Leigh Day wins Chambers and Partners UK award for Administrative and Public Law Team of the Year

The award recognises the public law team’s work in representing NGOs (non-governmental organisations), charities and individuals in challenging the action and inaction of public bodies including central Government.

The public law team who are at the forefront of claimant judicial review work consist of a core set of solicitors, including Tessa Gregory, Tom Short, Carolin Ott, Stephanie Hill, and Rowan Smith working on administrative law matters covering a range of issues, often in complex and cutting-edge claims.

Jointly heading up the public law team with Jamie Beagent is human rights partner Tessa Gregory who acts in a wide range of high-profile human rights and environmental cases. She works closely alongside “Star Associate” Tom Short who also specialises in judicial review claims, often with a national security or international element. Together Tessa and Tom represent Afghan families whose relatives, including a number of children, were allegedly killed by UK Special Forces during night-raids between 2010 to 2013. In January 2023, after a four-year legal battle on behalf of two of the families, the Ministry of Defence agreed to establish a public inquiry into the allegations including looking at whether UK Special Forces tried to cover up the alleged killings.

Tessa Gregory and Tom Short also successfully represented a group of Tamil Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were unlawfully detained on the island of Diego Garcia on the British Indian Ocean Territory for over three years.

In December 2024 after years of legal wrangling, the group were finally brought to safety in the UK. The 61 asylum seekers (including 16 children) had been held on the island, which hosts a U.S. military base, in deplorable conditions since October 2021.

Also ranked in the Chambers UK 2025 was senior associate Carolin Ott, who is listed as an “Associate to watch”. Carolin’s work focuses on judicial review challenges with a particular emphasis on discrimination. Carolin currently also represents Oxfam in its intervention in a legal challenge to the Government's continuing approval of arms sales to Israel.

Stephanie Hill, a partner leading the human rights department in Leigh Day’s Manchester office, specialises in migrants’ rights. Last year, she settled a claim against the UK government on behalf of Ghanaian fishermen who were recognised as victims of modern slavery.

Rowan Smith, a senior associate in the public law team, has been at the forefront of UK climate change litigation in the UK over the last five years. He represented Sarah Finch in the historic Supreme Court judgment last year, which brought victory to clients fighting against the fossil fuel production plans across the country.

Leigh Day partner and joint head of the public law team Tessa Gregory said:

“We are delighted that the team’s efforts have been recognised. It is a privilege to do this work, and the team has worked tirelessly in seeking justice for people facing the most difficult of situations.

“Our growing team of public law specialists look forward to continuing to act for those most in need and bringing strategic cases which hold to account public bodies and improve public law decision making.”