Leigh Day provides an end-to-end service to individuals engaged in employment disputes. High-profile matters, including equal pay claims against ASDA and ongoing sex discrimination claims against Sainsbury’s, are significant both in terms of their magnitude but ademonstrating team heads Lauren Lougheed and Linda Wong‘s expertise in litigation and equal pay disputes. The firm also regularly represents senior executives in the private and public sphere, acting for unfair dismissal claims including discrimination, victimisation and mistreatment aspects. Co-head Mike Cain concentrates on these senior executive issues, with a nationwide practice focused on the financial and legal sector, including the South and London. Furthermore, Cain regularly engages with whistleblowing and disability cases, such as his case acting against the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and his active case against GCHQ, both of which generated significant media coverage. Ryan Bradshaw continues to expand his portfolio of employment rights cases, engaging with work in the charities and law enforcement sectors alongside his education disputes.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Lauren Lougheed and Linda Wong are a fantastic team, driving their claims forward and completely focused on securing the best outcome for their clients.'
- 'The firm has an excellent record of client care and service, as well as strong regulatory check mechanisms to ensure clients obtain the best service possible. Given the nature of their work, the commitment to being straightforward and simple in their advice whether it be to an individual or thousands of people is particularly helpful.'
- 'They are the leading team for claimant employment work in the UK. The retail equal pay claims, driven from the Manchester office, have revolutionised the industry. Their ability to drive litigation forward is second to none.'
- 'Mike Cain has a growing team made up fee earners working with insurance, union and high net worth clients. He has run cases of supranational importance to the ECJ and the UK Supreme Court. He engaged at a level well above most, both macro in strategy and planning, and micro in terms of getting the best result for the client. His candour when providing advice sets him apart.'
- 'Ryan Bradshaw is increasingly sought out by unions for his willingness to give them the advice they need rather than the advice they want. Has developed a niche in the field of worker status in academic institutions and recentring industrial disputes into the Tribunals rather than other forms of industrial action where possible.'
- 'The Manchester team is successfully building senior executive work nationwide which is a competitive offering with specialist advice particularly in discrimination issues to senior finance, legal medical and academia professionals.'
- 'The way in which Mike worked with Counsel filled me with confidence that I had the best representation. A case which was initially viewed as too complex was fought with such tenacity, integrity and poise, making it look almost effortless at the Hearing. Mike had the upper hand when dealing with the Respondent’s representatives, which meant the conversations were as amicable as they could have possibly been.'
- 'Two features of the firm stand out as being unique. First, their legal creativity. They are constantly pushing the boundaries with new and successful cases. Second, their breadth of ability. They are very cross-disciplinary and can offer a helpful mix of different expertise, such as in public and employment law.'
Key clients
- Asda Group Equal Pay Claim
- Sainsbury’s workers Group Equal Pay Litigation
- Bamieh v FCDO
- NNMC v Somerville
- GMB
- National Aids Trust
- Queen Mary UCU
- Goldsmiths UCU
- Rebecca Abrams and Alice Jolly
- S v Government Communications Headquarters/The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GCHQ/FCDO)
Work highlights
- Acting on equal pay claims brought on behalf of over 57,000 employees of major supermarkets, ASDA and Sainsbury's. These innovative group claims are aimed at enabling women workers to achieve pay parity with male colleagues.
- Representing a GCHQ employee in their claim under whistleblowing legislation, after they were sacked for calling for the resignation of the UK’s most senior civil servant during the final weeks of Boris Johnson’s government.
- Advised a number of individuals and college unions about claims against major universities, including Queen Mary, Goldsmiths and Oxford, on issues such as worker status and the protections afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of assembly and association.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Lauren Lougheed, Linda Wong, Mike Cain