers in the Franchise Industry meet to discuss the current “hot topics” in the market.

The firm’s Franchising Team recently enjoyed an evening’s sail on White Moth, a Norfolk Wherry Yacht.  

Lee is a FA and FIFA Licensed Football Agent, and joins Leathes Prior to work in Dan Chapman’s Sports Team, which trades under the style Full Contact.

Leathes Prior's Employment Team successfully represented Sheringham Golf Club at an Employment Tribunal this week.

The firm's Franchising Team is boosting its international profile by sponsoring a team of three students who are undertaking the 9,500 mile journey from Goodwood to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Rally's rules state that maximum engine capacity is 1,200 cc and that the car must be less than 10 years' old.

Vicki Mitman, a solicitor in the firm’s Franchising team, recently attended the bfa Affiliate and Midlands Regional Forums.  The bfa works closely with its members and affiliate members to help advance knowledge and expertise within the franchise industry and acts as the voice of ethical franchising in the UK providing information and advice to businesses looking to expand their current operations through franchising and to people considering joining a franchise.

The Government recently announced its intention to amend legislation regarding parental contact with children, following the Family Justice Review published in November 2011.

Three members of the firm’s Franchising Team (Jonathan Chadd, Ed Savory and Vicki Mitman) recently attended the British Franchise Association's (BFA) Annual Conference in Telford.

LP Employment team client OSR Recruitment has recently published its Summer Newsletter, which features an article by Partner Dan Chapman.

Each year, the British Franchise Association (BFA), in conjunction with Natwest, produces a survey of the Franchising Industry in the UK.  The survey monitors the performance, attitudes and opinions within the sector.

Leathes Prior Partners Martin Plowman and Paula Lawn were featured in the last edition of the EDP Business supplement, speaking about their anticipation of the increase in demand for workplace mediation and the topic of resolving work based conflict.

Leathes Prior Velo Club (LPVC) upped the ante this year with each rider completing the Norwich 100 Cycle in aid of the British Heart Foundation. 

The grant of an injunction by the Irish High Court against a former Yoga Therapy franchisee serves as a stark reminder of the advantage of having professionally drafted post termination non compete restrictive covenants within a franchise agreement.

With the first quarter of 2012 behind us we look into how the insolvency market has performed based on the statistics recently released by corporate research specialists Hardman & Co.

LP's mediation-1st and employmentor teams are to run a three day Certificate in Internal Mediation course, accredited by OCN Eastern Region.  This commercially focused course has been designed for senior executives and HR professionals.

Sumo Salad, an Australian fresh and healthy salad bar chain, has recently launched its first franchise in the UK.  The outlet was opened in Norwich by Mike Dodd, who has been advised by Ed Savory, an Associate in Leathes Prior's Franchising team, and Mark Noakes, Managing Director of Morgan Woods.

The EAT (HHJ McMullen QC) has Quashie v Stringfellows Restaurants Limited reversed an employment tribunal's decision dismissing an Unfair Dismissal claim on the grounds that the lap dancer Claimant was not an employee.

Ed Savory, an Associate in the Franchising Team, attended the British Franchise Association (BFA) London & South East Affiliate (i.e. Professional Advisers) Forum on 19 April 2012.  The purpose of the Affiliate Forums is to share information between professionals advising within the Franchise Sector, discuss current market trends and debate certain “hot” topics.

The Partners of Leathes Prior are delighted to announce that Paula Lawn, currently Associate within the firm’s Employment team, has accepted their invitation to join the Partnership with effect from 1 May 2012.

Leathes Prior is pleased to announce the launch of its Internet Defamation and Online Reputation Management Service.

Our Immigration Team scored two notable victories this month for clients facing imminent removal from the UK.

LP's Employment team has recently published the latest edition of its employment matters newsletter.

LP Consultant Will Buckley last weekend chaired a panel at the Inner Temple’s Cumberland Lodge weekend. The topic was “Integrity in Sport” and on the panel were Max Mosley, Jonathan Taylor (Head of Sports Law at Bird & Bird) and Michele Verroken (Founding Director of Sporting Integrity consultancy and former UK Anti-Doping Chief). In the audience were a host of QCs, a smattering of judges, and Michael Beloff QC – the doyen of sports lawyers.

A recent High Court decision is a reminder of the difficulties that conditional break clauses pose and the importance of complying with all conditions attached to break clauses in existing leases.

Leathes Prior was happy to be involved in the sponsorship of yesterday's launch of the Tourism Business Survey at Norwich City Football Club.  The survey highlighted the concern of the local Tourism industry about the red tape involved in employing staff and running their businesses. 

Thank you to everyone that took part in LP’s Pub Challenge on Thursday 8 March 2012 & Congratulations to...

The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has announced that "Buildmark" – its new home warranty scheme – is expected to go online from April 2012.  80% of new homes built in the UK every year are covered by the Buildmark scheme and several of Leathes Prior’s developer/house builder clients favour it.

British Showjumping has published a useful list of all the rule amendments that have been made since the 2011 Rule Book was first printed and circulated to members.

There will be two free Franchise Master Classes for companies that are considering franchising and wish to find out more about what is involved.  These will be held on 7 & 13 March 2012 at Lloyds Bank in London with Business Options.

On 28 February 2012 the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that dismissals of 117 employees who had transferred to their new employer (pursuant to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 “TUPE”) and who refused to adopt their new employer’s corporate structure and become franchisees, was lawful - Meter U Ltd v Ackroyd & others

A lady, described in Grimsby Magistrates' Court as "a professional or semi-professional horsewoman" and who pleaded guilty to six offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 was sentenced earlier this month, on 17 February 2012.

Yesterday the Court of Appeal dismissed Kara Goldsmith’s appeal against the finding of Judge Christopher Walton sitting in Newcastle County Court last year that she had voluntarily assumed the risk of the injuries that she suffered when being thrown from a horse she was trying with a view to buy.

Leathes Prior's specialist Franchising team has recently published its Legal Update Spring 2012 edition.

Given the complexity of the law governing horse passports and the potential for those in breach to be fined up to £5,000 on summary conviction, Leathes Prior’s Equine/Bloodstock team of specialist equine solicitors have produced a Factsheet setting out some of the key points that owners of horses in England should be aware of.

This week sees the publication of a new book on franchising, which features Leathes Prior Partner Jonathan Chadd as a contributor.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has handed down a key decision, which will assist clients in the warehousing and transport sector.

Leathes Prior's Franchising team will be attending this year's Franchise Show at Excel (London) on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February.

The Regulatory team at Leathes Prior scored another notable victory today at Norwich Magistrates Court, securing the acquittal of a local car dealership which had been prosecuted for selling an allegedly unroadworthy car through auction.

Ed Savory, an Associate in the firm's Franchising team, attended both the BFA Affiliate Forum and the BFA London and South East Regional Forum in London in January.

On 1 February 2012 the Land Registry introduced a new form specifically targeting non-resident property owners and which aims to offer further protection from fraudsters.

The Coalition Government has announced that it plans to use the ‘financial privilege’ rule to overturn the recent defeats to the Welfare Bill inflicted by the House of Lords.

Leathes Prior's Employment and Dispute Resolution teams have, in the last three months alone, secured three injunctions for clients, which have prevented former employees from setting up in competition and/or soliciting their client base.

All of the Leathes Prior Family team lawyers are members of Resolution, formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA).  Resolution is a national organisation of family lawyers whose members agree to abide by a Code of Practice.

This month British Showjumping has announced amendments to its rules on micro-chipping and flu vaccinations. These will form part of the 2012 Rules and Year Book, effective from 1 April 2012. British Showjumping members should familiarise themselves with the new rules to ensure compliance.

Last week fashion and home wares retailer Next became the latest high street name to hit the headlines as the result of an online pricing error.  Next mistakenly listed a pair of sofas worth £1,198 on its website for just £98.  This pricing error remained live on Next’s website for nearly 6 hours before being removed. 

In December 2011, the Information Commissioner released an Information Rights Strategy, outlining key sectors which will be targeted for Data Protection compliance over the course of the next three years.

With cost-effective conduct of litigation and customer interests being key drivers for litigants, and legal expenses insurers alike, Leathes Prior has joined with Norwich based provider of online claims management, Validus IVC to create go2mediation, an online mediation platform that represents a solution for the internet age to the cost and uncertainty of litigation.

With the announcement that the Olympic torch will be arriving in Norwich in the early evening of Wednesday 4 July 2012, the Olympic Countdown is now on in our region. 

Mention the term “drop shipping” to any US e-tailer and you can be pretty sure that they will know exactly what you’re talking about.  Drop shipping, however, has yet to make a significant impact on the world of e-commerce in the UK.  We predict that this is set to change in 2012.

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For most chocolatiers and confectionary houses Christmas is a good time of the year.  One chocolatier having a particularly good Christmas this year is Cadbury’s.  Following a three year battle with rival Nestle, Cadbury's has recently secured a decision from the Intellectual Property Office allowing it to register the Cadbury’s purple as a UK trade mark.

LP Franchising team Associate Ed Savory attended the British Franchise Association (BFA) Round Table Discussions in Birmingham on Thursday 8 December 2011.

LP tourism and leisure Partner Peter Sheppard yesterday adjudicated at a world record mince pie eating contest at Wroxham Barns.

Kitty Rosser and Vicki Mitman of the Leathes Prior Franchising team recently attended the Countrywide Signs Franchise Owner Showcase 2011 held at the University of Warwick.

In the latest edition of The Franchise Magazine Mike Barlow and Ed Savory of Leathes Prior's Franchising Team publish an article on using the term "Franchise Owner" to describe a Franchisee in legal documentation. The article considers the extent of ownership rights which a franchisee enjoys and offers a reminder to franchisors to avoid over-selling their franchise offering.

The EDP last week exposed a shockingly high number of breaches of the Data Protection Act across this region’s hospitals, police forces and councils.  Since 2008 there have been a total of 150 reported breaches of the Data Protection Act. 

After many months of rumour, the Employment team at Leathes Prior has eagerly awaited the full details of the much talked about Government proposals for reforming employment law.  Business Secretary Vince Cable has today provided us with some flesh to put on the recent bones we have all received, in what is claimed by the Government to be the biggest shakeup of employment law for decades.