International
Leigh Day represents people from around the world in fighting for their rights against corporations and governments. We have secured justice for tens of thousands of women, men and children
Whether our clients are based in the remote reaches of the highlands of Peru, the wetlands of the Niger Delta, or right here in the United Kingdom, we represent our clients with skill, passion and integrity. We look for innovative ways to ensure legal accountability.
Our ground-breaking cases have set precedents in English law that are referred to in courts around the world.
What our clients say
What the directories say
They are among the absolute best in the human rights and civil liberties space. They have a rare combination of being at the top of the market but also having a very friendly approach.
Chambers and partners 2025
Read our brochure
Download our English language brochure to see how the international team at Leigh Day has fought for justice across the world. Alternatively you can download and read it in Spanish, French and Portuguese
The work we do
In addition to much-needed compensation from successful litigation, an important outcome for our clients has often been the disclosure into the public domain of closely-guarded information held by corporate and government defendants. Claimants have also been able to secure concessions and apologies from defendants who had, until litigation was pursued, denied even the existence of the wrongs suffered.
Our work has been instrumental in:
- Developing the case law that led to multinational parent companies being found to have a duty of care to those affected by their subsidiaries;
- Establishing England and Wales as an appropriate jurisdiction for foreign nationals to sue multinational companies for the harm occurring overseas;
- Ensuring that in cases alleging torture by other States, the British Government has not been able to avoid liability by relying on State Immunity or the Foreign Act of State doctrine; and
- Confirming that minimum standards of protection must be maintained by the British armed forces when individuals are captured during military operations abroad.
Case studies
Shell - Bodo
Leigh Day took the case of the Bodo villagers to the High Court in London, four months before the case was due to go to trial, Shell agreed a landmark settlement for £55 million
Shell - Ogale and Bille
In October and December 2015, the Ogale and Bille Communities in the Niger Delta filed claims in the English Courts against Shell. The cases involve devastating oil pollution caused by Shell’s operations.
Anglo American - Silicosis
In landmark cases pursued in South Africa, Leigh Day worked with South African lawyers for 4,388 former miners against Anglo American South Africa Ltd and AngloGold Ashanti
The Mau Mau claims
Leigh Day acted on behalf of 5,000 Kenyan nationals who were subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment at the hands of the British colonial administration during the Kenya Emergency in the 1950s.
In taking on these cases, we seek to balance the scales in favour of the exploited, the injured and the dispossessed against well-resourced powerful entities, whether they are well-known British-based multinationals or the British Government."
Richard Meeran, head of the international team at Leigh Day
Find our more about the team
What the directories say
Leigh Day is a leader in its field; few compare to them on tackling complex matters involving human rights abuses committed by UK companies operating in the UK and abroad.
Chambers and partners 2024