Retail, Hospitality & Leisure
We’re proud to offer comprehensive legal advice from multi-disciplinary teams across the firm to our clients in the retail, hospitality & leisure. With ever-developing challenges in the sector, we support our clients with innovative solutions to help them achieve their goals, build sustainable and profitable businesses and thrive in a competitive and evolving environment.
We assist our clients in the sector with everything from commercial property matters, to corporate transactions, commercial advice, employment and workplace management, regulatory compliance and disputes. Whether you are a bricks and mortar or ecommerce retailer, or a hospitality or leisure business, our team can provide tailored solutions to support your business through its full lifecycle.
We work alongside our clients on all their property needs, including taking new leases, assigning leases following Partner retirements and appointments, granting underleases to complimentary occupiers, buying and selling property and financing premises.
Our team has a strong history of acting within this sector. We have advised businesses within Norfolk and further afield, and in recent times have acted for all manner of clients, from pubs and restaurants, through to high street and ecommerce retail.
From terms and conditions, data protection and intellectual property polices, through to commercial agreements our team will provide you with legal advice tailored to your current goals and growth ambitions, so that whether you are just starting out, or a seasoned business owner, you and your business can stride forward with confidence.
We also advise on mergers and acquisitions, helping you expand your business and take it to the next stage of its life, or on sales and disposals, whether this is part of your exit planning strategy, or part of a re-alignment of the business' priorities.
We understand the sector's competitive nature, requiring you to balance a customer-driven environment with the long-term security of your business and its stakeholders. In an ever more challenging market, we aim to provide commercially driven advice which focuses on your business' long-term growth and development, whilst also being ready to provide reactive advice to you should the need arise
We act for many clients in the retail & hospitality 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 Property Disputes Team offers expert advice to commercial landlords and tenants on a wide range of commercial property disputes, including matters such as dilapidations, disrepair, lease renewals, rent arrears, forfeiture, rights of way, boundary disputes, easements, enforcing covenants, adverse possession and trespass.
Our Regulatory and Criminal Defence Team provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals operating in the retail, hospitality and leisure 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.
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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
I am writing to say that the service provided by Darren Bowen was excellent. His communications and explanations were very clear and I felt well guided by him throughout the dispute.
After various unsatisfactory dealings with different firms in the area, I was recommended to try Leathes Prior and have found every department I have dealt with has provided nothing short of an excellent service. I have used them now for a number of personal and business affairs and the knowledge, openness and competitive pricing puts them leagues ahead of the local competition. I wouldn't hesitate in using them in the future.
We cannot recommend Leathes Prior Solicitors enough, in particular Polly Langford. Throughout all our dealings with them we have received nothing but an efficient, thorough and impeccable service. Our matter was brought to a swift conclusion in a highly skilled and professional manner. 10/10. If you need a solicitor look no further than Leathes Prior.
It’s not a helpline, it’s a lifeline.
Harriet is a fantastic lawyer. She is incredibly knowledgeable but also kind. She was extremely responsive, kept me up to date and went out of her way to make sure I was OK. A true champion of mental health and so understanding of the impact being involved in contentious issues, particularly employment ones, can have. Dan also seamlessly stepped in when Harriet was on annual leave and I always felt I was in good hands. Everyone expects their lawyer to know the law but sadly what isn’t a given is compassion, value for money and a personal touch. Harriet (and Dan) gave me that and I am very grateful.
Dan Chapman is the best solicitor I've ever worked with. We've used him for years.
We have been working with the Leathes Prior Employment Team for 5 years. They have helped us with contract initiations, employee grievances, staff restructuring, and general HR support. Throughout our time working together they have been efficient, highly reactive, and respectful of our company's needs. I truly feel that the LP team is part of the DMD team after working so closely together over the years. We can’t recommend them enough and we would like to give a special thanks to Sarah Appleton for her devotion to our account and brutal honesty when it’s needed, as us as customers aren’t always right!
My confidence in the outcome was never in doubt as you guys are great, both in the preparation and the execution. I really enjoy working with you for your professionalism and your humour, both go a long way so thanks again.
We honestly could not have got through the year without your help.
Dealing with the death of a loved one and organising distribution of their estate is not an easy process. It can be time consuming and there are many avenues to explore and deal with. There may be pitfalls on the way and hurdles to negotiate but I can recommend Leathes Prior, particularly Pat and Billy and not forgetting Beth and Hannah who dealt with all aspects of my mother’s estate with the utmost care and consideration in a very professional and exemplary manner. Five stars and a ten out of ten rating are completely justified.
We used LP to undertake our first Wills and Jordan Walker couldn't have been more helpful and professional in providing advice and drafting our wills for us. Would thoroughly recommend.
Thank you for forwarding documentation confirming the positive outcome for my current case in your hands. You have conducted my affairs in a professional and most pleasant and friendly manner. Kind regards and once again, thank you.
I wanted to express our appreciation of the way you supported us over the Will dispute and achieved a satisfactory outcome. Next Tuesday is the second anniversary of my brother's death and for the first time, I can think about him without worrying about the Will problem.
We just wanted to take time to say 'A big thank you' to you and your team at Leathes Prior for all the hard work you have put into achieving a great result with regard to our Will dispute. It has been a very hard and stressful 19 months since the death of my father. We put our faith in yourself and have been very happy and impressed with the manner in which you have dealt with our case. Your professionalism, knowledge and eloquence has clearly helped with achieving the successful result that has been obtained.
Once again, superb advice and wise counsel from Leathes Prior - this time a shout out for Patrick Gibney who has efficiently dealt with drafting our Wills in a most professional manner.
We have dealt with Leathes Prior Solicitors for many years and have always been very satisfied. Recently we have updated our Wills and as we are fast approaching 80 years of age, we were especially pleased with their expert knowledge and kind and friendly approach. Everything was explained in a very understanding way. We highly recommend Leathes Prior Solicitors.
We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the friendly and professional way Jordan Walker updated our wills. She was both understanding and informative in her explanation of legal matters and we greatly appreciated the fact that she came to us to conduct matters. Many thanks and best wishes to her and the team at Leathes Prior.
Chris was amazing. My world was imploding and it was the worst time of my life and Chris was a calm and steady voice that I needed. He was reassuring, super helpful and gave me honest advice. He's also a human being. What I mean by that is he spoke to me like a person and not just a number. Was never pompous or baffling me with long words and legalese.
We can not thank Darren enough for the way he handled our claim. He was an extremely calming influence and led us through every step of the way with the upmost respect and trust. We would highly recommend using Darren and indeed Leathes Prior in general and we are grateful for their professionalism and hard work.
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.
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.
