Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant: Industrial Disease
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7650 1200About
Provided by Leigh Day
Leigh Day's Asbestos & Industrial Disease Department is regarded as the foremost elite team in the UK fighting for justice on behalf of clients with industrial and asbestos diseases against employers and manufacturers.
The nation-wide team has represented individuals, families and support groups at numerous trials which have set precedents on liability and quantum, such as the 2018 Supreme Court win in Dryden & Ors v Johnson Matthey which redefined personal injury law when three workers won damages against a chemical company.
Dan Easton, an expert on both asbestos related illness and catastrophic injuries, is joint head of the team alongside fellow partner Harminder Bains, whose own father died of the asbestos related cancer Mesothelioma.
Harminder is a tireless campaigner and represents the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK on landmark litigation which has had far-reaching consequences for UK and international victims of asbestos disease.
In July 2019 Leigh Day successfully represented the Forum in persuading the Supreme Court to order the global asbestos manufacturing company, Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd, to hand over its documents which had been disclosed in an earlier case to which the Forum was not a party. This judgment determined how much of the written material placed before the court in a civil action should be available to non-parties.
Chambers Review
Leigh Day has a highly respected industrial disease practice offering first-rate representation to claimants suffering from asbestos-related diseases. The team features prominently in headline disease cases and retains strong links to support groups and non-profits catering for those with mesothelioma, and is also well-versed in handling large international group claims, particularly those concerning claimants in developing countries. The firm boasts an extensive national platform, with offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, and is highly experienced in taking cases to the Court of Appeal and in making judicial review challenges.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Leigh Day is an outstanding firm with great depth and really prominent practitioners."
"The depth of the team's experience marks Leigh Day out as a go-to asbestos litigation firm. It is a firm that puts clients first and is unafraid to pursue the most challenging of cases."
"Leigh Day is head and shoulders the best firm for this kind of work. They have the cutting edge on developing questions in this space."
"They would take the time to explain things to me until they were sure I understood. I always felt in capable hands."
"They were always ready to help with any questions we had, which made a very stressful time a little easier and kept us updated."
"Leigh Day is an outstanding firm with great depth and really prominent practitioners."
"The depth of the team's experience marks Leigh Day out as a go-to asbestos litigation firm. It is a firm that puts clients first and is unafraid to pursue the most challenging of cases."
"Leigh Day is head and shoulders the best firm for this kind of work. They have the cutting edge on developing questions in this space."
"They would take the time to explain things to me until they were sure I understood. I always felt in capable hands."
"They were always ready to help with any questions we had, which made a very stressful time a little easier and kept us updated."
Notable Practitioners
Daniel Easton is best known for his handling of complex and high-value catastrophic injury and asbestos disease-related claims. He is noted for his expertise in working on high-value, cross-border claims.
"Daniel is so detailed, knowledgeable and extremely fearless due to his experience."
"Daniel is easy to communicate with and strives to achieve the very best results for his client in the shortest time possible."
"Dan is highly respected and the go-to partner on complex disease issues."
Harminder Bains fields extensive experience in taking catastrophic injury and asbestos-related claims to trial, including up to the Supreme Court. She frequently represents claimants from industrial backgrounds as well as teachers.
"She is tenacious and is not afraid to take on difficult cases."
"Harminder is really impressive and an outstanding advocate for disease victims."
"She is relentless in her pursuit of justice and fearless in speaking truth to power - no other lawyer has championed the cause of asbestos victims so effectively."
"Harminder is an outstanding leader in the field and takes on issues others would not attempt."
Kevin Johnson stands out for his experience in handling occupational disease claims and asbestos-related disease cases. He has represented claimants exposed to asbestos in all manner of industry sectors. He is noted for his expertise in cross-border claims.
"He is a really dynamic and impressive individual who is committed to his clients."
"Kevin's communication is prompt and clear, and his knowledge of asbestos disease litigation cannot be bettered."
Patrick Walsh comes recommended for his extensive experience handling asbestos-related claims, including those involving mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening.
"Patrick is very experienced and effective."
"He is a very accomplished lawyer who is good at what he does."
Vijay Ganapathy is well-known for his advice on asbestos-related matters, especially those concerning mesothelioma. He is also skilled in representing clients in multi-jurisdictional matters.
"He is a very good and technical lawyer who is well-known in the market."
"Vijay is careful, efficient and caring to clients."
Ewan Tant specialises in asbestos-related disease claims, including those relating to secondary exposure and claims with multi-jurisdictional aspects.
"He has an outstanding manner with people and is easy to get along with."
"Ewan is very clever and astute."
"He is brilliant - he has thought of everything, knows what he is doing and knows how a case should be run."
Helen Ashton is noted for her strong experience in handling complex mesothelioma cases. She leads the firm's asbestos team in the North.
"Helen is very experienced and efficient."
"Helen is brilliant. She is so knowledgeable and easy to talk to, patient and informative, and always has time to answer any questions we have."
"Helen is a delight to work with. She is calm, caring and effective."
Joanne Candlish specialises in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung cancer claims.
Ranked Lawyers at
Leigh Day
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Leigh Day
Head of Department
Head of Department
Helen Ashton
Steven Dickens