Benjamin Burrows
Partner
Benjamin is head of the prison team
Benjamin is a partner in the human rights department at Leigh Day.
His work includes:
Benjamin is head of the Prison team and acts for individuals who are, or have been, in prison. Benjamin’s prison work includes private law claims for compensation, public law claims for judicial review and inquests following deaths in custody. His work can cover a broad range of litigation, but has a particular focus on inquests, discrimination and healthcare.
Benjamin also represents families whose loved ones were killed by someone known by state agencies to pose a risk to others, including dangerous offenders released from prison and subject to probation at the time of the death. He recently represented the families of the victims of the Forbury Gardens terror attack in the Judge-led inquest into the deaths, which investigated the role of multiple state agencies, including the prison and probation service who had been supervising the perpetrator at the time of the attack.
"Benjamin is recognised as a leading solicitor for his work in both." - Legal 500 & Chambers and Partners
"Benjamin has a wonderful way with everyone he works with. He has vast knowledge of everything related to prison law." - Chambers ranking 2025
"Benjamin is really first rate. He is a fantastic leader of the team." -Chambers and Partners 2025
Benjamin is highly devoted. He is probably the most knowledgeable solicitor for prison law matters." - Chambers and Partners 2025
"Benjamin is a brilliant solicitor who is a pleasure to work with." - Chambers and Partners 2025
"[Benjamin Burrows] continue to be part of the firm’s vanguard of civil liberties defenders." - Legal 500 2025
“At what was the worst part of my life, Benjamin always treated me with the utmost respect, dignity and sensitivity. Whilst both my cases may not have been ‘headline’ worthy, the outcomes and the compensation that was awarded have allowed me to restart some semblance of a normal life”.
"I pay tribute to your very professional team of solicitors. I can guarantee that anyone that has Benjamin Burrows on their side has excellent advice – your firm of solicitors is a credit to the legal profession."
“Together with his team, Benjamin Burrows worked tirelessly and tenaciously to not just meet my high expectations but to consistently exceed them. His knowledge and professionalism have guided and prepared my claim with acuity and strength that has clearly prompted respect from the defendants. He is passionate about his client’s needs because he genuinely cares about our rights”.
In the news
Benjamin regularly gives external talks and writes external articles on the issue of prisoners’ rights. Recent examples include:
- Radio 4's In Touch programme 11.6.19, Blind prisoners compensation for discrimination
- Prisons and social care Lexis PSL 6.7.17
- Written evidence to the Justice Select Committee on older prisoners
- Oral evidence to the Joint Committee on the draft Prisoner Voting Bill
- Human Rights Beneath The Headlines British Institute of Human Rights 14.2.14
- Article for Lexis Nexis on the EU Charter and it’s applicability in UK Law
- Article for Inside Time on older prisoners
- Halsbury’s Law Exchange on the justice gap for disabled prisoners
Career
Benjamin joined Leigh Day as a trainee solicitor in September 2007, and qualified as a solicitor in October 2009. He has a BA in History and a Masters in Post-war Reconstruction and Development. He worked for a number of international NGOs and charities before becoming a solicitor.
Accreditations
Blogs
Calocane and Saadallah cases expose vulnerability in NHS mental health services
The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has commented that the deaths of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber, and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who were murdered by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023, could have been prevented with better mental health care, saying “Nottingham attack victims may still be alive if the NHS had been there when it should have been”.
Profoundly deaf prisoner was denied sign language interpreter
A profoundly deaf former prisoner was denied a sign language interpreter during his one-year imprisonment.
Forbury Gardens terror attack victims’ families call for urgent change after Judge Coroner says state agencies could have prevented deaths
The families of three men murdered in a terror attack at Forbury Gardens in Reading in June 2020 have called for urgent change after a Judge Coroner concluded that state agencies could have prevented their deaths.