Bright Horizons Finchley Road Day Nursery and Preschool abuse claim

Leigh Day abuse team is instructed to represent families whose young children are affected by sexual abuse, mistreatment and neglect at Bright Horizons Finchley Road nursery.

Vincent Chan, aged 45, of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, pleaded guilty to 26 counts of sexual abuse, 23 against children at Bright Horizons nursery in Finchley Road, Camden, between August 2022 and March 2024 when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday December 3, 2025.

The court heard the crimes included: five counts of sexual assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent images and six counts of making indecent images.  

A Metropolitan Police investigation Operation Lanark is still ongoing.

A Child Safeguarding Practice Review is being undertaken by Camden Safeguarding Partnership. 

Leigh Day is investigating a civil legal claim against Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited for children and families.

Families have issued a statement:

“We feel that Bright Horizons has failed us, and we want answers. How was someone like Vincent Chan employed? Why did safeguarding systems fail completely? And how were such horrific crimes against children able to continue for so long without the staff responsible for safeguarding at Bright Horizons nursery acting?  

“We are concerned that failures in management and supervision at Bright Horizons allowed this abuse to go undetected, and we are committed to securing accountability for our children.”

If you have an enquiry in relation to this case you can contact Alison Millar and Catriona Rubens directly on the contact us button below.

NSPCC and council support

Camden Council has commissioned a dedicated NSPCC Helpline, to provide information and support for affected families, and as an alternative route to report any information or safeguarding concerns, which you can contact on 0800 028 0828 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm at weekends.

To speak to a social worker, parents should contact Camden children and families service by phone on 0207 974 3317, or by email at LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk.

Specialist abuse lawyers in Leigh Day’s human rights team represent a group of families in a civil legal claim. 

The legal team is led by Leigh Day’s abuse team head, partner and solicitor Alison Millar, who is assisted in this case by abuse team senior associate solicitor Catriona Rubens.

Alison and Catriona’s experience in handling claims of abuse is extensive.

Alison Millar has over 10 years’ experience dedicated to complex claims for abuse and mistreatment, having previously practised in the field of general Human Rights litigation.

Alison has run and led many claims for survivors of non-recent child sexual abuse and children and adults mistreated in healthcare, schools, workplaces and care settings. Cases include the first known settlement for sexual assaults involving sexual violence between primary school pupils approved by the High Court and a six-figure settlement for a man who was sexually abused as a child by Portsmouth teacher and choirmaster, Mark Burgess.

Alison gave evidence to the Accountability & Reparations strand of the independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and has commented widely in the media on issues relating to sexual abuse and human rights claims. She is also a trustee of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC).

Catriona has extensive experience representing children and adults who have been subjected to abuse and neglect in school and care settings. She currently acts on behalf of a group of young children who were abused in an after-school care setting, including advice to parents on safeguarding failures and local authority investigations. Catriona acted for twin boys who were subjected to mechanical restraint chairs, obtaining an apology and substantial damages for the children.

Catriona is a legal panel member for the Centre for Women’s Justice and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation (which supports families of children with additional needs). 

Alison and Catriona also have a background in general human rights litigation, including bringing a landmark claim that resulted in the Department for Health and Social Care secretary apologising for the abuse experienced by a learning disabled and autistic man at a Devon care home, and admitting breaches of his and his mother’s human rights.

If you have concerns in relation to this case can contact Alison Millar and Catriona Rubens directly on the contact us button below.