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Incredibly easy to engage with, he always delivers for his clients, and his personality enables him to steer his clients through the enormous stress of litigation with aplomb.

Legal 500 2024
About

Joel Leigh specialises in complex commercial disputes spanning civil fraud, directors and officers, insurance, professional negligence and sports law. These frequently include an international element. He also undertakes high-value clinical negligence and fatal accident claims.

Joel is a solicitor with over 30 years' experience handling disputes across a number of core industry sectors. He is also a partner.

His caseload encompasses banking, construction, disciplinary, fiduciary duties, financial services, insurance, mining, misfeasance in public office, pharmaceuticals, partnership, property and trade finance.

Joel's work in the professional negligence sector is principally claimant based, focusing on faulty accountancy, finance advisory, architecture, insurance, surveying and legal advice.

Conversely, his work in the disciplinary field is defendant focused, having represented barristers, solicitors and other professionals.

Within the sports sector, Joel acts for a diverse range of high-profile clients including individual athletes and their agents, clubs, associated brands and commercial partners, as well as esports.

Joel is an experienced trial solicitor undertaking work across a wide range of legal forums, from a variety of tribunals through to the Administrative, Appeal and Supreme Courts.

Finally, he helps numerous clients and their dependants win multi-million pound settlements, as a result of falling victim to serious clinical negligence and other catastrophic injuries, including fatal accidents both in and out of the workplace.

Joel always aims to achieve his client's objective, whether through litigation or a form of alternative dispute resolution. Whilst he tries to resolve disputes quickly for clients, where this isn't possible, Joel works efficiently and economically to achieve the best possible outcome.

He was an early adopter of conditional and alternative fee agreements. As a result he has a thorough understanding of third party funding and litigation insurance, working with clients to make the legal process as easy and seamless as possible.

Recent work

  • Tindall v Thames Valley Police & Ors (2022) - Public authority liability/civil operations - presently en route  to the Supreme Court.
  • Bishopsgate Contracting Solutions Ltd v O’Sullivan (2021) - rebutting allegations of multiple breaches of duty under Sections 172 and 174 Companies Act 2006 and securing indemnity costs.
  • XRB v Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust (2021) - capitalised settlement of £14.5m for complex infant brain injury claim.
  • Jamous & Anor v Mercouris (2019) - strike out addressing issues of non-compliance with disclosure/litigation friends/totally without merit.
  • Mulugeta Guadie Mengiste & Anor v Endowment Fund For The Rehabilitation of Tigray & Ors (2017) - jurisdiction for Ethiopian civil fraud dispute in excess of $100m and resultant professional negligence claim.
  • Sheikh v Page and Others (2017)  - Civil Restraint Order/vexatious conduct including allegations of fraud concerning a £64m property development.
  • Menon and Others v Herefordshire Council (2015) - duty to disclose/misfeasance in public office/wrongful arrest.
  • Reg (Russell) & Others v Bar Standards Board (2014) - adequacy of the Bar’s disciplinary process.

Accolades

  • "Joel Leigh is a superb litigator and an outstanding and balanced lawyer. He has built an impressive specialism in sports disputes, acting for well known professional and amateur sports people." Legal 500 UK 2024
  • "Joel Leigh is a star individual in this field. He has impressive knowledge of all commercial-related sports issues, including the complex insolvency issues that so often arise in this field." Legal 500 UK 2024 
  • "He is a seasoned litigator, who is second to none on client care and legal acumen. Joel, in turn, surrounds himself with an excellent team who are always ready to help." Legal 500 UK 2024
  • "Joel Leigh is extremely practical, strategic, and personable. His overall approach, including to negotiations, is highly effective at delivering results for his clients." Legal 500 UK 2024
  • "Joel Leigh is a genuinely exceptional partner. His legal skills, client care and work ethic are second to none – and he, in turn, has trained a team of exceptional litigators." Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: mid-market, Legal 500 2023
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Dispute resolution: Professional discipline, Legal 500 2023
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, TMT (technology, media and telecoms): Sport, Legal 500 2023
  • ''Joel Leigh – genuinely very impressive. He is incredibly committed, and, despite his seniority, is very hands on to make sure the clients receive exceptional service. Particularly good in commercial litigation that has a sports law or insolvency focus, but a great all-rounder too.'' Legal 500 2023
  • ''Joel Leigh – very confident, client friendly and good tactical head.'' Legal 500 2023
  • ''Joel Leigh is a brilliant litigator who is unafraid to leverage the threat of litigation in a sports dispute. Always right on the law.'' Legal 500 2023
  • ''Joel Leigh is dedicated, hands on partner who knows more about sports law (in particular, sports-related insolvency) work than any solicitor I know.'' Legal 500 2023
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market, Legal 500 2022
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Professional Discipline, Legal 500 2022
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Insurance: Personal Injury: Claimant, Legal 500 2022
  • "Joel Leigh combines a sound grasp of the law with an exceptional knowledge of the High Court. His tactical judgement was consistently outstanding and unfailingly right." Legal 500 2022

Did you know

Joel is the editor and motoring correspondent for City Solicitor, the City of London Solicitors Company and Law Society magazine. Watch out, Jeremy Clarkson.

London Bridge and The Shard at dusk.

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