UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)
Ranked Individuals
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.
Provided by Chambers
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.
Provided by Chambers
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.
Provided by Chambers
Leigh Day not only have expertise in employment law, they also have a real desire to get close to the claimants and empower them with the knowledge around the rights they are being unlawfully denied.
Leigh Day have superb knowledge and technical expertise with an ability to adapt tactics as needed whilst keeping a strategic approach at all times.
Leigh Day's ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is very strong. I could not fault their handling of my case.
Provided by Chambers
Chris has done an amazing job.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Head of Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Employment: Employee & Trade Union
Provided by Leigh Day
Michael Newman
View profile of Michael NewmanElizabeth George
View profile of Elizabeth GeorgeKiran Daurka
View profile of Kiran DaurkaPaula Lee
View profile of Paula LeeSimon Cuthbert
View profile of Simon CuthbertNigel MacKay
View profile of Nigel MacKayEmma Satyamurti
View profile of Emma SatyamurtiAnnie Powell
View profile of Annie Powell
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