The Newcastle office was opened in December 2020 to support Leigh Day’s clients in the North East of England. The office was set up to advise residents of Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Darlington and the wider North-East region who have contracted asbestos-related industrial diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening.

From this office Leigh Day will support the activities of Readley, a support group for mesothelioma sufferers and victims of asbestos exposure that meets across the region at venues in Darlington, Sunderland & Morpeth. They can offer support, advice and assistance with benefits claims for those who been diagnosed with an asbestos related illness.

The office is led by partner Steven Dickens who focuses exclusively on asbestos related disease cases. He has over 20 years’ experience in occupational disease claim cases, with specialist experience in asbestos and mesothelioma claims. He is accredited by APIL as a senior litigator and as an occupational disease lawyer. He is recommended in the Legal 500. He has significant experience of acting for tradesmen such as joiners, plumbers and electricians as well as acting for those who have been exposed to asbestos in non-industrial environments such as teachers, nurses and shop workers.

Leigh Day have experience in bringing claims against employers in the north-east region and have secured six figure settlements for clients from the region previously. Settlements have included claims for treatment costs in the private sector, where necessary.