Construction
Our construction experts have extensive experience in this industry, advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters relating to commercial and residential property. The team act for clients from a variety of sectors on a local and nationwide basis.
The team provides specialist advice and assistance in relation to any construction project including all aspects of commercial property, the contracts involved such as JCT, NEC and other standard form contracts plus bespoke contracts and ancillary documentation (collateral warranties, parent company guarantees, performance bonds, novation agreements and funding arrangements). We have a wide range of experience in advising owners, employers, developers, main contractors, sub-contractors, funders, architects, surveyors, agents and other construction professionals in relation to issues involving construction projects.
There are a number of complicated terms and acronyms in construction law that can be confusing, we have therefore created a useful glossary of all these terms here.
We act for clients in the construction sector in all areas of employment law, including preparing bespoke employment contracts and policies tailored to the unique needs in this arena; managing staff; advising on employment disputes, termination and recruitment; acting in employment tribunal litigation and immigration assistance.
With our comprehensive understanding of the sector, we swiftly navigate complex workplace matters to ensure, where possible, a swift, practical resolution is reached. Our experience in the sector means our solicitors give relevant, specialist, practical and up to the minute advice on situations in your business as they develop.
Our team advises both businesses within the construction industry, and those looking to engage with those businesses on projects and builds. We act and advise on a wide range of matters, including commercial agreements, supply contracts, Deeds of Appointment, Collateral Warranties, and formal construction contracts, with a particular focus on the JCT suite of contracts.
We aim to streamline as much of the process as we can, and to provide commercial advice especially to those less familiar or routinely involved in the industry. Our team appreciate that venturing into the world of construction can sometimes be a daunting task, and our teams main aim is to make that journey as easy and stress-free as possible.
Our Regulatory and Criminal Defence team provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals operating in the construction sector, for example those facing HSE, Trading Standards, DVSA, Police, HMRC, GLAA and Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions, or Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests in the event of fatalities.
In our experience, early intervention in construction disputes is often important to help avoid becoming tied up in lengthy litigation. This may be by way of advising on the meaning and effect of contractual clauses, identifying remedies and practical steps that can be taken or assisting with negotiating a resolution. The team's expertise includes providing assistance with:
- Contract disputes whether standard form contracts such as Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT), New Engineering Contracts (NEC), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or individually negotiated contracts
- Professional negligence disputes
- Disputes or issues regarding payments (including in connection with Pay Less Notices under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996)
- Defects disputes, including those asserted by way of set-off, counterclaim or abatement
- Delay and extensions of time claims
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) including mediation
- Adjudication, including under the Scheme for Construction Contracts
- Arbitration
- Court proceedings (including dealing with claims in the Technology and Construction Court).
- Regulatory matters, issues involving CDM Regulations and other prosecutions or investigations brought by the HSE, Trading Standards or other public bodies
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What our clients say
This Norwich-based team continues to impress and adds growing expertise in the construction industry to its existing corporate and commercial know-how.
I am pleased with the outcome and would like to say thanks again to you and Mike for the professional and caring way you both managed my situation. I cannot think of any way the service you provided could have been improved. I would certainly be moved to use Leathes Prior for any legal service that I may require in the future.
We engaged Leathes Prior to help with an issue that had taken our previous appointment a long time to get any real traction on. We changed and got Leathes Prior involved who swiftly stepped in and brought to a quick conclusion getting us a result that we didn't think we would achieve. The most impressive aspect is that he picked up and understood the issue in an instant and thought up our strategy laying it out in simple terms and guided us through to the completion. We have already engaged his services on further historic issue that we have and are confident that he will achieve a similar outcome for us.
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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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.
Service Charges in Residential Leases: FAQs
Service charges are forever a hot topic in the world of property disputes, and it remains one of the most contentious areas between freeholders and leaseholders, particularly in long residential leases. Danny Turpin, Associate, discusses frequently asked questions regarding service charges on long residential leases.
Leathes Prior winners in nine categories in the prestigious Legal 500 Future Laywer Survey
We are thrilled to announce that the firm has placed once again in the Legal 500 Future Lawyer survey as No.1 in the UK for our Social Life; a ranking we have held in the survey for seven years out of the past nine years.
Jess’s Rule – New Guidelines for GPs
A new initiative is being rolled out across GP practices across England in the hope of preventing serious illnesses being missed by GPs where patients present with the same, or deteriorating, symptoms on multiple occasions. Kimberley Nelson in our Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team discusses new guidelines for GPs.
Leathes Prior are excited to announce that four Trainee Solicitors qualify at the firm
Leathes Prior is excited to announce that four of our amazing trainees, Eleanor Chapman, Maggie Berry, Alex Robinson, and Georgia Sartin, have successfully completed their training contracts and are now qualifying as Solicitors at the firm.
