Celine O’Donovan
Senior Associate Solicitor
Celine specialises in claimant-side environmental and humanitarian group litigation and jurisdiction challenges.
Celine is a senior associate solicitor in England & Wales specialising in claimant-side environmental and humanitarian group litigation and jurisdiction challenges; she qualified in March 2019.
Legal expertise
At Leigh Day, Celine is predominantly working on group claims related to corporate accountability for forced labour and environmental nuisance. Her main cases are:
- Limbu & Ors v Dyson Technology ltd & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 1564
- Evans & Ors v Avara Foods Ltd, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water & Anor
Further experience
Celine began her career as a fellow at a Los Angeles trial-boutique, assisting in a claim for the right of publicity at the California Court of Appeal. She then trained at a leading international law firm, including seats in International Arbitration in London and Dubai.
Upon qualification, Celine moved to a leading claimant-side firm to follow her passion for environmental justice, working predominantly on the historic Município de Mariana v BHP Group Plc proceedings at the Court of Appeal of England & Wales, pursuing damages on behalf of over 750,000 people for a dam collapse in Brazil. Celine is continuing her work to advance the rights of those affected by international corporations at Leigh Day.
Education
BPP University - LLM and LPC
University of Oxford - undergraduate degree (jurisprudence)
Outside of work, Celine enjoys singing and playing guitar.
What the directories say
"Celine O'Donovan (senior associate) is a clear thinker and excellent drafter."
Legal 500 - 2026
Wye pollution legal claim filed at High Court
A legal claim which almost 4,000 people have joined, challenging river pollution in the Wye and Usk catchment areas, has been filed at the High Court.
Leigh Day to hold event for people impacted by Lugg building ban
Law firm Leigh Day will host an event for people who have been negatively impacted by the nutrient neutrality planning moratorium on land near to the River Lugg.
Water pollution litigation after Manchester Ship Canal ruling
The historic Manchester Ship UKSC decision on 2 July 2024 (The Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd v United Utilities Water Ltd [2024] UKSC 22) held that water companies in England and Wales could be held liable for infringing private rights via sewage pollution.