Leigh Day environment lawyer in ENDS Report’s 2026 Power List

The nomination recognises Ricardo’s work across a range of impactful public law cases, achieving key judgments and shaping environmental policy.  

Over the past 12 months, Ricardo has represented campaign groups River Action and Coalition Against Factory Farming in judicial review claims which successfully saw planning permission for large intensive poultry units in Shropshire and Norfolk overturned. 

These legal wins came off the back of Ricardo acting on behalf of River Action successfully intervening in a case between Herefordshire County Council and the National Farmers’ Union, which resulted in chicken manure being legally classified as waste. 

Ricardo has also worked on cases with campaign group Wild Justice, representing them along with Leigh Day solicitor Carol Day in a judgment which saw the High Court rule that Dartmoor commons have been mismanaged.  

As well as this, Ricardo has also acted on behalf of campaigners in urban areas, having represented Save Our Safer Streets in a Court of Appeal hearing which successfully saw a decision to remove the low traffic neighbourhood scheme in Tower Hamlets overturned.  

Ricardo Gama said: 

“It's a pleasure to be recognised by ENDS Report on this list. What we do at Leigh Day wouldn't be possible without the determination of our clients, who show a great amount of resolve in bringing forward these legal challenges, and the incredible hard work of everybody in our environment and public law team at the firm.”