Dino Nocivelli

Dino is a partner in the abuse department at Leigh Day and joined the firm in 2022.

Dino specialises in actions for child sexual abuse survivors and has recognised expertise in the following:

• Abuse in football and a number of other sports
• Abuse within religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church and the Church of England
• Abuse in the Scout Association
• Abuse in the military
• Abuse in private schools and state schools
• Abuse in youth clubs
• Abuse abroad
• Abuse in the family and directly against individuals who have taken advantage of their position of authority

Dino has appeared in a significant number of media publications providing his expert opinion and commentary, to include the BBC News and Radio, ITV, LBC Radio and a number of national and local newspapers to include articles for the Guardian and the Times. Dino has provided his expert opinion to a number of international media outlets and he also regularly provides external training sessions on child abuse law and conducts numerous charity talks every year. He has also provided comments for documentaries and books on a range of issues.

He has provided evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and has been asked to comment extensively upon the Inquiry by a number of national newspapers and other media outlets.

Dino has been recognised by the Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in the field of child sexual abuse cases, and in 2022 the following was noted:

'Dino Nocivelli has worked with my organisation for many years, I have always found him to be kind, empathic, patient and knowledgeable. He is passionate about the work he does and the outcome for our clients. He wants to make the world a better, safer place for vulnerable people.’

Dino is a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers. He is an ambassador for the Survivors Trust and Kyniska.

Dino has campaigned and continues to campaign to change the law on numerous matters, to include:

• Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse offences
• Extending offences by those in positions of trust to include sport coaches, and continuing to campaign so that they include activities such as acting, ballet and wrestling
• Double jeopardy for indecent assault
• Removing titles for convicted peers
• Ending the use of NDAs in abuse cases.

What people say

"Dino Nocivelli dealt with our case very sensitively. From the start, he explained everything clearly, kept us up to date with progress and always listened and answered any questions or concerns along the way." J Reynolds via Trustpilot.

"Dino Nocivelli and his team supported our daughter through a very challenging case. He listened, was kind and was sensitive to our needs. It took some time but with Dino's experience and persistence a positive outcome was reached. I would highly recommend Leigh Day and Dino and would like to thank them for their support over the last year." Customer via TrustPilot.

Read Dino's blogs

• Myths about child abuse must be broken 05.05.23
• Malsis School failed in its duty of care to halt sexual abuse of pupils 27.4.23
• Abuse of trust by social workers should be reflected in criminal sentencing 24.03.23
• Cycling faces up to issue of abuse 15.02.23
• Body shaming abuse at ballet schools 10.02.23
• Possible routes to action against abusers who are dead or unfit to stand trial 03.02.23
• Ambassador for Survivors Trust and Kyniska 28.11.22
• Malsis School convictions: how was abuse able to go on for so long? 24.10.22
• Bend It Like Beckham – a movie that should be consigned to the past? 29.9.22
• Successful case against Southampton Football Club for childhood sexual abuse by Bob Higgins 29.9.22
• Will the next Prime Minister please stand up to stop child abuse? 15.8.22 
• Remove all statues that relate to child abuse from society 1.8.22
• UK Athletics’ review of abuse cases – where are the details? 22.7.22
• Abuse in religious institutions 6.7.22
• Abuse in the Scout Association 24.6.22
• Sexual abuse in boarding schools – change is urgently needed 16.6.22
• Abuse in gymnastics and the imminent Whyte report 1.6.22
• Child abuse by foster carers 18.5.22
• Abuse in ballet and dance 9.5.22
• Why an apology for abuse is so important 5.5.22
• Abuse in swimming – another reason why IICSA should have thoroughly investigated abuse in sport 26.4.22
• We need to call out child sex abuse by women 20.4.22
• IICSA’s latest report – residential schools in Wales 13.4.22
• We need to end the use of NDAs in abuse cases 1.4.22
• Cricket highlights concerns overlooked by IICSA about sexual abuse in sport 22.3.22
• UK Athletics review of all abuse cases is overdue but welcome 14.3.22
• Lord Ahmed should have his title removed after being convicted of child abuse 10.3.22
• Chelsea Football Club racist abuse cases settlement 1.3.22
• Safeguarding risks remain for children who take part in acting, ballet and wrestling – these gaps must be closed 24.2.22

Dino Nocivelli in the news

• Cheshire school pays out to dancer who claims she was body-shamed BBC 13.3.24 Dino also spoke to Woman's Hour 12.3.24 on the same case.
• 'Half my life battling for justice': Former gymnast wins apology and damages from British Gymnastics ITV 22.2.24
• Abuse Claims in Sport webinar Deka Chambers 8.2.24
• Child abuse survivors criticise failure to make reporting mandatory in England Guardian 5.2.24
• More dancers allege body-shaming and bullying at UK ballet schools BBC 20.12.23
• Sutton Valence School have settled with a former pupil after accepting he was abused by chaplain David Barnes in the 1980s The Daily Mail 20.11.23
• Sutton Valence School apologises after allegations priest David Barnes abused young boy in the 1980s Kent online 20.11.23
• Former Whitgift teacher given 4-year sentence for child abuse Inside Croydon 22.9.23
• Barry Bennell: Paedophile ex-football coach dies in prison Telegraph 18.9.23
• Allegations of abuse rock Britain’s top ballet schools The World 15.9.23
• Ex-dancers describe body-shaming at top ballet schools BBC 11.9.23
• Viewers left horrified after BBC Panorama documentary exposes 'toxic' body shaming culture at UK's top ballet schools Mail online 12.9.23
• ECB contacts police to discuss opening investigation into four-time convicted paedophile and ex-Durham coach Michael Strange amid questions over their handling of child sex abuse cases Mail online 28.6.23
• New campaign launched to spotlight mental health crisis in your athletes West Wales Chronicle 1.6.23
• Britannici e lotta agli abusi La Gazetta dello Sport 26.4.23
• Brits call on Government to appoint sports ombudsman to investigate sexual abuse claims SwimSwam 26.4.23
• Prestigious boarding school sued over historical child abuse by 'paedo priest' Mirror 9.4.23
• Liverpool school abuse: Survivors take legal action against council BBC 5.4.23
• Scouts 'silenced' two women sexually abused by leader while they were teenagers ITV News 18.3.23
• Phillip Perks: Scouts accused of silencing sexual abuse victims BBC News 24.2.23
• Penarth Scouts leader found dead after arrest accused of 'silencing' teens after sexual abuse claims ITV News Wales 24.2.23
• Two women accuse Scouts of ‘silencing’ them over their claims of sexual abuse Independent 24.2.23
• Sex abuse claims against Penarth Scout leader Phillip Perks South Wales Argus 24.2.23
• Gylfa's parole did not shorten a possible prison sentence Frettabladid 7.2.23
• Watch Dino's podcast with Piers Cross 20.1.23 when Dino's discusses IICSA, child sexual abuse, boarding schools, Jimmy Savile and more.
• Dino was interviewed by BBC Points West 21.10.22
• Child sex abuse inquiry ‘lacked focus on Welsh institutions and voices’, victims solicitor claims Care Appointments 20.10.22
• ECB urged to conduct in-depth review of historic abuse within cricket Independent 20.10.22, The Herald 20.10.22, Cricket 365 20.10.22, The Northern Echo 20.10.22, Express & Star 20.10.22
• Ellesmere Titans report should be published, says abuse lawyer Border Counties Advertiser 23.3.22 + Whitchurch Herald 23.3.22
• Racist abuse by coaching staff Global Football League 7.3.22
• Queen 'to foot part of Andrew's £12m bill': Humiliated Duke's mother 'helps pay settlement with rape accuser Virginia Roberts' in bid to draw line under scandal before Jubilee celebrations – which he 'will be BANNED from attending' Daily Mail 16.2.22
• Karl Stefanovic slams Prince Andrew as 'DISGUSTING' and says the royal is 'best mates with a trafficker' after shock '$14.5 million' settlement with Virginia Roberts Mail online 16.2.23
• Catfish Nation: Hundreds Targeted in Same Sexual WhatsApp Scam as Law ‘Struggles to Keep Up’ with Phenomenon BylineTimes 10.4.24