Sarah Moore
Partner
Leading environment and product safety lawyer
Sarah specialises in large multiparty group actions on behalf of claimants based in the UK and overseas across a wide range of issues including environmental and product liability claims.
Sarah’s work often involves seeking compensation for individuals who have been adversely impacted by defective medical products; or for those impacted by pollutant chemical products including oil spills, toxic waste and most recently PFAS chemicals.
This work involves complex scientific evidence in a medical or environmental context, and frequently involves acting on behalf of individuals and groups of Claimants against some of the biggest companies in the world.
Ranked Band 1 for Product Liability by Chambers & Partners 2026
Notable cases include:
Environmental:
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Current and ongoing instruction in relation to PFAS pollution in Bentham, North Yorkshire.
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The Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd (Appellant) vs. United Utilities Water Ltd (Respondent), [2023] – acting on behalf of the Environmental Law Foundation as an intervenor in the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in this case concerning alleged “sewage dumping” in UK waterways.
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Yao Essai Motto & Prs v. Trafigura Ltd & Trafigura Beheer BV [2007] – acting on behalf of 30,000 Ivorian citizens against the company Trafigura for alleged “toxic waste” dumping in the city of Abidjan.
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Various clients vs. BP plc – acting on behalf of a group of 50 Colombian farmers against BP for alleged pollution of their farms caused by leaking oil.
Product safety:
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Various clients vs. AstraZeneca UK Limited – acting on behalf of a group of individuals who suffered catastrophic injuries or bereavement following their vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccine.
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Mrs Susan Axelby vs. Allergan UK Limited – acting on behalf of a woman who received Allergan breast implants and developed a cancer known as BIA-ALCL.
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Various clients vs. Allergan UK Limited – acting on behalf of a growing group of women who have developed BIA-ALCL following implantation with Allergan implants.
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Gee and Others vs. Depuy International Limited [2008] EWHC 1208 (QB) – a claim on behalf of 300 individuals who received allegedly defective metal on metal hip implants.
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Various clients vs. Diageo plc – acting on behalf of a group of individuals who sustained injuries because of in utero exposure to the anti-emetic drug Thalidomide.
Sarah in the news
- AstraZeneca admits its Covid vaccine can cause rare side effect in court documents for first time The Telegraph April 2024
- Woman receives five-figure settlement Solicitors Journal July 2024
- Woman who won £57k after she got a rare cancer from breast implants op warns others may be 'ticking timebombs' Daily Mail Online September 2024
- Product liability, litigation funding and collective actions - redressing the balance? BIICL September 2024
- Collective redress in the UK; the shortcomings - by Sarah Moore at our Product Liability Conference Outer Temple Chambers October 2024
- Is the system letting down people who were harmed by Covid vaccines? BBC News October 2024
- Covid Vaccine: Fighting for a Payout BBC October 2024
- Opening the floodgates on water pollution nuisance claims? Environmental Law Foundation November 2024
- Yorkshire town may bring first 'forever chemicals' legal case in UK | PFAS | The Guardian November 2024
- Those injured by the AstraZeneca vaccine can no longer be silenced The Telegraph 8.11.23
- Covid vaccine claims could hit £110m Mail Online 27.2.22
- Over 500 people seek compensation for problems caused by Covid jabs - but not one payout Mirror 19.2.22
- British Gymnastics: Group of 17 women and girls taking legal action over alleged abuse BBC 26.2.21
- Sarah Moore commented on the breast implant cancer cases on Channel 5 News 17.l.1.20
- Anger over UK's failure to ban breast implants linked to 61 cancer cases Guardian 7.1.20
- Landmarks in law: the case of the dead snail in the ginger beer Guardian 3.10.19
Publications and broadcasts
- Drifting apart on consumer protection, New Law Journal January 2025
- Testimony at the COVID-19 Inquiry, Vaccines and Therapeutics Public Hearings January 2025
- Witness Statement of Sarah Esther Moore, UK COVID-19 Inquiry January 2025
Read Sarah's blogs
E coli case in Windermere cause for concern
Leigh Day solicitors Ben West and Sarah Moore address concerning news of an E coli case stemming from Lake Windermere.
The government’s PFAS Plan: “Forever chemicals” - action now?
Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore and her team investigating PFAS pollution share their thoughts on the government's newly released PFAS Action Plan.
“The Truth About Forever Chemicals”: Reflections on Panorama
Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore, who leads a team investigating PFAS pollution in the UK, reflects on the recent Panorama episode about the substances known as ‘forever chemicals’.
Sarah's publications
- Going Dutch on Product Liability Law? - New Law Journal
- Mind the (accountability) gap - New Law Journal
- The new Product Liability Directive: fireworks or fizzle? - New Law Journal
- Product liability: more David, less Goliath? - New Law Journal
- The “Peter Parker principle” - New Law Journal
- Into the unknown - New Law Journal
- Covid-19: Following the herd - New Law Journal
- Fairytale of New York: product liability law in the UK - New Law Journal
- Power to the people - New Law Journal
- A bitter pill - New Law Journal
- Where there’s smoke - New Law Journal
- Time for a litigation supplement? - New Law Journal
Accreditations
Chambers and Partners 2026
Testing reveals significant levels of PFAS chemicals in Thornton Cleveleys residents' blood
Blood testing on residents of Thornton Cleveleys living near a large chemical factory has revealed increased levels of PFOA in their blood. If you live in the area, or believe you may have been impacted by PFAS exposure, and would like to speak to our team about the investigation, you can get in touch.
Government urged to take action in wake of PFAS report calling for phasing out of ‘forever chemicals’
Lawyers from Leigh Day investigating PFAS pollution have urged the government to action recommendations made by an Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report addressing the risks of ‘forever chemicals’.
High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS found in some Bentham residents
Investigations by ITV and ENDS Report have revealed that a number of Bentham residents have high levels of ‘forever chemicals’, known as PFAS, in their blood.