Leathes Prior is delighted to welcome four new members to the firm
As part of an exciting growth plan for the firm, to continue to offer the best services to our clients, we are thrilled to welcome four new members of staff to the firm.
We are delighted to announce the arrival of four new members of staff to Leathes Prior; Alice Horne, Lucy Warren, Tomas Hayden, and Terri Ferrari.
Alice Horne joins us as a Senior Associate in the Commercial Property Team, Alice brings nearly 10 years of experience in advising on a wide range of commercial property matters. With extensive experience in acquisitions, disposals, leases, and development projects, Alice is well-equipped to navigate complex transactions and deliver practical, tailored solutions for our clients. Her proactive and client-focused approach makes her a valuable addition to our growing team.
Partner, Lucy Whipps commented on Alice joining the team, “I am incredibly pleased and excited to welcome Alice to our Commercial Property Team. Alice is renowned for her excellent client service, technical know-how, and commercial and pragmatic solutions. We have seen this first-hand having worked with Alice as a counterpart on transactions and, from my perspective, having been a colleague of Alice’s in a previous life. We look forward to introducing Alice and our other new joiners to our clients, both established and new, and to an exciting next chapter for our new joiners and our firm.”
Lucy Warren joins our Commercial Team as a Solicitor advising businesses on a variety of commercial matters. Her ability to provide clear and pragmatic advice will be support our clients across a number of different sectors. Lucy’s enthusiasm for helping businesses solve commercial challenges aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering high-quality legal support.
Partner, Alex Saunders commented on the arrival of Lucy to the team, “We are delighted to welcome Lucy to our growing team. The addition of Lucy will further strengthen our specialist commercial offering and enable us to continue providing high standards of service and support to our commercial clients. We are confident that Lucy will be a great asset to the team.”
Tomas Hayden joins our Dispute Resolution Team as a Litigation Executive. With a practical and results-driven mindset, Tomas specialises in assisting clients with a range of contentious probate and property disputes. His dedication to achieving positive outcomes and providing clear, strategic guidance will enhance the exceptional service our Dispute Resolution Team is known for.
Terri Ferrari joins us as our new Credit Controller, playing a crucial role in the smooth operation of our financial processes. With her meticulous approach and commitment to ensuring efficient credit management, Terri’s contributions will be invaluable in supporting our firm’s continued growth and success.
Dan Chapman commented "We have an exciting growth plan in place to ensure we can continue to offer the best services to our clients and a key part of that plan is to take any opportunity we can to add highly talented lawyers to our team. The addition of Alice, Lucy, and Tomas meets that objective as we invest in the best talent in the various practice areas we work in. Each of them brings unique expertise and enthusiasm, and we are excited to see how they will contribute to the future success of the firm."
We are thrilled to welcome Alice, Lucy, Tomas, and Terri to Leathes Prior.
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.
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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.
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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.
