About | Leathes Prior

the birth of leathes prior’s father

Henry Prior, father of Leathes Prior, is born in Tewkesbury.

leathes prior’s mother was born

Leathes Prior's father, Henry Prior married five times. His fourth wife, Amelia Mary Tompson, was born in 1819.

leathes prior’s mother and father are married

Lieutenant Henry Prior marries Amelia Mary Tompson. The couple go on to have three children together, including Leathes Prior.

leathes prior is born

Leathes Prior, founder of the firm that still bears his name today, is born in the Saugor (Sagar) territory of British India.

leathes prior turns his hand to the legal profession

Leathes Prior was appointed as an apprentice to the solicitor William Nicholas Harwin Turner.

turner and prior

The legal practice firm Turner and Prior is established in Norwich.

leathes prior settles down

Leathes Prior marries Fanny Ellen Bolingbroke in Christchurch, Eaton, Norwich and their first of five children, Bernard Henry Leathes Prior, is born.

turner and prior in central norwich

The firm Turner and Prior is located, according to the 1879 Kelly’s Directory, on Upper King Street in Norwich.

Bernard Henry Leathes Prior is appointed as Second Lieutenant

Bernard Henry Prior is appointed as Second Lieutenant (supernumerary) in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, the Norfolk Regiment.

Bernard Henry Leathes Prior is commended

Bernard Henry Leathes Prior is awarded the South African Medal for service in the Boer War.

leathes prior becomes lord mayor of norwich

Leathes Prior becomes Lord Mayor of Norwich

Charles Prior initiated into Freemasons

Leathes Prior's second son, Charles Prior, is initiated into the Freemason Union Lodge on the 3rd of September.

Bernard and Charles join their father at the family firm

Bernard and Charles work with Leathes Prior at his law firm, now located in Tuck’s Court on St Giles Street, Norwich.

Bernard Henry Prior’s son is born

Leathes Prior's grandson, Bernard Oliver Leathes Prior, is born in Blofield. He was the last member of the Prior family active in the firm. Meanwhile Leathes Prior himself is appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

Freemason Bernard Henry Prior

Bernard Henry Prior is initiated in December into the Naval and Military Freemason Lodge.

Leathes Prior’s daughter begins her service in WW1

Fanny Edith Prior begins her service in a Voluntary Aid Detachment during WW1. She receives a medal (Victory or British War Medal) for her conduct, as do daughters Winifred and Margaret later on.

colonel bernard henry leathes prior joins the ww1 battles on the western front

Bernard Henry Leathes Prior travels to France to command the Norfolk 9th Battalion

Bernard Henry Prior receives Distinguished Service Order

London Gazette: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty..a splendid example of coolness and courage under most trying conditions..gallant resistance by his battalion was largely due to his magnificent example of fearless determination".

colonel bernard henry leathes prior is shot at lagnicourt

From his war memoirs, "The bullet went clean through my shoulder, hitting the back of my collar badge and just penetrating my neck..."

norwich city football club incorporated in march 1919 with the help of leathes prior

Norwich City Football Club incorporated in March 1919 with the help of Charles Bolingbroke Leathes Prior

Leathes Prior’s son is commended for contribution to service

Charles Prior is awarded the British War Medal and/or the Victory Medal for services during WW1.

Leathes Prior’s grandson joins Norfolk Regiment

Bernard Oliver Leathes Prior is gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.

Leathes Prior and Son moves to 5 Queen Street in Norwich

Leathes and Bernard Henry Prior are listed as solicitors and commissioners for oaths. Charles Prior is instead an official receiver in bankruptcy for Norwich and Great Yarmouth, based at the firm on Prince of Wales Road.

Leathes Prior sadly passes away

The founder of the firm, Leathes Prior, passes away aged 82.

Leathes Prior’s grandson is gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant

Sergeant Michael William Leathes Prior is gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery due to emergency wartime commissions.

Leathes Prior’s youngest commended

Charles Bolingbroke Leathes Prior receives a Civil Defence Gallantry award for “devotion to duty during raids on Norwich” commanding a unit of City Special Constabulary.

Leathes Prior’s grandson appointed Clerk of the Peace

Bernard Oliver Leathes Prior is appointed Clerk of the Peace for the City of Norwich.

another prior gazetted

Baron James Prior, Leathes Prior's grandson, was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Norfolk Regiment

Further appointments for Leathes Prior’s grandson

Bernard Oliver Prior is appointed H.M Coroner for the City of Norwich and Clerk to the Great Hospital Trustees.

Appointments continue for Leathes Prior’s grandson

Bernard Oliver Prior is appointed Registrar of the Diocese of Norwich and Legal Secretary to the Bishop.

our former senior partner joined the firm

Our former Senior Partner William Riley, who was with the firm until 2021, was employed as an Articled Clerk.

‘right honourable’

Leathes Prior's grandson Baron James Prior is given the title of 'Right Honourable'.

william riley makes partner

Our former Senior Partner, William Riley, joined the partnership at Leathes Prior in 1980.

baron james prior steps down as mp

Between 1959 and 1983 Leathes Prior's grandson, Baron James Prior, was an MP for Lowestoft County Constituency

baron prior

Leathes Prior's grandson James Prior receives the title 'Baron Prior' - baron for life of Brampton in Suffolk.

leathes prior open head office at 74 the close

Leathes Prior move into 74 The Close - This continues to be the head office today.

the firm sees the very early stages of debtcollector

The firm decides to put together a service to help our clients tackle the problem of late payers. The service is still in action today, helping clients recover individual and corporate debts on a daily basis.

First Filipino to qualify as a Solicitor in the UK completes training with us

Having come to England eight years previous, the trainee said that her achievement helped "break the stereotype of Filipino women".

Firm makes plans to open its third office in The Close

Our Head of Regulatory and Defence Team Tim Cary, who is still with the firm as a Consultant today then moved into the office at 15 The Close to grow the firm's personal injury offering.

Voted one of the best financial advisers in the country

Back when Leathes Prior also provided financial advice as well as legal advice, the Mail on Sunday placed the firm amongst the top 19 financial advisers in the country, selected on outstanding quality, depth and breadth of financial advice.

paul warman joins the firm as partner

Our current Senior Partner Paul Warman joins the firm as a Partner.

Firm sponsors ‘Experience Meggopolis’

The firm showed support to the Norwich Cathedral and Diocese by sponsoring, alongside Savills, 'a walk through the Cathedral of light' when tunnels and caverns of extraordinary light and colour were displayed in The Close.

The firm calls in an exorcist to rid us of the ghosts in The Close

After cupboard doors slamming shut, calendars sent swinging and clock pendulums defying gravity, the firm contacted the Norfolk clerics appointed by the bishop to deal with exorcism and the paranormal.

changes afoot

One of the first major UK firms to opt to close down its Legal Aid departments, the firm chooses to re-focus the firm solely on its private and business clients.

the firm launches mediation1st

In 2003 we launched mediation1st, now a market leading offering with Partner Martin Plowman, who founded mediation1st, now ranked number one mediator in the UK in the National Mediator Database League Table.

firm signs major sponsorship deal

The firm signs up as sponsors of Wymondham Rugby Football Club and continued to support the club for 10 years following.

another office for our growing firm

In 2006 the firm took on further office premises in Tombland, dedicated to servicing our growing corporate and commercial client base.

employmentor is launched

Our much-heralded Employment Manual, successful for over 20 years, re-launched as an online service; the birth of our employmentor offering.

firm launches full contact

Leathes Prior's Partner Dan Chapman launches boutique sports law offering, Full Contact which is now representing organisations and individuals across the country.

Leathes Prior joins forces with Cole & Co Solicitors

Cole & Co becomes part of Leathes Prior, bringing its conveyancing and private client expertise to the team at Leathes Prior. Since the merge, what was the Cole & Co office has become Leathes Prior's dedicated conveyancing office.

The firm sponsors a GoGoDragon to raise funds for Break

Our Marketing Team worked with local Mosaic artist Carolyn Ash to create our stunning dragon; GoGoMosaic. Of the 84 sponsored dragons, it raised the most; a whopping £25,000!

firm upgrades to main club sponsor of swardeston CC

Having previously sponsored the cricket club's junior teams, the firm increases its support to become main club sponsor. The firm also signs a deal to sponsor the 'Leathes Prior Grand Prix' running series.

leathes prior celebrates 140 years

Leathes Prior was established in 1876 which means we celebrated a big birthday this year!

two new additions to the partnership

Sarah Appleton and Tessa Bonser, from our Employment Team and Wills, Estates & Powers of Attorney Team, accept invitations to join the Partnership.

the firm sponsors one of only 50 city sculptures on the gogohares trail

Leathes Prior proudly sponsor Professor Hare & His Magic Library in support of Break Charity

the firm represents formula 1 driver alex albon

Leathes Prior's sports offering, Full Contact helped place Alex Albon into the Torro Rosso team for the 2019 season. Alex has since been promoted to the full Red Bull Team.

lp continues to assist clients through global pandemic

Leathes Prior remained open and assisted clients throughout the outbreak of COVID-19. This included being one the first firms to announce the Stamp Duty Holiday and report on the Furlough Scheme.

former senior partner william riley retires

Leathes Prior’s Senior Partner, William Reginald Conduit Riley is set to retire after 48 years of service at the firm.

leathes prior winners of five categories in the prestigious legal 500 future lawyers survey

The survey awarded LP winners in 5 categories with 2 being a national top spot: ‘Vacation Schemes’ & ‘Social Life’.

leathes prior release new brand video

Leathes Prior excited to release new LP Brand Video to show off the new LP logo.

Leathes Prior opens two new offices

Leathes Prior relocated from 23 Tombland to our new office at 15 The Close. We also proudly opened a new office in Ipswich at 159 Connextions, home to our Crime and Regulatory Team.

About Us