Leigh Day celebrates two-year anniversary of human rights team in Manchester

Since its launch in autumn 2023, Leigh Day’s Manchester human rights team has worked on cases related to migrants’ rights, discrimination, welfare rights, trafficking, judicial review, and inquests.

The team, headed by human rights specialists Ryan Bradshaw and Stephanie Hill, now consists of five lawyers, including solicitors Hannah Jandu, Louise Brocklehurst, and Josephine Whitehouse, and supported by paralegals and trainees.  

Partner Ryan Bradshaw represents ex-England football captain David Watson in his legal battle to achieve recognition of the neurological impact of repeated head injuries during his career.  

In October this year, Ryan also settled a £12 million claim over a discriminatory housing policy which denied rent allowances to younger unmarried military personnel on behalf of approximately 4,000 members of the armed forces.  

Partner Stephanie Hill represented Windrush scandal victim Raymond Lee, who was found to have been unlawfully refused compensation by the Home Office in a landmark judgment earlier this year.  

Stephanie also led a legal challenge against Northern Trains on behalf of disability rights campaigner Doug Paulley over the lack of step-free access for wheelchair users. The case was settled this year and Northern Trains implemented changes to improve accessibility at its stations.  

Ryan and Stephanie are also part of Leigh Day’s public law team, which was recognised with a major accolade from Chambers and Partners UK. The legal directory named the team at Administrative Public Law Team of the Year, acknowledging their work across NGOs, charities, domestic and international public law claims.  

Last year, Leigh Day announced it was further bolstering the growth of Leigh Day’s human rights work in the north of England by expanding the department to Liverpool. Human rights partner Leanne Devine heads up the human rights team in Liverpool, where the team represents bereaved families through the inquest process.

In November this year, lawyers from the human rights team across the Manchester and Liverpool offices collaborated with LJMU and JUSTICE on an event which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the European Convention of Human Rights, through a living library of ‘human books’ exhibit at National Museums Liverpool.  

The North West team further co-hosted charity INQUEST’s Northern Conference and fundraising quiz with Garden Court North chambers and Ison Harrison solicitors. Proceeds from the day were donated to INQUEST, which provides advice and support to bereaved people, whose loved ones’ deaths relate to potential state failings.  

Ryan Bradshaw said:  

“Having a human rights team here in Manchester really allows us to build on existing bonds with the local community. We are not just a London firm – we have a brilliant team of lawyers up North who are all committed to obtaining justice for clients.” 

Stephanie Hill said: 

“It is crucially important that people whose human rights have been breached have access to legal representation, to challenge unlawful decisions and to hold public authorities to account. Since the launch of our team in 2023, our team has been working tirelessly to represent our clients and to expand our areas of work, to better serve our northern clients with a dedicated team of human rights lawyers.”