Chambers guide to the legal profession 2012 praises Leigh Day lawyers

31st October 2011

Once again Chambers guide to the legal profession 2012 has ranked all of the main practice areas in which the firm specialises as leaders in the legal profession.  A record 20 Leigh Day partners are recognised as leading individuals, and three, Martyn Day, Claire Fazan and Anne Winyard, are ranked a 'star individuals'.

Administrative and public law - band 1

Leigh Day appears in many of the highest-profile public law cases, including the recently concluded Binyam Mohammed case. It also challenged the government's refusal to ban the export of a drug used in the execution of death row prisoners in the USA. The team's wide expertise covers matters relating to prisoner law, access to medical care, disabilities and the right to adequate legal representation.  Sources consistently acknowledge the firm as housing a team of "highly rated experts."

Head of department Richard Stein is considered by many to be a leader in claimant public law. His work extends into cases dealing with health, education, environmental and both 'right to life' and 'right to die' concerns. Sean Humber is an expert in issues relating to prison and environmental law. Clients note he has "a sharp eye for identifying what really counts." Jamie Beagent impresses clients by "taking a novel point and turning it into a winning argument." He has particularly strong grasp of immigration and asylum matters. Rosa Curling is advising Redress on the obligations of the police to investigate suspected Rwandan war crimes when the alleged perpetrator is in the UK. She also represents individuals who claim not to be receiving appropriate community care services. Frances Swaine specialises in the public law aspects of social care, healthcare, inquests and education. She is representing applicants requesting that an inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly be resumed.

Civil liberties - band 1

Sources identify this niche human rights and personal injury firm as "a real trail-blazer" in human rights law; it is "courageous and never afraid to take on big cases against the state and public authorities." It successfully challenged the government in a high-profile case involving the export controls on a drug used in the death penalty in the USA. The team is able to draw on the wider firm's expertise to cover a broad range of sectors from prison law to education and discrimination matters. Other recent work includes advising a number of clients on their right to access NHS treatment, handling issues surrounding the right to die and also acting in various challenges to the CPS. Clients especially appreciate the firm's ability to "give candid advice about all the legal possibilities."

Richard Stein is "strongly politically committed," with one source commenting that he is "very energetic in pursuing ground-breaking cases." He appeared in the Binyam Mohammed case this year, successfully blocking the government's request that the High Court judgment from the original challenge would not be published. He is also challenging the British intelligence policy of interviewing detainees overseas. Market observers report that human rights department chair Frances Swaine is "a calm, sensible and practical tactician." She is highly regarded for her civil litigation work, which focuses on the social care, healthcare, inquests and education sectors of the practice. Interviewees agree that Jamie Beagent "really shines in his devotion." He has particular experience in central government and immigration challenges; he is equally well-versed in planning, environmental and unlawful detention cases. Clients attest that associate-to-watch Rosa Curling is "hard working and extremely dedicated." She is representing UNISON in its challenge to the government’s proposal to radically change the way in which the NHS operates. Sean Humber is a talented individual with particular expertise in prisoner law. He is acting for prisoners before the European Court of Human Rights in the landmark voting rights case. 

Clinical Negligence – claimant - band 1

This highly specialised 12-partner team has an "outstanding" reputation for its clinical negligence work. It is consistently involved in cutting-edge, market-leading disputes, and has an admirable reputation for taking on difficult cases. Clients are consistently impressed by the "kind and considerate" team, which is always "personable and sensitive to our needs." One client added: "We felt complete confidence in what they were doing; they covered every angle."

Client Service "I was extremely pleased. They are so compassionate it's lovely to deal with them; there really was nothing to be wary of. They were fabulous."

Claire Fazan has an absolutely superb reputation for her work in this area, with peers praising her "professional and dedicated" approach and her ability to get the best results for her clients. Anne Winyard is another "superstar" of clinical negligence. Interviewees have "complete faith" in her winning combination of intelligence, knowledge and warmth. Henry Dyson is a "careful and compassionate" lawyer with a particular focus on cardiology and neurosurgery cases. Russell Levy heads the clinical negligence team. He has a huge wealth of experience and is praised for his constructive approach to litigation. Olive Lewin consistently gets good results for clients with her "thorough and professional" approach. Frances Swaine is a "methodical, efficient and effective" practitioner who is "professional and dedicated." Sally Jean Nicholes earns comprehensive client praise for being "as sharp as anything and yet really delicate when she needs to be." Nicola Wainwright has a wide-ranging practice and is praised for her "meticulous preparation." Sarah Campbell is an "effective and determined" partner commended for her work dealing with neurological injuries.

Education

This education practice has grown out of strong public, health and disability departments, all of which have impressive judicial review expertise. Peers comment favourably on its dedication to defending human rights and it is particularly active in cases relating to SEN, as well as matters concerning the effects of maintained schools converting to academies.

Alison Millar "shows an impressive commitment to the client and is always careful to explain the best legal outcome." She continues to represent clients before SENDIST in relation to SEN statements, as well as handling disability discrimination claims.

Employment: employee

Leigh Day has established itself as a leading name in discrimination, equality and harassment law. It has also been providing training on new equalities legislation. Recent highlights include taking a benchmark equal pay claim to the High Court on behalf of a group of women in Abdulla & Others v Birmingham City Council.

Client Service "They combine fantastic knowledge with really meticulous, client-focused work. They never let their clients down."

Camilla Palmer is unanimously acclaimed as one of the UK's best discrimination specialists, particularly in relation to female discrimination and maternity rights cases. She gained significant attention with her recent role on behalf of TV presenter Miriam O'Reilly in her high-profile claim against the BBC for age and sex discrimination. According to sources, she "is exceptionally committed to her clients' rights." Chris Benson is a go-to expert in equal pay and disability discrimination matters, and attracts acclaim for his "practical and dedicated" demeanour. He led in the landmark High Court equal pay claim and is praised for his "excellent client-handling skills."

Environment - band 1

This heavyweight practice has an outstanding track record in both private and public law environmental cases, with sources commenting: "The group has the experience and expertise to undertake cases and causes that other legal companies just would not be capable of." Its reputation in large-scale international environmental challenges remains unparalleled, with recent highlights including the representation of a group of 30,000 Ivorian citizens during the high-profile Trafigura litigation. The team also successfully acted on behalf of a group of Colombian farmers in their quest to obtain compensation from BP following significant environmental damage caused after an oil pipeline was constructed across their land. The group is also renowned for representing individuals or local groups in smaller-scale planning decisions and recently won a favourable decision against Tower Hamlets Borough Council on behalf of a resident in a challenge to the authority’s decision to grant planning permission to a local developer.

Client Service "We have a very strong working relationship with the firm. They don't just give the answers we want to hear. The team is responsive and always ensures a dedicated member of staff is available."
Commercial Awareness "The firm has a number of lawyers with scientific qualifications, which means that on technical and scientific issues, as well as on the legalities of a matter, they are able to give us really constructive and pragmatic advice."

Managing partner and environment team head Martyn Day is hailed by sources as "without question one of the most knowledgeable and experienced environmental lawyers in the country." In addition to playing significant roles in the aforementioned BP and Trafigura matters, Day continued to act on behalf of a number of companies who suffered business losses following the Buncefield oil depot explosion in December 2005. Richard Stein is particularly known for providing advice on planning and environmental matters to both individuals and community groups across the UK and internationally, and led on the above matter against Tower Hamlets council. Sources describe him as "incredibly experienced, extremely knowledgeable and very sympathetic to claimants."

Personal Injury – claimant - band 1

A steady workflow of high-profile international work ensures that this firm remains at the cutting edge of personal injury work. The group's caseload ranges from handling catastrophic injuries arising from accidents, to the representation of victims of torture.

Client Service "All of the lawyers I have come across at the firm are extremely bright, industrious and strongly committed to their work. Their preparation is meticulous, leaving no stone unturned, however complex and difficult the issue in hand."

Martyn Day heads the department and handles a range of international cases. He has been representing Colombian farmers against BP subsidiary Exploration (Colombia), in relation to alleged environmental damage caused by an oil pipeline. He has also acted for Kenyan claimants alleging detention and torture by the British colonial government during the 'Kenya Emergency'. Sally Moore advises on complex and high-value cases, such as a recent £4.2 million award to a claimant who suffered brain injuries after a traffic accident in Croatia. Daniel Easton is an industrial disease expert best known for his handling of asbestos cases, as well as latex allergy and stress at work claims. The "absolutely superb, meticulous, organised and passionate" Sapna Malik enters this year's rankings having established an impressive reputation for handling work at the intersection of human rights and personal injury law. "Her preparation is meticulous. She is highly organised, industrious, incisive and focused," say sources. She acts for a number of Iraqi and British clients against the British government alleging abuse, torture or negligence. Recently she achieved a mediated settlement with the government for Binyam Mohamed, the former Guantanamo detainee. Christine Tallon is noted for her handling of cases for claimants seriously injured in RTAs. Penny Knight heads the sports injury team, and she regularly acts for the families of cyclists injured or killed in accidents. Jill Paterson recently settled claims stemming from the Buncefield explosion, and she is currently acting for Parkinson's disease sufferers who allegedly developed compulsive gambling behaviour after being prescribed dopamine agonist drugs

Personal Injury – industrial disease - band 1

London-based Leigh Day & Co attracts market support for its track record in high-value industrial disease cases. Specialising in the most complex and cutting-edge personal injury cases, the team handles respiratory illnesses, including complex asbestos litigation. In recent work highlights, the group has been acting for a number of boiler workers, winning a £300,000 settlement for one mesothelioma victim exposed while visiting boiler houses in the 1960s. The firm also tackles occupational asthma and work-related stress claims, and it houses niche expertise in dermatological and latex-related cases.

Daniel Easton is a key contact for industrial disease at the firm.

Product Liability – claimant - band 1

This product liability team concentrates its expertise on representing claimants injured by pharmaceutical products and medical devices, and works closely with clinical negligence colleagues on such matters. It is currently acting for more than 200 claimants affected by defective artificial hip components. The firm has the experience to handle this type of group litigation on an international level.

Martyn Day heads the international and group claims department, and is praised as "a real fighter for his clients – he is very shrewd and does it with great charm." He has "a strong profile for group actions," and is "very clever and very smart with the science," according to peers.

Travel

Market commentators have "huge respect for this team," based on its frequent handling of "very complex pieces of overseas litigation." Clients benefit from its close relationships with specialist firms in Europe, Australia and the USA.

Sally Moore is a key contact for catastrophic personal injury cases.