Nicholas Smith

Nick is an Associate Solicitor in the International and Group Litigation department, in Oliver Holland’s team. Nick specialises in claims against large multinational corporations where environmental harm or human rights abuses have been alleged, especially related to serious water pollution. The cases Nick works on often involve complex jurisdictional and liability issues.  

Legal expertise

Nick currently acts on a large group claim representing over a thousand claimants in Devon and Cornwall in their intended claims against South West Water Limited and Pennon Group Plc for sewage pollution along the coast. The claims are being brought in public and private nuisance.

Other work Nick is or has been involved in at Leigh Day includes:

• On a large group river pollution claim in the River Wye, Usk and Lugg region of England and Wales, being brought in nuisance, in Evans & Ors v Avara Foods Ltd, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water & Anor.
• Representing Nepali and Bangladeshi migrant workers in the first post-Brexit jurisdiction hearing in Limbu & Ors v Dyson Technology Ltd & Ors [2023] EWHC 2592 (KB) and the subsequent successful appeal in the Court of Appeal.
• In the case of Josiya & Ors v British American Tobacco plc & Ors [2021] EWHC 1743 (QB), assisting in a claim brought by about 10,000 Malawian tobacco farmers and their children who allege they have been trafficked to work on tobacco farms. The claims involve allegations of unjust enrichment. Nick has been particularly focused on data aspects of the case.
• Various investigations and advisory work, particularly to NGOs. 

Further experience: 

Nick trained in the International and Group Litigation department and in the Employment department at Leigh Day. As a trainee, Nick did some competition work, having been involved in the certification application to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the case of Professor Carolyn Roberts v Severn Trent Water Limited & Ors [2025] CAT 17. 

In the Employment department, Nick worked with Liana Wood focused on worker status group claims, notably the appeals following the case of Lange & Ors v Addison Lee [2017] 9 WLUK 377. That case followed on from the landmark worker status judgment in Uber BV v Aslam [2021] UKSC 5. Nick also worked on private client and legally aided cases alleging workplace discrimination and modern slavery.  

In addition to his work as a solicitor, Nick has worked as a Data Analyst, including at Leigh Day, where he worked across various group claims on the Mercedes-Benz NOx Emissions Group Litigation. Nick continues to be very interested in data issues in his case work and is involved with the firm’s working group on AI.