Leigh Day demonstrates a leading environmental litigation practice spanning international environmental damage claims, UK group actions , and public law challenges. The team is particularly recognised for its work on environmental justice and claimant-side actions against governments and major corporates relating to diesel emissions, water pollution, and climate change. Carol Day is noted for her work on biodiversity and environmental justice issues, while Martyn Day specialises in large-scale claimant litigation. Tessa Gregory is a leading public law litigator with particular expertise in wildlife and habitat matters. Daniel Leader, Ricardo Gama and Rowan Smith are also key names within the practice. Richard Meeran, Sapna Malik, Jamie Beagent and Gene Matthews co-lead the practice.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality

Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency

Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

Paul Dowling - hands-on, sleeves up, excellent.
Committed, capable, and fearless.
They are committed to access to justice, and we have really appreciated their willingness to work with us on reduced fees, combined with their kindness and expertise.
The passion and attention to detail of Ricky Gama are exceptional.
Carol Day - she has an unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in environmental litigation. Julia Erikson is incredibly efficient and always on top of the details in her cases. Rowan Smith runs cases with great tenacity and passion.
Leigh Day are leaders in environmental litigation spanning numerous categories from planning and environmental matters to regulatory matters to climate change. They are invariably instructed to act in the most challenging and important environmental cases.
They handle the most innovative and impactful cases in the environmental space.
Willingness to go above and beyond in speedy (including out of office hours) communication and understanding of our needs.
Ricky Gama - Ricky is a real expert in planning and environmental law, with a great strategic instinct. He is very responsive and clever. He provides very clear and client-focused advice, with an entrepreneurial and results-driven approach. He is incredibly practical and efficient, juggling a busy caseload for us and others by using his own considerable experience but also drawing on the expertise of Leigh Day’s wider team to provide great client service. Carol Day - Carol is a stalwart of the environmental legal sector, having specialized long before it became a recognized practice area. She has deep and expansive knowledge of environmental law: I trust no one more to give me sage and practical advice on environmental issues. What really sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to this work and her ability to advise in the round, so that pressure is applied in the place that makes the most difference, be it litigation, policy, or political advocacy. As an added bonus, she is a delight to work with and generous with her time and ideas. Julia Eriksen - Julia is an absolute pleasure to work with. While relatively junior, she brings her previous NGO experience to bear in her work as a core part of the Leigh Day environment team, handling the day-to-day running of our work capably and effectively. She is very clever, calm, friendly, professional, and really understands our needs as a client.
In-depth knowledge and interest in environmental law - takes on the key issues of the day like climate change, pollution, etc.

Key clients

Global Feedback Ltd
River Action
Friends of the Earth
We Are Possible and Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport
Wild Justice
Oceana UK
Rights Community Action: energy efficiency WMS
SoS Biscathorpe and others
Save Our Safer Streets Tower Hamlets
Surfers Against Sewage

Work highlights

Representing more than 280,000 claimants in diesel emissions litigation against numerous global vehicle manufacturers.

Represented Friends of the Earth and others in a landmark legal challenge to the UK Government's climate adaptation strategy, one of the first cases of its kind in the UK and Europe.

Representing thousands of residents of the River Wye in a potential group action concerning phosphorus pollution allegedly linked to sewage discharges and intensive poultry farming.

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.