Leathes Prior act on acquisition of multi-award winning publication, The New European, from Archant
Alex Saunders and Jack Horwitz advised TNE on the corporate aspects of the transaction.
We are pleased to announce that Leathes Prior have acted for The New European Ltd (TNE) in the acquisition of the multi-award winning publication, The New European, from UK-regional publisher group, Archant. Alex Saunders and Jack Horwitz advised TNE on the corporate aspects of the transaction.
The New European was launched just days after the June 2016 Brexit referendum result, originally intended as a four-week pop-up publication providing in-depth analysis on Brexit from a pro-Remain perspective. In the years following, the newspaper broadened its coverage to an analysis of European politics more widely and has developed a large and influential following, together with focussing on more heavily on its digital offering (which includes a weekly podcast).
The New European has won a number of prestigious UK publishing awards, including Launch Of The Year in the British Media Awards and the Society of Editors Chairman’s Award.
TNE will be headed-up by the founding editor of the title, Matt Kelly, as CEO, editor-in-chief and majority shareholder and Gavin O’Reilly, former CEO of Independent News & Media PLC and former President of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), who becomes Executive Chairman.
Investors in TNE also include, amongst others, former BBC Director General and New York Times CEO Mark Thompson, co-founder of TransferWise Taavet Hinrikus, former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, Robin Klein, founding partner at LocalGlobe and an early investor in Lovefilm and Zoopla and former Archant CEO, Jeff Henry.
Of the acquisition, Matt Kelly, said: “I’m very excited to lead this next, new chapter in the remarkable life of The New European, building on its success of the past several years. Since the Referendum, The New European has shown that there is a significant market for high-quality, informative, provocative and entertaining journalism written for an audience who care deeply about both Britain and Europe’s future. With new investment capital in place and seasoned media investors, we have a very clear vision of how we can better enhance the experience for our readers and employ new innovations and product developments.”
Gavin O’Reilly, Executive Chairman, said: “Europe is changing and we believe that The New European can continue to play a positive role in constructively debating the continent’s future. The New European is unashamedly europhile to its core, but it puts the values of strong, independent journalism first; interrogating and questioning the institutions and forces shaping us.”
Of Leathes Prior, Matt Kelly commented: “I’d like to thank Alex and the Corporate team at Leathes Prior for navigating a complex and rapid process with such expertise and calm efficiency. They inspire confidence.”
Alex Saunders, Senior Associate in the Corporate & Commercial Team at Leathes Prior said: “It was a pleasure working with Matt and Gavin throughout the acquisition process and I am delighted to have been able to assist in ensuring The New European will continue under their expert leadership. The media experience and pedigree of Matt, Gavin and the investors goes without saying and I look forward to the continued success of the title in the years to come.”
We wish Matt, Gavin and The New European team the best for the future.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
.jpg)
The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
.jpg)
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to come into force tomorrow (18 December 2025)
After an extended period of back-and-forth amendments between Parliament and the House of Lords, on 16 December 2025, the ERB finally received approval from the House of Lords, with the formality of Royal Assent due to take place tomorrow (18 December 2025). Head of LP Employment, Dan Chapman, explains...
Charity of the Month: The Matthew Project
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Matthew Project as our Charity of the Month for December 2025. The Matthew Project supports young people and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex to overcome issues around drugs, alcohol, and mental health, empowering them to rebuild confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
Leathes Prior’s Milan Pandit appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society
Leathes Prior Solicitors is proud to announce that Milan Pandit, Solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial Team, has been appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society (NNLS) for 2025/26.
Commercial Lease Renewals: A guide for Landlords & Tenants
Commercial lease renewals are a topic that every commercial landlord and business that rents commercial premises should have at the forefront of their minds. It is essential for good succession planning, though it is often neglected until the expiry of an existing lease term is looming or once the existing term has come to an end and the tenant is holding over. In this article, our newly qualified solicitor, Maggie Berry explores the process that landlords and tenants can expect when navigating this complex area of law.
Our Guidance, Your Legacy: What is a Will, and why should I make one?
Not only is a Will one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected, but it also limits the likelihood of a claim/dispute following your death. To ensure your loved ones and the causes you care about benefit from your estate, a Will is essential to ensuring this happens. Find out more in this article.
Lease extensions: The essentials to getting started
Extending your lease can seem complex, but taking the right steps early can make the process much smoother. Jake Mowatt, Associate and Harry Smith, Trainee Solicitor in our Residential Property Team outlines the key essentials every leaseholder should understand prior to extending their lease.
Upcoming changes to bringing employment law claims: What these mean for you
The highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is set to increase the time limits in which employees can bring an employment tribunal claim. Gareth Stevens & Rose Woolterton explain what this means for employers & employees.
