Leigh Day‘s group action practice is skilled at handling ’market-defining cases involving environmental actions, human rights, product liability and employment’, acting on many of the leading cases in these areas. The practice is particularly noted for its ‘longstanding knowledge and experience of human rights abuses’ cases, with team heads Jamie Beagent and Gene Matthews especially knowledgeable in this area. Complex employment class actions are another strength of the team, with Nigel MacKay and Emma Satyamurti both specialists in the area. Fellow co-heads Richard Meeran and Sapna Malik are noted for their focus on international litigation. ’Exceptional practitioner’ Martyn Day‘s impact on class actions work is praised by clients as ’longstanding and profound’, while Oliver Holland is an ‘incredible strategic thinker’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Leigh Day deals with a huge range of group litigation, always at the highest level. They handle market-defining cases involving environmental actions, human rights, product liability and employment. ’
‘Matt Renshaw and Daniel Leader lead teams dealing with, among other matters, litigation against Shell in respect of pollution in Nigeria. They are excellent in steering huge and difficult litigation and in thinking creatively about the best ways to advance their clients' cases.'
- 'Richard Meeran has experience that few can match when it comes to holding companies accountable for damage caused overseas, having been involved in so many of the leading cases. He brings that experience to bear in each of his cases.'
- 'Oliver Holland deals with environmental and human rights group claims both domestically and internationally. He is an incredible strategic thinker. ’
‘The top claimant-side group litigation firm, bringing much more professionalism than most firms in that field.’
‘Martyn Day has great tactical awareness and is good at managing huge teams. Also very down to earth.’
‘This firm offers a very strong group litigation team and is able to advance complex and difficult group litigation that few other firms can match.’
‘Longstanding knowledge and experience of human rights abuses in Southern Africa. Their depth of experience makes a massive difference when working with community organisations and others who are unfamiliar with legal environments and processes.'
'Wide and excellent experience in group matters, they know what is effective and the particular tactics required for various forms of litigation.'
'Leigh Day is a really committed and innovative practice. The quality of both partners and associates in terms of their engagement, experience, and expertise is really second to none.'
Key clients
- Diesel emissions group litigation
- The Ogale and Bille Communities, Nigeria v (1) Shell PLC (2) the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria ltd
- Kabwe lead poisoning class action
- Villagers of Fort Dauphin / Taolagnaro Communities v Rio Tinto plc
- Various Claimants (residents of the Wye Valley)
- Faith Chelangat Kirui & Others v Unilever Plc
- Catarina Oliveira Da Silva & Others v Brazil Iron Limited and Brazil Iron Trading Limited
- Dhan Kumar Limbu & Others v (1) Dyson Technology Limited (2) Dyson Limited (3) Dyson Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (‘Dyson)
- The clients are a group of 49 individuals, either bereaved or seriously injured because of a rare, but potentially fatal, blood-clotting response allegedly caused by the vaccine.
- Stade de France Group Claim
- Next workers group equal pay claim
- Supermarket equal pay claims vs Tesco, Morrisons & The Co-Op
- Bolt drivers – worker status claim
- McDonald’s employees – group claim relating to sexual harassment
- Local authority equal pay (on behalf of GMB and Unison members)
- Addison Lee drivers – worker status claim
- Just Eat couriers – employment status claim
- FREENOW drivers – worker status claim
- Residents Newcastle-under-Lyme-v-Walleys Quarry
Work highlights
Acted on claims for compensation against Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes, Nissan/Renault, Peugeot, Porsche, Seat, Skoda, Vauxhall, VW, Volvo and others brought on behalf of over 1.2 million vehicle owners, and constitute the largest ever consumer group action in the UK.
Instructed by the Ogale and Bille Communities in the Niger Delta to bring civil claims against Shell plc and its Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC.
Acted on the first national group equal pay claim to succeed under the equality Act 2010, having received a successful Tribunal judgment in August 2024. The Tribunal upheld the equal pay claims of the more than 3,500 claimants. The Tribunal ruled that paying the predominantly female store staff less than the male warehouse staff when their jobs were equal was indirect sex discrimination that could not be objectively justified.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Shazia Yamin
Practice head
Jamie Beagent; Gene Matthews; Nigel Mackay; Emma Satyamurti; Richard Meeran; Sapna Malik
Other key lawyers
Martyn Day; Oliver Holland; Matthew Renshaw