Leanne Franks

Practice Areas

Leanne Franks is a Partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial (Contracts) Department at Chadwick Lawrence LLP, based in the firm’s Leeds City Centre office. A solicitor since 2014, she has rapidly established herself as a strategically minded, commercially driven and highly trusted adviser to businesses across the region.

Leanne combines strong technical proficiency with a pragmatic, business-focused mindset, making her a go-to resource for clients seeking clear, actionable commercial advice. Her ability to understand commercial drivers, anticipate risks, and guide clients through complex contractual or transactional matters has made her one of the firm’s leading commercial practitioners.

Leadership & Strategic Impact

Promoted to Partner and appointed Head of Corporate & Commercial (Contracts) in January 2023, Leanne has played a central role in strengthening the department’s capabilities, structure and external profile.

She has driven departmental progress through:

• Strategic refinement of processes and workflows, improving efficiency, consistency and service delivery.

• Developing the team, mentoring solicitors and supporting junior lawyers to build both legal and commercial confidence.

• Enhancing cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring clients benefit from cohesive legal support across the firm.

• Securing and expanding recurring advisory work, including introducing and developing a significant long-term commercial retainer (the LINK retainer), which has materially strengthened the department’s ongoing client base.

The department’s growing recognition and strengthened profile have contributed to the departments recent shortlist at the Yorkshire Legal Awards, reflecting the increasing visibility and quality of the commercial work delivered under Leanne’s leadership.

Departmental Scope & Development

Leanne has shaped an agile, commercially attuned team capable of supporting a wide range of clients across sectors. The department supports businesses with:

• Key operational and strategic commercial agreements

• Corporate acquisitions, disposals and restructures

• Governance and compliance frameworks

• Contract and risk reviews

• Ongoing commercial legal guidance

Her leadership has positioned the department as a trusted adviser to SMEs, well-developed owner-managed companies, growing regional businesses and sector-focused corporates, offering both one-off transactional support and long-term commercial partnership.

Expertise & Practice Strengths

• Commercial Contracts - Leanne advises on the drafting, negotiation and interpretation of B2B agreements. Clients value her clarity, risk awareness and ability to negotiate commercially realistic outcomes.

• Corporate Transactions - She acts for businesses on acquisitions, disposals and reorganisations, guiding clients through each stage of the transaction and ensuring they understand both legal and commercial implications.

• Corporate Governance & Compliance - Leanne assists clients in developing governance frameworks, internal policies and compliance structures that align with operational needs and growth plans.

Representative Work

Examples of significant matters led by Leanne include:

• Acting on strategically significant commercial agreements involving supply, licensing, branding and sponsorship arrangements.

• Advising on multi-party and time-sensitive acquisitions and disposals across various sectors.

• Supporting clients through corporate restructures to enhance efficiency, governance and investor readiness.

• Leading and managing the firm’s commercial retainer (LINK), which she personally introduced and developed into a long-term strategic advisory relationship.

These matters highlight her ability to handle both high-impact transactions and ongoing advisory work that supports clients’ operational and strategic decision-making.

Client Service & Professional Reputation

Leanne is recognised for her calm, clear and commercially practical approach. Clients consistently emphasise:

• her ability to simplify complex legal issues

• her strong understanding of operational realities

• her responsiveness and accessibility

• her focus on delivering actionable, business-aligned advice

Her commitment to building strong, long-term relationships results in significant repeat instructions and referrals.

Advisory Style & Philosophy

Leanne’s practice is shaped by three core principles:

1. Commercial clarity - advice that supports real-world business decisions.

2. Pragmatic problem-solving - prioritising workable solutions over theory.

3. Collaboration - working seamlessly with clients and internal colleagues to ensure cohesive, joined-up support.

She is known for delivering efficient, practical and commercially relevant advice, enabling clients to navigate risks and opportunities with confidence.