The practice at Mishcon de Reya LLP  is commended for its ‘unique offering of innovation and agility in the group litigation space’, and is also noted for having ’real expertise in the field of group actions; particularly competition claims and data breach claims’. Richard Leedham, ‘one of the most experienced and commercially astute group litigators’, leads the practice with competition litigation specialist Sarah Houghton. Ben Lasserson is key to the practice, along with Shazia Yamin who is ’highly able and very effective at winning cases’. Other key names to note include Pedro Martins, Tomas Mousinho, and Alexander Rhodes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A unique offering of innovation and agility in the group litigation space- but combined with rock solid professionalism and core values.’

  • ‘Richard Leedham - inspirational leadership qualities. Tom Roberts - fiercely intelligence and client communication. Pedro Martins and Tomas Mousinho bring another dimension with their South American credentials and innovative case management.’

  • ‘Richard Leedham is an outstanding partner with a sure touch and sound judgment. Ralph Fearnhead is excellent.’

  • ‘Richard Leedham is one of the most experienced and commercially astute group litigators, with deep experience across a range of sectors including insurance, securities, tax, negligence and other group claims.'

  • 'Andrew Short is experienced in ESG and related group claims, including those with an environmental angle.’
  • ‘Mishcon de Reya has established itself as a market leader in group litigation, combining legal excellence with a highly strategic and commercially minded approach. The team is particularly adept at managing complex, high-value claims involving financial products, data breaches, and regulatory failures, often on behalf of large and diverse claimant groups. Mishcon’s deep expertise and practical execution make them a formidable force in the claimant group litigation space.’

Key clients

  • Various investors in the shares of Indivior plc and Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
  • Justin Le Patourel
  • Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, Asda, Curry's, Iceland, The John Lewis Partnership (including Waitrose Limited), Wilko Limited (in administration)
  • Andrew Prismall
  • Burger and Lobster Restaurant Group Limited, Newcastle Rugby Limited, and 39 others
  • (1) Claimant group comprising c.13,000 licensed black cab drivers; and (2) Justin Peters as assignee for Kabbee Exchange Ltd and Iride London Ltd
  • Various institutional investors in the shares of Drax Group Plc
  • Cleaner Bentham
  • University of Oxford (representing 36 Oxford colleges)

Work highlights

Acting for over 300 investors in the shares of Indivior plc and Reckitt Benckiser Group plc in a s.90/90A FSMA claim against the two companies for losses caused by alleged misconduct in relation to the marketing in the US of a drug known as Suboxone. Matter value is in the hundreds of millions GBP.
Acting for Justin Le Patourel, the class representative in the lead collective proceedings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal against BT for alleged abuse of its dominant position in the market for landline services. This was the first collective proceeding to reach trial in the UK. Matter value is in the region of £1.3 billion.
Acting for (1) over 13,000 licensed black cab drivers and (2) Justin Peters, as assignee for Kabbee Exchange Ltd (a licensed minicab price comparison and booking service provider) and Iride London Ltd (the third largest licenced private hire cab company in London in 2015), in claims against Uber for losses sustained as a result of Uber's unlawful activities in the London market. Matter value c.£340 million.

Practice head

Richard Leedham; Sarah Houghton

Other key lawyers

Ben Lasserson; Shazia Yamin; Pedro Martins; Tomas Mousinho; Alexander Rhodes