One of the longest serving and highest profile law firm leaders in the country is stepping down 40 years since founding the business.
Senior partner Martyn Day, 70, will next year step back from the day-to-day running of national firm Leigh Day – although he will remain involved to work on certain claims.
Five equity partners have been tasked with taking the firm forward, led by senior partner Nigel Mackay, managing partner Jamie Beagent and deputy managing partner Clare Campbell.
Day founded Leigh Day in London in 1987 with the now-retired Sarah Leigh and the firm became well known for its human rights work and claims against corporations and government. Notable cases include the Mau Mau torture claims, and claims against companies including BP, Shell, Trafigura, Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Cape plc.
Day came to national attention for the firm’s work representing Iraqi civilians in claims against the Ministry of Defence. Hundreds of claims were settled but the work attracted media and political criticism. Day and two colleagues were cleared of allegations of misconduct by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2017 in relation to the handling of these claims. The senior partner later suggested the prosecution by the Solicitors Regulation Authority had been part of a ‘bigger picture of a political game’ aimed at curbing human rights defenders.
Announcing today he would step down in late 2027, Day said his 40-year milestone had made him reflect on his position within the firm.
‘When I set up Leigh Day with Sarah all those years ago I wanted a firm where I could have felt happy to work here as a lawyer at any level. I wanted a firm where members could stand tall when talking about the firm’s work to family and friends.
‘I wanted a firm where quality lawyers and support staff would come to work here, feeling that this is their natural home within the legal world we operate in. I am proud to have achieved that goal.’
In recent years, Leigh Day has led group claims against car manufacturers in the so-called ‘dieselgate’ case, as well as employment claims against some of the largest retailers in the country.
The firm now has main offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Cardiff, with satellite bases in Birmingham, Bristol, Plymouth, Hereford, Newcastle, and Nottingham.
Mackay, 48, moves from the role of Leigh Day joint head of employment and will continue his casework maintaining his emphasis on employment group claims. He has been at Leigh Day since 2012. He said: ‘It is a true honour to succeed Martyn Day in the role of senior partner of Leigh Day. I am hugely proud of our firm, and the transformative work we do for our clients, helping them achieve justice and hold powerful interests to account.
‘It is also an immense privilege to work alongside such talented and committed colleagues, who share a common passion for using the law to improve the lives of our clients and bring about positive change.’
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