Leathes Prior welcomes three new Trainee Solicitors to the firm
Leathes Prior today welcomes three new members of staff with the recruitment of Trainee Solicitors Melissa Willrich, Lily Beel and Stefan Donnelly.
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Leathes Prior today welcomes three new members of staff with the recruitment of Trainee Solicitors Melissa Willrich, Lily Beel and Stefan Donnelly.
Melissa graduated from the University of Sussex in 2016 with a law degree before completing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP University in Cambridge, where she achieved a distinction.
Lily graduated from the University of Leeds with a law degree, before travelling to South East Asia after finishing University. Lily worked locally for a year and a half before joining Leathes Prior as a Paralegal in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team in November 2015. She finished her LPC in June 2017, achieving a distinction. Lily now commences the next stage of her legal career, as a trainee solicitor.
As an undergraduate, Stefan studied Sport and Exercise Science combined with Geography at Loughborough University, graduating in 2014. He then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at the UEA in 2015. Stefan also had a spell at Leathes Prior as a Paralegal working in litigation and personal injury, before taking time out of studying to travel. He will be undertaking his LPC alongside his training contract.
Dan Chapman, the Partner at Leathes Prior responsible for trainee solicitors, said “The firm is delighted to welcome all three trainees to the firm and I wish them the best of luck in their careers at Leathes Prior. This year’s intake shows our diverse approach to recruitment; Melissa has progressed through what is considered to be the more traditional route to becoming a trainee solicitor, whereas Lily took time out after her law degree to excel as a paralegal. Stefan is combining the final stage of his legal study with his training contract, and we recognise the importance of a flexible approach to recruiting the best solicitors of the future. We have high hopes for the three of them.”
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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.
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...
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