Employment

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Leathes Prior’s Employment Team has long been regarded as one of the leading employment law teams in East Anglia and beyond, providing expert advice on all aspects of employment law.

Our employment lawyers acts for individuals & businesses across the UK, including a number of household name employers. The team prides itself on providing dynamic advice tailored to the specific requirements of the client, delivered promptly and in a straightforward manner. Each employer or employee is unique but the team’s decades of experience, technical expertise and commercial awareness ensures an exceptional service is provided. 

With an enviable track record in the Employment Tribunal over many years, the team represent clients fearlessly if litigation becomes necessary.

Their expertise spans all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment work for both employers and employees. To learn more, head to our Employment for Employees and Employment for Employers pages.

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What our clients say

It’s not a helpline, it’s a lifeline.

Client feedback on the employment advice helpline

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.

Client feedback

Dan Chapman is the best solicitor I've ever worked with. We've used him for years.

Kate Howarth - Head of People & Culture - British Horseracing Authority

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!

Steve Bowden, Commercial Director at DMD Group

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.

Lynda Hulme – HR Director, Fowler Welch

We honestly could not have got through the year without your help.

England and Wales Cricket Board - ECB

The Employment Team has an expanding reputation with Dan Chapman noted for his speed, efficiency and thoroughness and his Tribunal appearances.

Legal 500

Just a note to thank you for your robust advice, your patience and approachable attitude which made the nasty experience of redundancies a lot easier.

Client feedback

Leathes Prior treats every client and every problem individually and takes the time to listen and learn about each client in order to give relevant, practical and correct advice. The firm has a diverse client base in Norfolk that includes SMEs and national employers, as well as employees.

Legal 500

They are a very good firm - I highly recommend them.

Client feedback

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you again for the high standard of service that we received from you. I found your advice to be very clear, useful and prompt which made a real difference in what was a very stressful and difficult situation. I am very happy with how the matter was dealt with and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Leathes Prior, and yourself in particular, to others. Thanks also to Coco who assisted you.

Client feedback

Dan Chapman has a stellar reputation in the county and leads a team of four in which associate and ‘extremely able advocate’ Gareth Stevens is ‘particularly good at making clients feel at ease and coming up with solutions they can understand and move forward with’. Sarah Appleton and Harriet Howes are also recommended.

Legal 500

Advises national clients across a wide range of employment issues, with notable experience at the Employment Tribunal.

Chambers & Partners

Thank you so much for all of Hannah and Sarah’s help – “super-sonic efficient team”!! We are so grateful for everything Leathes Prior do to help us – really appreciated!

Client feedback

A tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience, provides a brilliantly cohesive service and has demonstrated a capacity to undertake highly complex work.

Chambers & Partners

This professional and experienced team offers a level of client service that is as close to faultless as could be achieved.

Legal 500

The team covers the whole spectrum of employment law matters and there have been no problems with the service - we have been very happy.

Chambers & Partners

Dan Chapman is straight to the point, prompt, professional and his advice is always relevant. The Employment Team is assertive, commercial and on top of their game and Dan Chapman is a leading individual in East Anglia.

Legal 500

The effective and efficient Dan Chapman has exceptional knowledge and business acumen. The firm’s innovative web-based employmentor service is unrivalled in its value for money.

Legal 500

Dan Chapman heads the department and is acknowledged for his skills as an advocate before employment tribunals. He is excellent and very efficient; he can think on the spot and give you both an answer and direction.

Chambers & Partners

Thank you so much for taking the time to come and deliver the workshop today. I really enjoyed it. It’s always great to have a refresher.

Client feedback

Thank you for all your excellent advice, negotiations for the additional amounts and particularly your kind support - very much appreciated. It was good to know, throughout that there was a professional from whom I could get the right support and feel I could trust them to treat me well. I would definitely recommend you to others.

Client feedback

Response times are the best and industry knowledge is first class at Leathes Prior.

Legal 500

Can I take this opportunity of sincerely thanking you for all your patience, advice, support and enthusiasm – at times when the going looked difficult you in your pragmatic style kept our feet on the ground, and reassured us that we were strong and in the right. We will always be extremely grateful.

Client feedback

I really do appreciate your support and advice during what has been a very unsettling and stressful time. Having you there beside me has been a massive boost in helping me to see through what seemed a pretty thick fog at times.

Client feedback

Insights & Updates

Stay informed with our latest legal insights.

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The Future of EOTs: Less Tax Relief, Still Strong Potential

Hugo Persad, Trainee Solicitor in our Corporate Team, summarises the impact of reduced Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) relief on sales to Employee Ownership Trusts (“EOTs”) following the Autumn Budget.

Hugo Persad
18.12.2025

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.

Claire Woolliscroft TEP
18.12.2025

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...

Dan Chapman
17.12.2025

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.

Rhiannon Bond
10.12.2025

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.

Peter Lambert
04.12.2025

Leathes Prior advises Mapus-Smith & Lemmon LLP on the acquisition Kathryn Gigg Chartered Accountants

Leathes Prior’s Corporate Team has advised Mapus-Smith & Lemmon LLP on the acquisition of Kathryn Gigg Chartered Accountants, Business Advisors & Tax Consultants.

Peter Lambert
03.12.2025

The Autumn Budget 2025: A Summary

Lucy Matthews, Solicitor in our Commercial Team summarises the Autumn Budget 2025 presented by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.

Lucy Matthews
26.11.2025

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.

Maggie Berry
24.11.2025

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.

Ejike Ndaji
24.11.2025

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.

Jake Mowatt
14.11.2025

Leathes Prior acted for Hatfield Investments Limited on the sale of Crossways Residential Home

Leathes Prior's Corporate, Commercial Property & Employment Teams acted for Hatfield Investments Limited on the sale of Crossways Residential Home.

Peter Lambert
13.11.2025

Leathes Prior assists Greenhaul Limited with sale to Ascent Acquisitions Limited

Leathes Prior’s Corporate Team has advised the shareholders of Greenhaul Limited, a family-owned Norfolk transport business, on its sale to Ascent Acquisitions Limited.

Peter Lambert
13.11.2025

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.

Gareth Stevens
12.11.2025

Charity of the Month: The Benjamin Foundation

Leathes Prior is thrilled to be supporting The Benjamin Foundation as our Charity of the Month and participating in Sleep Out 2025 this month.

Jess Bullimore
12.11.2025

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.

Danny Turpin
31.10.2025

Property Disputes Team helps local landlords

The Leathes Prior Property Disputes Team advises a local landlord on forfeiture in respect of two of its units and a residential landlord on a complex residential possession claim.

Peter Lambert
27.10.2025

Our Charity of the Month: Norfolk and Waveney Mind

With today being World Mental Health Day, Leathes Prior is pleased to be supporting Norfolk and Waveney Mind as our Charity of the Month for October 2025.

Rhiannon Bond
10.10.2025

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 Bullimore
03.10.2025

Leathes Prior advises Phoenix Support Ltd on EOT structure

Leathes Prior is delighted to have advised Phoenix Support Limited on its transition to an employee-owned business under an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) structure.

Peter Lambert
29.09.2025

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.

Kimberley Nelson
23.09.2025

Our Charity of the Month: The Feed

Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Feed as our Charity of the Month for September 2025. Founded in 2014, The Feed is a Norwich-based charity dedicated to helping our local community to eat well, live well, and feel connected.

Rhiannon Bond
19.09.2025

Leathes Prior expands Employment Team with key appointment

Leathes Prior is delighted to announce the further expansion of our Employment Team with the appointment of Daniel Hughes as a Solicitor.

Peter Lambert
18.09.2025

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.

Peter Lambert
15.09.2025

Leathes Prior welcomes five new Trainee Solicitors to the firm

Leathes Prior is delighted to welcome five new Trainee Solicitors to the firm, Dylan Owen, Eleanor Feltwell, Harry Smith, Zumiqo Johnson, and Imogen Fraser.

Peter Lambert
12.09.2025

Leathes Prior advises on the sale of Bawdeswell Garden Centre

Leathes Prior advised Charmbeck Limited on the sale of Bawdeswell Garden Centre to Cherry Lane Retail Centres Limited.

Peter Lambert
04.09.2025