About

Provided by Leigh Day

The Leigh Day employment team is known for bringing innovative cases which redefine the boundaries of employment and discrimination law, and for pursuing claims in unusual and emerging sectors.

In 2018 the team successfully represented Uber drivers in the Court of Appeal in their ongoing case to challenge the exploitation of workers by companies in the gig economy.

In the same year they successfully represented 250 Judges in the Court of Appeal in their ongoing case to challenge discriminatory changes to their pensions. The team are also instructed by thousands of police officers in relation to changes to theirs.

Leigh Day are currently representing over 40,000 supermarket employees in their ongoing legal challenge over alleged breaches of equal pay legislation by the ‘big 5’ supermarkets with cases heading to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice to clarify Equal Pay law.

The team works with various unions, including Unison and GMB, on individual claims and complex group actions including representing several hundred claimants on behalf of the GMB union in claims in respect of the Working Time Directive.

The team also contains some of the most advanced and experienced specialist discrimination and whistleblowing practitioners in the country, who between them have successfully litigated some of the most high-profile claims particularly in the areas of race religion/belief and disability.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment: Employee & Trade Union - London (Firms)

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What the Team is Known For

Leigh Day has a market-leading employment team noted for its capabilities in representing group claimants. The team is praised for its representation of individuals against large businesses. Its lawyers are adept at handling all types of discrimination claims, particularly sex and disability. The team has been at the forefront of gig economy and equal pay claims.

Work Highlights

  • Leigh Day successfully represented a group of employees from Next in a national group equal pay claim. This was the first national group equal pay claim to succeed under the Equality Act 2010.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Chris Benson
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Chris Benson
Head of Employment: Employee & Trade Union
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Eminent Practitioners
Managing partner of Leigh Day Chris Benson is a leading claimant solicitor who is regularly called upon to handle major disputes involving trade union, equal pay and discrimination matters. He is experienced in cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Chris has done an amazing job.

Emma Satyamurti
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Emma Satyamurti
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Emma Satyamurti is frequently called upon to handle a variety of contentious employee-side work, including harassment, discrimination, whistle-blowing, unfair dismissal and equal pay matters. She offers experience acting in the Employment Tribunal and High Court. In addition to her role as co-head of the employment department, she also established Leigh Day's disability and allies committee.

Emma Satyamurti is incredibly focused on the case and how to get the best possible outcome; she's laser-focused on the detail.

Kiran Daurka
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Kiran Daurka
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Kiran Daurka draws praise for her representation of employees bringing equal pay, whistle-blowing and discrimination claims. She has experience acting on cases up to the Supreme Court. She also serves as chair of Leigh Day's BAME network.

Kiran Daurka is one of the most talented discrimination lawyers out there.

Kiran Daurka is a leader, she looks after everyone in her team. She's strategic, creative and fights hard.

Michael Newman
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Michael Newman
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Michael Newman is highly sought after in advising employees on a wide range of issues including discrimination and whistle-blowing. He is noted for his work on major worker status and equal pay disputes and conducts litigation all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Michael is absolutely a star, he's a very impressive solicitor.

Michael Newman is a superb lawyer with excellent communication skills.

Michael has been a pleasure to work with and is always so helpful with any questions we have.

Nigel MacKay
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Nigel MacKay
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Co-head of Leigh Day's employment department Nigel MacKay is well known for his expertise in high-profile employment cases including employment status and equal pay claims. He is also adept at handling discrimination and whistle-blowing matters.

Nigel MacKay is a huge champion of claimants and has excellent judgement in achieving amazing results.

Nigel MacKay's levels of care, professionalism and knowledge were second to none.

Nigel is a brilliant lawyer, he has his eye on the ball and is very committed to his clients.

Elizabeth George
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Elizabeth George
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Elizabeth George is a partner in Leigh Day's employment team who is well versed in advising on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment issues. She regularly assists clients with claims involving equal pay, discrimination, harassment and breach of contract.

Elizabeth is very good and I would highly recommend her.

Elizabeth is a trailblazer with focus.

She knows how to drive litigation, focusing on the most important matters.

She is very easy to work with and very professional and friendly.

Paula Lee
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Paula Lee
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Paula Lee leads the Leigh Day team which provides the Equal Pay Advisory Service on behalf of the Fawcett Society. She specialises in all aspects of UK employment law but particularly stands out for her equal pay work.

Paula Lee was an invaluable source of support.

Paula thinks through all the angles, she doesn't fall into traps of following the tried and tested route. I really love working with her. Paula is brave, creative and kind.

Paula makes a transformative difference. She knows everything there is to know on equal pay and genuinely cares about getting just outcomes for clients.

Annie Powell
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Annie Powell
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Up and Coming

Annie Powell is a partner at Leigh Day who assists employees with a range of employment disputes, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims. She has notable experience in employment status cases in the gig economy.

Annie Powell is a superb lawyer with a brilliant grasp of employment and equality law. She applies this knowledge forensically and is a great tactician as well as a very strong strategic mind.

Simon Cuthbert
Simon Cuthbert
Associates to watch

Simon Cuthbert is a senior associate at Leigh Day with notable experience in handling group litigation from the Employment Tribunal to the Supreme Court. He is particularly recognised for his work with equal pay claims being brought against household-name retailers.

Simon Cuthbert is an astute lawyer, he's always on top of the facts.

He has a great strategic sense and command of the material.

Simon is very good with client care and keeping clients updated.

Ranked Lawyers at
Leigh Day

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

London (Firms)

Employment: Employee & Trade Union

Chris Benson
E
Chris Benson
Head of Employment: Employee & Trade Union
E
Eminent Practitioners
Emma Satyamurti
1
Emma Satyamurti
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Band 1
Kiran Daurka
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Kiran Daurka
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Band 1
Michael Newman
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Michael Newman
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Band 1
Nigel MacKay
1
Nigel MacKay
1
Band 1
Elizabeth George
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Elizabeth George
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Band 2
Paula Lee
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Paula Lee
2
Band 2
Annie Powell
U
Annie Powell
U
Up and Coming
Simon Cuthbert
Simon Cuthbert
Associates to watch