About Us

Edmund Norton founded the firm in Lowestoft in the early 1830's. Initially the firm practiced from addresses in the town's High Street. In 1892 the firm moved to its present location, then known as Ivy Cottage. The partnership gained its former name, Norton Peskett & Forward when William Bryan Forward joined Frank Peskett in the practice shortly after the First World War. From the early 1920's until 1948 Mr Forward was a sole practitioner, assisted by two longer serving Clerks.

Peter Cooper joined Mr Forward in the practice in 1948. Peter Cooper practiced for many years with Derek Adkinson. Peter Cooper retired in 1987 and Derek Adkinson in 1993. On 1st January 1996 the firm changed its name to Norton Peskett.

We have grown considerably over the past ten years and now have staff in excess of one hundred in five offices in Lowestoft, Beccles, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth and Halesworth. We offer a comprehensive residential conveyancing service and together with criminal work this is a major specialism of the firm. Family law is an established area of expertise together with Probate and Wills and Personal Injury. We offer extensive Commercial property services including acquisition and disposal of property, both leasehold and freehold, as well as landlord and tenant advice, secured lending and site acquisition and development. We have an established regional reputation in relation to the sale and purchase of care homes. Employment matters are dealt with for both employers and employees including unfair dismissal and redundancy. We are confident that with our continued investment in information technology and our pro-active training programme we will continue as one of the largest legal practices on the Norfolk/Suffolk coast offering a wide range of legal services for both businesses and individuals.

Norton Peskett - Locally

Since its foundation Norton Peskett as a firm has always prided itself on being part of the community. With its various offices throughout the area many Partners and staff have been members of voluntary organisations such as Roundtable, Rotary, Lions and Governors of local schools, giving back to the community their time and expertise in fund raising and charitable work.

Indeed we are proud to say that we are honorary Solicitors to the Alfred Corry Museum in Southwold (this houses the lifeboat by the harbour) and also honorary Solicitors to the Southwold and Reydon Recreational Development Committee (which raised funds with the help of the Rugby Football union to build a new sports pavilion on Southwold common for cricketers, footballers and rugby players – the firm assisted in legal advice and work dealing with property and charitable matters).

Furthermore, we have made donations to the Pallative Care East appeal to raise £1.5m for a new respite day care centre at the James Paget Hosptital. Our staff regularly support Breast Cancer campaign's biggest fundraising event by organising a wear it pink day and also sponsor two children through Plan in East Africa providing them with access to clean water, education, healthcare etc.

Members of the firm are happy to come along to organisations to give presentations by invitation on such matters as will making, powers of attorney and other topics suggested and indeed have done so on a number of occasions throughout the area. For further information please contact Bob Bryant, Chief Executive.