England - London • Public sector
Leigh Day
Operating at the forefront of high-profile claimant work, Leigh Day combines a core set of administrative and public law experts with specialists across a broad range of relevant disciplines, from healthcare and immigration, to refugee law and prisoners' rights. Human rights specialist Jamie Beagent leads the team; his practice focuses particularly on the environment, and the detention and welfare of immigrants and asylum seekers. Tessa Gregory is a vastly experienced litigator and represents a wide variety of clients in complex judicial reviews, including individuals and NGOs. Benjamin Burrows is another key contact and heads the prison law team, while Merry Varney is well regarded for inquests concerning child rights.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The outstanding public and administrative law practice for claimants, takes on work of exceptional complexity and importance and is able to win the most difficult cases.’
- ‘Tessa Gregory has an outstanding practice in complex and factually demanding cases.’
‘Great people.'
‘Tessa Gregory is the best claimant public lawyer out there. She is supported by a brilliant team, with depth of talent right down to the paralegals.’
‘The public law team at Leigh Day is well known and handles heavyweight cases. They have a lot of courage and determination in handling the most politically sensitive cases.’
‘I work primarily with Waleed Sheikh who is the leading national security solicitor in the team with a very heavy caseload and good nous for working out what is behind counter-terror measures taken against individuals where the evidence and reasons are not disclosed in the public interest.’
‘Totally fantastic team. They are hugely hard working and dedicated. They are strategic and forward thinking and are totally on top of the current public law climate.’
‘LD have an extraordinarily skilled and diverse team, covering a huge range of areas with energy, knowledge and enthusiasm.’
Key clients
- Over 320 Core Participants in the Infected Blood Inquiry
- Wild Justice
- Western Sahara Campaign (UK)
- Carolin Lucas MP, Alyn Smith MP, Ben Bradshaw MP
- Campaign Against the Arms Trade
- John’s Campaign
- Asylum Aid
- The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
- Freedom From Torture
- Families of Afghan civilians unlawfully killed by British Forces
- British Medical Association
- Hepatitis C Trust
- Asylum Aid
- Campaign Against Arms Trade
- Friends of the Earth
Work highlights
- Representing Caroline Lucas MP, Ben Bradshaw MP and Alyn Smith MP in an ongoing challenge before the ECtHR which claims that the UK Government’s failure both to institute an independent investigation into Russian interference in UK democratic processes, and to put in place an adequate legislative framework to protect future elections from foreign interference, is a breach of the right to free and fair elections.
- Acted on a series of successful judicial review claims challenging discrimination against two severely disabled men over the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ failure to provide adequate transitional payments to protect them and others from a cliff-edge loss of income following their move on to Universal Credit.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Leigh Day
Benjamin is a partner in the human rights department at Leigh Day. He is the head of the prison team, where he exclusively acts for people who are in prison or who have been in prison. Benjamin’s work includes private law claims for compensation, public law claims for judicial review and inquests. His work can cover a broad range of litigation, but has a particular focus on discrimination, healthcare and inquests.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jamie Beagent