Licensing

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As licensing specialists, our team deals with a wide range of licensing matters including applications for licences, licence variations, representation before licensing committee hearings and public inquiries, and defending enforcement action and prosecutions.

The team works closely alongside our criminal & regulatory defence, corporate & commercial and commercial property teams to provide a thorough and comprehensive service. We successfully obtained some of the first 24 hour licenses under the Licensing Act 2003 in East Anglia and were also heavily involved in licensing gaming establishments after the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005. Our expertise includes providing advice and representation on the following areas of licensing:

Alcohol
Entertainment
Food Premises
Gambling
Goods and Passenger Vehicle Operators
Lotteries
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

Key Contacts

Howard Catherall

Partner
Litigation & Dispute Resolution

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What our clients say

Leathes Prior provides good, prompt advice through Tim Cary, who is professional and impressive.

Legal 500

Leathes Prior’s regulatory expert Tim Cary advises numerous local businesses around Norwich on licensing matters.

Legal 500

Leathes Prior attracts very high praise from clients.

Legal 500

Accurate and thoughtful advice.

Legal 500

Just want to say thank you for all your hard work and you made it so much easier having you to represent us as we wouldn’t have got the same result without you. I would recommend you to anyone who need your services and I would certainly use you if I did need a solicitor.

Client feedback

Insights & Updates

Stay informed with our latest legal insights.

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Increase in statutory mileage allowance announced

Following the announcement on 21 May 2026 by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, HMRC has updated its Employment Income Manual to reflect the newly announced increase in the statutory mileage allowance for the 2026-27 tax year.

Daniel Hughes
22.05.2026

UK GDPR Update: What the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 Means for Organisations

While several updates under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 came into force on 5 February 2026, the next key development for organisations is still to come. From 19 June 2026, organisations will be legally required to implement a formal complaint handling process for data protection matters. This is a significant shift, placing greater emphasis on resolving issues internally before they escalate to the regulator.

Lucy Matthews
22.05.2026

Selling a Probate Property: A Guide for Executors

Acting as an Executor can feel daunting, especially if there is a property which needs to be sold as part of the estate administration process. If you have been appointed as an Executor and you are unsure where to begin, here are some key things to consider.

Anna Jordan
13.05.2026

Leathes Prior welcomes new agricultural specialist to the firm

Leathes Prior is pleased to welcome Rebecca Allen to our specialist Agriculture Team.

Peter Lambert
11.05.2026

Leathes Prior's Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team Secure Settlement for Client

Kate Smith (Senior Associate) and Kimberley Nelson (Paralegal) were instructed in relation to a workplace personal injury claim, and successfully secured a five-figure settled for the client.

Rhiannon Bond
08.05.2026

New Restrictions to Charitable Giving: What You Need to Know

Changes to UK tax law regarding charitable giving took effect from 6 April 2026. Following legislative amendments in the Finance Act 2025-26, the generous tax exemptions associated with charitable gifts - specifically Inheritance Tax (IHT) exemptions - will be restricted to gifts to UK-registered charities. Ejike Ndaiji, Partner in our Wills, Trusts, & Probate and Charities Team explains...

Ejike Ndaji
27.04.2026

Charity of the Month: Crohn's & Colitis UK

Leathes Prior are delighted to be supporting Crohn’s & Colitis UK as our Charity of the Month for April 2026.

Rhiannon Bond
24.04.2026

The Fair Work Agency: ERA 2025

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) was launched on the 7 April and is a new government body that has merged three previously separate agencies into one single regulator. Dan Chapman, Partner in our Employment Team explains what this means.

Dan Chapman
21.04.2026

Employment Rights Act 2026: The New Trade Union Right Of Access - Will it matter?

The Government has now published its response to the “Make Work Pay: Trade Union Right of Access” consultation which means we are now one step closer to properly understanding what these new access rights really will be.

Dan Chapman
13.04.2026

Leathes Prior grows the firm’s People & Culture Team

Leathes Prior are delighted to announce that Jessica Bullimore has joined on a permanent basis as People & Culture Manager, further strengthening the firm’s investment in its people as it continues to grow.

Peter Lambert
08.04.2026

Leathes Prior advises Circuitlink on acquisition of Bowmonk

Leathes Prior Solicitors has advised Circuitlink PTY Limited on its acquisition of RJS UK Holdings Limited, trading as Bowmonk, a well-established UK manufacturer of vehicle testing and compliance equipment.

Peter Lambert
01.04.2026

Leathes Prior Announces Promotions for 2026

Leathes Prior announce eight key promotions across legal and operational teams

Jessica Bullimore
01.04.2026

Leathes Prior & Norfolk Community Foundation: Good for Good

Leathes Prior work in collaboration with Norfolk Community Foundation to support Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations through the Skills Exchange

Rhiannon Bond
23.03.2026

Charity of the Month: The Sunshine Memory Café

Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Sunshine Memory Café as our Charity of the Month for March 2026, with funding being raised from our 'LP Big Fat Quiz of the 150th Year' event.

Rhiannon Bond
18.03.2026

Spring Statement 2026 - An Overview

With the Government having restricted itself to one fiscal event a year in the form of the Autumn Budget, the Spring Statement is perhaps not the dramatic moment it used to be. It is more a chance for the Government to respond to events and economic forecasts than to set policy for the future.

Sam Poulter
03.03.2026

Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust

Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

Rhiannon Bond
23.02.2026

Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings

In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.

Kimberley Nelson
20.02.2026

The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection

Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.

Jordan Walker
19.02.2026

Clinical Wills: An overview for Healthcare Practitioners

Ejike Ndaji, Partner in our Wills, Trusts and Probate Team provides an overview of Clinical Wills and their importance to Healthcare Practitioners.

Ejike Ndaji
17.02.2026

Leathes Prior assists Almalumi Group on the acquisition of Yarrowside Limited

Alex Saunders, Partner in the Leathes Prior’s Corporate Team assists Almalumi Group on the acquisition of Yarrowside Limited.

Alex Saunders
17.02.2026
Will

What do Executors and Trustees do, and who should I appoint?

Charlie Watkins, Trainee Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts & Probate Team discusses what Executors and Trustees do, and who you should appoint.

Charlie Watkins
03.02.2026

Charity of the Month: Big C

Leathes Prior is pleased to support Norfolk cancer charity, Big C as its Charity of the Month for January.

Rhiannon Bond
28.01.2026

Freddie Slater becomes the first development driver to be signed by new F1 Team Audi

Dan Chapman, Managing Partner and Head of Sports at Leathes Prior acted on behalf of Freddie Slater as he becomes the first development driver to be signed by Audi Revolut F1 Team.

Peter Lambert
26.01.2026

Business Lasting Powers of Attorney – Why Your Business Needs One

The benefits of having in place Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) documents for one’s personal affairs are now more widely known than was previously the case, Partner, Ejike Ndaji explains.

Ejike Ndaji
26.01.2026

Breaking Up Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: FAQs for Break Clauses in Commercial Leases

Georgia Sartin, Solicitor in our Property Disputes Team answers some frequently asked questions around break clauses in commercial property leases.

Georgia Sartin
23.01.2026