Jennifer Leeder

Jennifer is a Legal Director in the Employment Team in the Ipswich office of Birketts LLP.  Prior to joining Birketts, Jennifer was Head of HR within a commercial property business in Norwich and a member of the Operations Board at a manufacturing company in South Norfolk. In both roles, she was in a senior leadership position with responsibility for developing the businesses’ HR functions in order to support their growth and evolution.

Jenny has specialised in Employment Law for more than 20 years, having qualified as a solicitor in September 2001.  In her role with Birketts, Jenny advises a wide variety of public and private clients on the full spectrum of employment law issues, including schools and other education establishments. 

Jenny studied History at the University of Leeds before going on to complete a Senior Status Law Degree at Queen Mary College, the University of London.  Following her qualification as a lawyer, she continued her studies, undertaking an Advanced Certificate in Employment Law. 

Throughout her career, Jenny has focused on the development of her own skills, alongside influencing the progression of others.  In her role in the manufacturing sector, she created a bespoke leadership programme for managers at all levels within the organisation from team leaders to directors.  At present, she takes a keen interest in supporting the trainees and juniors within our own team to fulfil their potential, as well as running training programmes and delivering seminars and updates for HR professionals and senior leaders. 

Before joining the Board at the University in February 2022, Jenny was a Board member for Transforming Education in Norfolk, the Parent undertaking of Norwich City College and a multi-academy trust, until its dissolution in August 2021.  This provided her with a real insight and experience in the governance of primary and secondary schools and further education.

Jennifer has three children of high school age who are pupils at a school in our county although she lives just over the ‘border’ in Norfolk. Consequently, her family enjoy all aspects of Norwich culture from Carrow Road to the Theatre Royal!   Having grown up in a London borough, Jenny relishes life in the East Anglian countryside with all it has to offer.