Real Estate
We understand that real estate is a long term investment, with this in mind, our team builds lasting relationships with our clients to support them at every stage of their real estate journey and taking the time to fully understand each individual clients objectives.
Our collaborative approach, means we work with real estate specialists across the firm, which we believe helps us to produce the best results for our clients.
We advise our clients on matters such as development of commercial and residential property, have specialist agricultural property experts, and a dedicated team for property disputes meaning we can offer comprehensive and tailored solutions for each client in the real estate sector.
We work with individuals and businesses across the sector including builders, landowners, developers, and property management companies offering strategic advice to support you in achieving your real estate goals.
We act for individuals and companies on the acquisition of small to medium size development sites, during such process we can also assist with negotiating Option Agreements, Conditional Contracts, Overage Agreements and drafting Section 106 Agreements. The Head of Team and Partner of our Residential Team has also built a specialist knowledge on nutrient neutrality meaning we can assist in the pre-purchase stage of a site, too. Once the site has been developed, we can then assist with plot sales.
We have crucial contacts across the industry, meaning if there is an aspect of a development which we cannot assist with, we can advise on who to contact. For example, we can refer you to brokers to arrange development finance, which we can then act on alongside the purchase transaction.
Commercial Property is by its very nature diverse; ranging from small starter industrial units to multi million-pound development sites (and everything in between).
Our specialist team has experience across this wide spectrum of work to help our clients achieve their commercial property aims every day.
Our Commercial Property Team pride themselves on their human, commercial and sensible approach to concluding transactions as well as recognising that one size does not fit every transaction.
We act for clients on a wide range of matters, including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases at all values, new build purchases, re-mortgages, buy-to-let investments, declarations of trust, transfers of equity, first registrations, title splits, lease renewals/extensions and deeds of easement and variation. Our Team can also assist with Building Safety Act (BSA) matters. We act for many clients in personal and business capacities.
Our personal and pragmatic approach means that we are able to ensure every transaction is as seamless and efficient as possible. Our Team prides themselves on being approachable points of contact, providing support through every stage of a transaction. Our strong relationships with agents and brokers across the sector means we can adopt a collaborative approach to reach a successful completion.
Our Property Disputes Team are experienced with providing pragmatic advice on a range of contentious matters concerning residential and commercial property. Our disputes team works closely with our real estate departments to assist with any non-contentious elements relating to your dispute.
We can assist with the following matters:
- Adverse possession
- Restrictive covenants
- Positive covenants
- Right of light
- Boundary disputes
- Misrepresentation claims
- Rights of way
- Nuisance
- Trespass
- Title disputes
- Breaches of covenant
- Forfeiture
In regards to commercial and residential possession, we can assist with matters such as unopposed and contested lease renewals, service charge disputes, disrepair, dilapidations, easements and lease extension and enfranchisement disputes.
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What our clients say
Many thanks for this Alison and huge thanks to you personally for all your help and Leathes Prior, we are thrilled with the service/representation we received and would highly recommend Leathes Prior to others.
I was able to authorise Leathes Prior to undertake the sale of two agricultural fields let out to tenants, and Alison has been able to complete the sale of both fields without any fuss. She has been totally professional, liaising with the tenants’ solicitors (as well as my mother’s solicitor) and managed to streamline the process. I should also add that Alison had a very positive style of dealing with me as a client, and it gave me confidence that the work was being completed (unlike the firm that had been dealing with it). This is the third estate that I have had to deal with as an executor in the last five years, and I have been so impressed with the high-quality service provided by Leathes Prior
Darren Bowen has a broad practice covering contentious probates, agricultural disputes and real estate litigation. He is an expert in litigation. He is very good at bringing in the right experts and specialists for different jobs, he displays great customer care and is very tenacious.
Attention to detail and recommended for Commercial Litigation and Agriculture and Estates work, for their confident and pragmatic approach.
Leathes Prior’s Darren Bowen advises agricultural clients. Mike Barlow advised on a dispute concerning farming equipment installation.
In Darren Bowen the firm has a highly skilled property litigator who is respected by surveyors, land agents, landed estates and counsel, and whose expertise covers agricultural property disputes, particularly those involving probate matters.
Significant experience in acting for independent developers, landowners and retailers across the country, covering a broad range of contentious probates, agricultural disputes and real estate litigation.
Leathes Prior’s specialist team compares very well with the main competition in Norfolk. Litigator Darren Bowen is incisive, clear-thinking and a strong advocate for his clients, but always open to practical ideas for settlement.
Leathes Prior provide advice on all aspects of contentious property issues, including commercial, agricultural and residential landlord and tenant, boundary and development litigation. Particularly pronounced expertise in timeshare disputes, patient and measured in assisting with a long-running matter. They respond promptly and efficiently.
May I take this opportunity of thanking you both most sincerely for your help and assistance in concluding these arrangements. I appreciate that this has been a very long ongoing sale process, however it has been a pleasure to work with you both on this project and seeing the arrangements concluded.
Thank you so much for the update and good news! I am so grateful for all your hard work and persistence, and a brilliant outcome.
Thanks to our outstanding legal team, headed by Darren Bowen a Partner in Leathes Prior’s Dispute Resolution and Agricultural Teams we can now start trading again.
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.
