Benji Gourgey
Senior Associate Solicitor
Benji Gourgey is a senior associate solicitor in the international and group litigation team
Benji is a senior associate solicitor in the international and group litigation team, specialising in environmental and human rights claimant-side litigation.
Legal expertise
Benji is working on a number of environmental cases, including representing members of the community living near the polluted rivers Wye, Lugg, and Usk catchment area in a private and public nuisance claim against members of the Cargill UK poultry group and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for the environmental damage allegedly caused by their operations; and representing Jo Bateman, a wild swimmer and environmental campaigner, in her claim against South West Water over allegations their pollution made the waters off Exmouth beach unsafe to swim in.
Benji is also assisting a group of Bangladeshi and Nepali migrant workers in their claim against two Dyson UK companies and a Dyson Malaysian company over alleged forced labour and dangerous working and living conditions at a Malaysian factory.
Before joining Leigh Day, Benji trained at a leading international law firm where he qualified in September 2019. At his previous firm, Benji acted for commercial clients on complex and high value civil disputes, including multi-jurisdictional arbitrations concerning renewable energy infrastructure. Benji also worked on complex internal investigations into alleged corporate wrongdoing.
Education
Durham University – History (undergraduate degree)
University of Law – GDL and LPC
Lawyers highlight importance of legal action after data reveals at least 12,500 hours of sewage pumped into River Wye in 2024
Data released by the Environment Agency has revealed that at least 12,500 hours' worth of sewage across 45 locations in England alone was spilled into the rivers Wye and Lugg, and their tributaries, by Welsh Water from overflow incidents in 2024.
River Wye pollution legal claim will include Welsh Water as well as Avara Foods Ltd
Legal action over pollution in the Wye, Lugg and Usk catchment area has been expanded to include Welsh Water (WW) as well as Cargill Plc, Avara Foods and Freemans of Newent as defendants.
Legal claim launched for Exmouth businesses impacted by sewage spills
Businesses and residents in Exmouth who say they have suffered as a result of South West Water sewage pollution have launched a groundbreaking legal claim led by law firm Leigh Day.