Ricardo Gama
Partner
Ricardo specialises in environmental claims and planning law
Ricardo is a partner in the human rights and public law department of Leigh Day. He challenges government and public body decisions on environmental and human rights issues, including in particular trans rights.
He has a very strong background in planning law. Before joining the firm 2021, Ricardo worked at Richard Buxton Environmental and Public Law, after several years as a planning lawyer and founding associate of Town Legal LLP, a leading planning firm.
Recent cases include:
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Acting for River Action and Coalition Against Factory Farming in cases relating to intensive agriculture units, whether manure should be treated as waste in legal terms, and the Environment Agency’s approach to manure spreading on farmland.
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Acting for River Action and Wild Justice in cases relating to the lack of regulation of sewage discharges.
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Acting for Trans Lucent and Good Law Project in cases challenging the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s approach to trans inclusion following the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland.
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Acting for Wild Justice in various challenges to the government’s approach to gamebird releases, grazing on Dartmoor and badger culling.
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Acting in greenwashing cases concerning the meat and dairy, and farming lobbies.
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Acting in challenges to the approval of plans for the expansion of Bristol, Luton and City airports.
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Acting in a challenge to the government’s plan for decarbonising aviation, the Jet Zero Strategy, without any demand management measures.
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Acting in various challenges to waste incinerators.
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Acting for Rights: Community: Action in challenges to the government’s policy on energy efficiency standards in new homes.
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Acting in many planning cases challenging grants of planning permission in urban areas and in the green belt.”
What the people say
Ricardo has shown himself to be a top environmental claimant lawyer. His energy, enthusiasm and passion for innovation in environmental law is obvious.
Chambers and partners 2025
Accreditations
News and blogs
Outdoor adventure centre plans in Pembrokeshire quashed over wildlife concerns
The High Court has ruled that permission for an outdoor adventure centre near Ceibwr Bay in Pembrokeshire was unlawfully granted, following a legal challenge by campaign group Wild Justice over wildlife concerns.
Plans for giant intensive poultry unit in Norfolk overturned
Planning permission for a giant intensive poultry unit in Norfolk which was set to house 310,000 chickens has been overturned after legal pressure from campaign group Coalition Against Factory Farming (CAFF).
Legal challenge to Luton Airport expansion given green light
A legal challenge by Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) opposing the expansion of London Luton Airport has been given permission to proceed in the High Court.