Ryan Bradshaw is Manchester Solicitor of the Year

Ryan, aged 38, is a specialist discrimination solicitor who helps people affirm their rights under human rights and equality laws. 

He became a partner at human rights law firm Leigh Day in April 2024. With fellow Leigh Day partner Stephanie Hill, Ryan led the expansion of the Leigh Day human rights department to its base in Manchester in September 2023. 

Initially he trained as a benefits and debt adviser, then after the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) came into force, Ryan concentrated on work helping people defend their rights under employment law. In recent years Ryan has increasingly helped clients with social welfare and discrimination issues. He volunteers at Greater Manchester Law Centre and was nominated as Rising Star of the Year at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023. 

Ryan has worked at Leigh Day since 2015. 

He was named Solicitor of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards on Thursday 6 June 2024. The awards have been running since 2009.  

Ryan was nominated alongside fellow Leigh Day solicitor Julie Struthers. Julie works on a wide range of complex cases on behalf of adults and children who have suffered serious or fatal injury following negligent medical care.  

Leigh Day personal injury partner Clare Campbell was also nominated in the Partner of the Year category.

Other nominees included Georgina Garner (Slater Heelis), Reece Johnson (Vardags) and Lucy-Allena Mcilroy (Irwin Mitchell). 

The Manchester Legal Awards are organised and hosted by Manchester Law Society. 

Head of Leigh Day’s Manchester office, Andrew Bradley said: 

“It’s fantastic to see Ryan’s work on behalf of his clients recognised in this way and with Ryan recently becoming a partner in the firm I know that Leigh Day’s Manchester Human Rights department is only going to go from strength to strength.” 

Joint head of Leigh Day’s human rights department, Gene Matthews said: 

“We are delighted that Ryan’s hard work and dedication to his clients has received wider recognition.  Ryan’s ability to apply his keen legal mind to the many issues faced by his clients results in successful outcomes time and time again, in some of the most challenging areas of law.  We are confident that Ryan, alongside Steph, will continue to ensure that people in the North-West, and the country more widely, will have a great team to fight for their rights to be upheld and respected.”  

Ryan Bradshaw said: 

“It’s a real honour to have been awarded Solicitor of the Year, especially when my fellow nominees are all really excellent at what they do.”