Leading claimant firm Leigh Day’s work includes international multi-party actions arising from environmental damage, and public law challenges relating to climate change. The firm works with a range of leading environmental NGOs in the UK such as Greenpeace and ClientEarth.

Currently, co-head of the firm’s international department Richard Meeran is advising a group of Colombian farmers in the department of Putumayo seeking compensation from UK-based Amerisur Resources for environmental damages arising from a large oil spill in the area in 2015. The claimants allege that the defendant is liable under Colombian law on dangerous activities for both the spill and the failure to carry out adequate clean-up.

In another impactful ongoing matter, Jamie Beagent, who specialises in planning and environmental cases, is assisting Friends of the Earth with its challenge against the decision of the Secretary of State for International Trade to provide a loan guarantee of $850m and a direct loan of $300m to a subsidiary of Total for investment in a liquified natural gas project off the coast of Mozambique. The claimants argue that the provision of the finance was not in alignment with the UK Government’s international law obligations under the Paris Agreement. The firm and client are currently waiting for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The firm is also representing over 11,000 claimants from The Ogale community and over 2,300 fisherman from the Bille Community against Shell and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria. Both claimants argue that the pollution caused from Shell’s oil spills and its effects constitute a breach of their constitutional rights. As well as claiming financial compensation, the communities are also seeking injunctive relief to compel the defendants to carry out clean up and remediation.

All individuals mentioned are based in London.