Ella Raeburn

Based in our Personal Injury Department in London, Ella is an Associate Solicitor specialising in complex group litigation, civil claims, and inquests. She has experience litigating matters in the County Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal, and has represented bereaved families before the Coroner’s Court.

Prior to joining Leigh Day’s Personal Injury Department in February 2025, Ella specialised in civil and public law actions against the state. Ella represented individuals bringing complex claims against police forces, prisons, local authorities, and hospitals, such as for false imprisonment, assault, misfeasance, and negligence. She also successfully litigated claims under the Human Rights Act and Equality Act and represented families at inquests following deaths in custody. Ella has a wealth of public law experience, having worked alongside leading lawyers in the fields of Human Rights and Prison Law to bring novel challenges of primary and secondary legislation. Her work was primarily funded by legal aid.

Ella’s background in legal aid law means that she is acutely aware of barriers facing access to justice, and proud to work for a firm that champions justice for all. Her experience of litigating against well-resourced state bodies on behalf of vulnerable groups means she is equipped to vociferously fight for her clients.

Since joining Leigh Day, Ella has been instrumental in bringing the litigation arising from the highly publicised odour pollution emanating from the Walleys Quarry Landfill, (Walleys Quarry stench prompts more than 700 complaints in a day - BBC News; Walleys Quarry Landfill Compensation Claim). She is also assisting with the investigation into potential group litigation arising from similar pollution at the Jameson Road Landfill, (Fleetwood landfill site ordered to make immediate improvements - BBC News; Jameson Road Landfill group claim). Ella has successfully settled claims concerning serious injuries sustained from toxins in food products, and provided invaluable legal representation to families during high profile inquest proceedings (Allergen at school and delayed administration of adrenaline). She has also successfully litigated claims involving novel arguments on duty of care law up to and including trial. The work that Ella has been involved in since joining the firm has been widely covered in national media (Benedict Blythe inquest jury rules 'accidental' allergy death - BBC News).

Education and Pro Bono work

Ella graduated from the University of Edinburgh Law School in 2018 with a First-Class Honours Degree in Law. During her undergraduate degree, she organised and led a group of student volunteers to Panama, whereby they assisted local lawyers to provide pro bono legal advice to rural communities. The advice clinics focused on issues of employment, housing, education, and human rights.

Thereafter, she completed the Legal Practice Course (‘LPC’) and a Masters in Law (‘LLM’) at the University of Law, graduating with a distinction in both. She joined Leigh Day in February 2025, having previously worked in the Civil Liberties Departments at Broudie Jackson Canter and Tuckers Solicitors. Whilst completing her Training Contract, LPC, and LLM, Ella prepared and delivered lectures on prison law and prisoner’s rights to students participating in the Queen Mary University of London Legal Advice Centre. She also assisted students with the preparation of advice letters to people in custody regarding their rights. Ella’s employment and voluntary history demonstrates her commitment to using strategic litigation to uphold individual and collective rights.