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Leigh Day represents a broad range of NGOs, charities, and individuals in complex and high-profile domestic civil liberties and human rights cases. The human rights department, jointly led by Sapna Malik and Richard Meeran, handles private and public law matters involving health and social care, inquests, abuse and exploitation, privacy and data breaches, and discrimination-related claims, while the international & group litigation department, co-led by Jamie Beagent and Gene Matthews, acts against corporations and governments responsible for alleged injury, loss, and abuse. Malik brings extensive litigation experience with a notable focus on international personal injury and human rights claims. Meeran is well-regarded for his work on landmark cases against UK-domiciled multinational corporations. Beagent focuses on environmental litigation as well as the detention and welfare of immigrants and asylum seekers, while Matthews specialises in data protection claims, particularly group and multi-party actions. Sean Humber is a name to note in relation to data privacy claims, specifically those involving unauthorised disclosure of confidential medical or other personal information. Daniel Leader handles group action and mass tort claims, while Andrew Lord represents survivors of abuse in compensation-related civil claims.
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Profile
Work Department
International department.
Position
Dan Leader is a barrister and partner at Leigh Day with 20 years of litigation experience. He specialises in international human rights and environmental litigation with a particular focus on group actions on behalf of claimants from the developing world. He has extensive experience of cases against parent companies, complex group actions and mass tort claims, as well as cross-border disputes and jurisdictional issues.
His recent cases include:
- Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell plc [2021] UKSC 3 Claims on behalf of two Nigerian communities arising from systemic oil pollution by Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary. The Supreme Court reaffirmed and expanded upon parent company liability principles previously set out in Vedanta.
- Lungowe v Vedanta plc [2019] UKSC 20 (with Martyn Day and Oliver Holland). Claims on behalf of 1,826 Zambian farmers arising out of damage to the environment caused by harmful discharges from the Konkola copper mine. In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court set out the jurisdictional principles in cross-border claims against parent companies.
- Rihan v EY Global Ltd [2020] EWHC 901 (QB). A successful international whistle-blowing claim on behalf of a former EY partner who refused to sanction a cover up of audit findings of money laundering and conflict minerals in the Dubai Gold trade.
- AAA v. Unilever plc [2018] EWCA Civ 1532. A case on behalf of 218 Kenyan tea workers who contend that Unilever failed to protect them from the foreseeable risk of ethnic violence in 2007.
- AAA v. Petra Diamonds [2021]. A parent company case on behalf of 97 Tanzanian clients arising out of serious human rights abuses on the Williamson Diamond Mine.
- AAA v. Camellia plc [2021]. A parent company case on behalf of 85 Kenyan clients arising out of human rights abuses at the hands of security guards employed by Camellia’s Kenyan subsidiary, Kakuzi.
- AAA v. Gemfields Ltd [2019]. A claim by 300 individuals for personal injury arising out of serious human rights abuses on and around a ruby mine in northern Mozambique.
- The Bodo Community v. Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd [2015] (with Martyn Day). A claim by a community of 30,000 Nigerians for compensation and remediation of their lands arising out of extensive oil spills in the Niger Delta which settled for £55m in 2015.
Other cases include the “Mau Mau litigation” (Mutua v FCO [2013]) which resulted in reparations for 5,000 victims of colonial era torture and the Baha Mousa Inquiry [2010] into torture by the British Army in Iraq.
Career
Extensive professional experience in Africa and has lived and worked in Kenya and Congo (DRC). In 2001 he was awarded the Bar Council’s Pro Bono Award for his work in Africa.
Research Assistant to Gordon Brown MP 1995-97. Programme Officer International Human Rights Law Group, Democratic Republic of Congo 1999-2001. Barrister, 36 Bedford Row, London, Chambers of Vasanti Selvaratnam QC 2001-08.
Barrister and Partner, international department Leigh Day 2008 to date. External expert member of the UK Government Steering Board which oversees the implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (2014-17). He is a member of the Steering Committee of the comparative law project on civil liability for human rights violations at the Bonavero Institute, Oxford University and a member of the Advisory Board of the British Institute for International and Comparative Law’s Human Rights Due Diligence Forum.
Languages
Fluent French, spoken and written.
Memberships
The Bar Human Rights Committee; Administrative Law Bar Association; International Bar Association; Liberty; British Institute for International and Comparative Law.
Education
BA, Oxford University (First class), LLM in International Law, University College London (Distinction).
Called to the Bar 2001.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'A truly exceptional team that deals with cases touching on every aspect of civil liberties - it is difficult to imagine what the legal landscape looks like without them. The unifying feature is a true belief in the importance of the work that they are doing.'
- 'Leigh Day is a standout firm for inquests and inquiries. Every member of the team takes great care to support bereaved families and to promote the stories of their loved ones. The firm is exceptionally well run and very polished. Instructions are always of a high quality, and the team is very responsive.'
- 'Utterly unique team of innovative, tenacious, strategic lawyers who are committed and meticulous in everything they do.'
- 'Deeply experienced and knowledgeable, fiercely committed to the case, and very strategic.'
- 'I have worked with Leigh Day's Civil Liberties and Human Rights practice for years, and in that time, they have consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to justice, integrity, and client care.'
- 'They are forward-thinking, embracing diversity in a way that feels authentic and embedded, not just tokenistic.'
- 'The individuals I have worked with at Leigh Day have consistently demonstrated an exceptional combination of legal expertise, empathy, and professionalism. They are not only highly skilled in the field of human rights, but also genuinely committed to the people they represent.'
- 'I work with a team that is focused on difficult national security cases, with an international aspect. There are not many other solicitors doing this work.'
- 'Hands-down the best claimant law firm in the country for civil liberties and human rights. They have strength at every level of seniority and know the law back to front. They are also fearless lawyers and very creative thinkers – not to mention a pleasure to work with.'
- 'A very strong blend of environmental and human rights work of using tort laws of foreign countries in the UK courts. They are in a class of their own.'
Work highlights
Advised families of civilians killed by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan during night-raids in the period 2010-13.
Advised Stonewall and African Rainbow Family in MI v Switzerland (No. 56390/21) on permission to intervene to highlight Article 3 ECHR risks to gay Iranian men and unlawful targeting of LGBT refugees by Council of Europe states.
Advised two individuals in Milasi Josiya & others v British American Tobacco PLC, Imperial Brands PLC & others, representing thousands of Malawian tenant tobacco farmers alleging forced labour, hazardous child labour, and human rights abuses.