Once again law firm Leigh Day & Co has been ranked highly in all its main categories of work by Chambers UK guide to the legal profession 2010.   The rankings and editorial comment about lawyers are independent and objective. Inclusion in this section of the guide is based solely on the research team's findings who talk to more than 5,500 clients, and 5,000 solicitors.  More partners than ever are mentioned by name indicating that they are respected as being practitioners of the very best.  Law firms and individual lawyers are ranked in bands from 1-6, with 1 being the best.

Administrative and public law - Band 1

This firm is responsible for a constant stream of ground-breaking work in the medical sector; however, the team's public law practice also includes major cases in other areas, such as its representation of Binyam Mohamed. The "incredibly imaginative" Richard Stein leads the team, managing large cases and providing strategic input, as well as pushing forward on issues such as Protective Cost Orders. Sean Humber has a well-established public law prisons practice, recently mounting challenges on behalf of various disabled prisoners. He is also adept at challenges relating to the environment, planning, data protection and freedom of information. Associate Jamie Beagent continues to work alongside Richard Stein on the judicial review of the government's decision to halt the investigation into BAE Systems, and he is also a rising star in such areas as immigration detention, healthcare and protective cost orders.

Individuals: Richard Stein - band 1; Sean Humber - band 4; Jamie Beagent - associate to watch.

Civil liberties - Band 2

Frances Swaine heads the human rights department at the firm, and acts on challenges ranging from deportation and community care to assaults in custody and immigration detention. Richard Stein has been active in civil liberties-related judicial reviews in the education sector recently, and clients report that his dedication "often goes well beyond the call of duty." Sean Humber is hugely active in the prison law sector, and is known as an exceptionally knowledgeable and client-focused practitioner.

Individuals: Richard Stein - band 1; Frances Swaine - band 3; Prison law: Sean Humber - band 2

Clinical negligence - Band 1

This is a large team, comprising both well-known names and a strong posse of impressive junior staff. “This team is superb for its client commitment, hard work and the roundedness of the practice.” Anne Winyard is renowned for her expertise in pre-natal injuries and is an "outstanding lawyer." Both she and the "obviously first-class" Claire Fazan are "the cream of the cream when it comes to claimant clinical negligence lawyers." Fazan handles a broad range of cases but is best known for her work on brain and spinal injuries in both adults and children. Henry Dyson is “fantastically approachable" and "explains everything clearly and thoroughly.” Russell Levy is the head of the practice. He has developed a specialism in hospital-acquired infection cases and TB and meningitis cases. Olive Lewin has extensive experience of cases involving demyelination of the nervous system, which leaves clients brain-damaged as a result of lithium toxicity or low sodium levels. She is admired for “caring for her clients to a greater level than most ordinary professionals would.” Frances Swaine specialises in neurological problems and delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of cancer. The “tenacious and highly experienced” Sally Jean Nicholes is currently pursuing a large number of cases for women with severe perineal tears following childbirth. Nicola Wainwright is expanding the firm's expertise in fertility work. She is "extremely thorough and conscientious and undeniably skilled at the work." New to the rankings, Alison Millar has “an impressive grasp of the details of cases and is able to move things forward.” Her practice spans the clinical negligence and public law department, which allows her to tackle a number of health law issues.

Individuals: Anne Winyard and Claire Fazan - star performers; Russell Levy and Henry Dyson - band 1; Olive Lewin and Frances Swaine - band 2; Sally Jean Nicholes and Alison Millar - band 3; Nicola Wainwright - up and coming.

Employment - Band 2

Leading niche employment discrimination firm Palmer Wade joined Leigh Day’s human rights department this year, bringing its specialism in all types of discrimination and harassment matters and unrivalled knowledge in pregnancy and maternity rights. The new group's arrival complements the work already undertaken by Leigh Day's discrimination law team. The lawyers also offer effective advice on the full range of employment law issues.

Individuals: Camilla Palmer and Joanna Wade - band 1 (Joanna took up the position as an Employment Judge in November 2009)

Environment - Band 1

This firm continues to be active in a variety of private and public law environmental cases, both domestically and internationally. Such work ranges from environmental public law challenges to representing individuals or local groups in smaller-scale planning decisions. Managing partner Martyn Day leads the environment team and is a former chair of Greenpeace UK. His recent work includes representing thousands of claimants in an action alleging that they were seriously injured from the dumping of toxic waste by a ship under the direction of a UK-based multinational. He has also been representing various companies and individuals who have suffered losses and/or injuries as a result of the Buncefield explosion in December 2005. Richard Stein is noted for having sat on the Working Party on Access to Environmental Justice, and recently represented WWF UK in a challenge to the European Council for its failure to reduce cod quotas.

Individuals: Martyn Day - band 1; Richard Stein - band 2

Personal injury - Band 1

This firm's personal injury expertise is split between two separate departments, the domestic personal injury department and the group action and international personal injury practice. Sources Say: “Incredibly dedicated.” Sally Moore leads the domestic personal injury department and is "incredibly effective and on the ball." Martyn Day leads the group action and international personal injury practice, and sources are keen to note that “his overseas work is fantastic.”

Individuals: Martyn Day and Sally Moore - band 1; Daniel Easton -up and coming

Product liability - Band 1

This group is highly recommended for its expertise and experience in high-profile pharmaceutical and medical device cases. It is currently representing four of the six drug trialists in the Northwick Park case. Founding partner Martyn Day is a key name in the field, having cultivated a “first-rate practice handling mouth-watering cases that are the envy of competitors.” He has particular expertise in international claims and group actions, acting on behalf of claimants in a variety of product liability, environment and personal injury cases.

Individuals: Martyn Day - band 1

Travel - Band 3

This five-lawyer travel team sits within the firm's personal injury group and has achieved some ground-breaking results in international law and catastrophic claims. Work highlights include advising UK backpackers hurt in RTAs in Australia, and advising British Airways passengers following a crash landing at Heathrow in 2008.  Sally Moore heads the department.