Sean Humber

Sean is a partner and head of the human rights department at Leigh Day.  He acts for individuals and campaign groups on a wide range of human rights issues including prisoner rights, environmental, discrimination and information law matters.

“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." Chambers and Partners - 2012

Sean is a recognised expert in prison law matters, including healthcare and disability discrimination matters.  He has successfully acted for inmates in judicial review challenges and compensation claims for clinical negligence, personal injury, breach of human rights and disability discrimination.  He has also acted for prisoners in cases in front of the European Court of Human Rights.

He spoke at a seminar at the House of Lords on prisoner rights, has been short-listed for the Index on Censorship Legal Award for his work on behalf of prisoners and chairs the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA’s) annual conference on prisoners’ healthcare.

“Sean Humber is a talented individual with particular expertise in prisoner law.”  Chambers and Partners - 2012

“Prison law specialist Sean Humber is advising over 550 prisoners in their applications to the ECHR regarding prisoner voting rights.” Legal 500 – 2011

Sean is also a recognised expert in environmental matters.  Before retraining as a solicitor, Sean obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Oxford University he worked as a research scientist and then as a national campaigner for Friends of the Earth.

He has successfully acted for individuals suffering injuries as a result of their exposure to a variety of toxic substances, for individuals whose land has been damaged by pollution and in judicial review challenges of public bodies for their failure to adequately protect the environment.  He has recently acted for residents of a street in London whose properties were flooded by water from a burst water mains.  He has also acted for a resident in a judicial review challenge against proposals to fluoridate the drinking water in the Southampton area.

“Sean Humber, whose ‘determination is matched by his great ability and knowledge’, has been acting in various water pollution cases.” Legal 500 – 2011

Sean also specialises in information law matters and has successfully acted for individuals and campaign groups in cases to the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal in relation to the failure of public bodies to respond to requests for information under the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act.  He also acts for individuals in claims where confidential information has been disclosed without their consent.

Sean is Secretary of the Environment Group of Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, a member of the Law Society's Planning and Environmental Law Committee and the Environmental Law Foundation.