Leigh Day is renowned for representing claimants in landmark environmental litigation cases, which often lead to crucial reforms in legal frameworks governing the protection of the environment, biodiversity, and wildlife. The firm has led on some of the biggest group litigation cases, such as the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal and its ensuing claims.

It regularly acts against international oil giants such as Royal Dutch Shell in civil claims. Currently, the team, including firm co-founder Martyn Day, is representing the Ogale and Bile communities in Nigeria against Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC over pipeline oil spills which have contaminated land and water. In 2021 there was a unanimous judgement that the claimants did have an arguable case to proceed to trial which has significant implications for corporate accountability in the UK and beyond.

The environmental litigation service – founded by Carol Day in 2013 – advises a range of NGOs, including The Wildlife Trusts, Oceana, WWF and Wild Justice.

Another client is Friends of the Earth regarding its challenge of the UK Government on several matters, including the alleged failure of the government’s Net Zero Strategy to include the necessary policies to achieve emissions cuts. The firm is also representing the organisation in a high court hearing which contests the Secretary of State for International Trade’s decision to fund a natural gas project off the coast of Mozambique on the basis that it is not in alignment with obligations under the Paris Agreement and has lawful disregard of the project’s environmental and human impacts.

As a member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance the firm also takes responsibility for its own impact. Its longstanding Green Committee sees the rollout of its environmental policy and is engaging sustainability consultants to assess and inform a carbon reduction strategy.