Industry Sector Expertise
Leanne is a qualified Manx Advocate and Commissioner for Oaths (having previously practiced as a solicitor in Northern Ireland). Leanne is also a qualified Data Protection Practitioner
Leanne specialises in commercial disputes, company, fiduciary obligations and employment related litigation. Leanne has significant experience advising in high value claims regarding allegations of fraudulent breaches of directors’ duties and complex e-disclosure process management. Injunctions and Norwich Pharmacal applications are a frequent feature of the multi-dimensional matters that Leanne handles.
Leanne has particular experience advising on all aspects of employment, equality and industrial relations law. Leanne advises clients in relation to workplace investigations, confidentiality, restrictive covenants, social media issues as well as related privacy issues.
She is expert in the employment law issues that arise from mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and redundancy situations.
Leanne represents a number of island based Unions and recently advised a Teachers’ Union on matters concerning industrial action short of strike.
Leanne provides counsel on all matters arising out of the employer-employee relationship and represents employers in contentious employment law disputes before the Equality and Employment Tribunal and the Isle of Man High Court, including injunction proceedings.
Leanne provides training in the following areas:
• Equality Law
• Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
• Legal Professional Privilege
• Data Protection
Leanne is available to prepare and deliver bespoke in-house training, as required.
Work Highlights
Notable cases in which Leanne has been involved include:
Representing Origo Partners PLC (value c. £100 million) against a claim by one of its shareholders, Secure Nominees Limited, seeking to wind up the company on just and equitable grounds and on the grounds that the affairs of the company had been, were being, or were likely to be conducted in a manner oppressive or unfairly prejudicial to such member in his capacity as a member.
Acting as lead Manx counsel on a claim related to allegations of fraudulent breaches of directors’ duties in the context of a multi-million pound property development.
Obtaining a Freezing Order against Montpelier (Trust and Corporate) Services Limited as trustee of The Dr Steve Smith Discretionary Settlement.
Highlights Holdings v SMP Partners & Otrs: Norwich Pharmacal proceedings; DQ represent SMP Partners in the litigation.
Advising a leading, multi-jurisdictional TCSP as regards breaches of contract and fiduciary duties by a former director with litigation before the EET and High Court.
RL360 Services v Smith & otrs: Representing Manx Industrial Relations Service as intervenor in proceedings before the High Court to determine a point of law as regards sections 156 and 164 of the Employment Act 2006.
Defending the estate of one of the non-executive directors of Heather Capital Limited in respect of claims against his personal estate for c. £250 million;
Advising the Department of Health and Social Care in respect of a number of breaches of confidentiality by a former employee and successfully obtaining injunctive relief against further disclosure (DOH v Al-Hiwidi, 26 October 2011);
Inquest re MJD (24 February to 19 March 2014); Jury inquest into a death in detention held over 3 weeks with some 70 witnesses; Article 2 ECHR engaged. Jury found accidental death contributed to by neglect. Detailed evidential analysis of Police Forensic Medical Examiner processes, transfer of medical information from police custody to prison health care, internal prison systems as to health care and emergency resuscitation procedures. Narrative verdict and fifteen Rule 34 recommendations made by Coroner of Inquests;
Representing the estate of Mr Christopher Scott in a high value clinical negligence claim against the Department of Health and Social Care following the delayed diagnosis of a malignant melanoma.
Assisting Dawn Jones in the matter of the Inquest into the death of James McLean. DQ represented a Scottish Hospital Trust involved with the proceedings.
Notable publications to which Leanne has contributed include:
‘The International Comparative Legal Guide To: Employment & Labour Law’, published by Global Legal Group. Leanne led DQ’s contribution in the 2017-2019 editions of this publication.
