About Joel
I deal with a range of disputes, often involving an international element. I achieve clients’ objectives collaboratively, through both litigation and alternative dispute resolution. I focus on achieving commercial outcomes, while ensuring the legal process is as seamless as possible.
Joel is an experienced litigator with extensive advocacy experience at all domestic levels, including multiple appearances in the Court of Appeal, and more recently, the Supreme Court.
His work in the professional negligence sector is principally claimant based, representing clients who have suffered a loss as a result of faulty accountancy, construction, financial services, insurance, legal, and tax advice.
He has also undertaken work in the disciplinary and regulatory fields, defending both barristers and solicitors.
Within the sports sector, Joel has acted for a range of clients in high profile matters, including individual athletes and their agents, clubs, associated brands and commercial partners, as well as regulatory issues, including within esports.
He has also helped clients and their dependants win multi-million-pound settlements, as a result of their falling victim to serious clinical negligence and other catastrophic injuries, including fatal accidents occurring both in and out of the workplace.
Joel Leigh - a great litigator who is very approachable and responsive. He is a calm and steady presence in any fraught litigation and a pleasure to deal with.
Experience
- Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank Plc v (2025): acted for the successful Appellant in the Supreme Court, establishing the 'Bright Line' test for undue influence when considering hybrid debts and applying the long established 'Etridge Protocol'.
- Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners & Ors [2025] EWHC 2364 (Comm): acted for one of the principal and successful defendants in the £1.4b fraud trial brought by the Danish Tax Authority, now proceeding to the Court of Appeal.
- Tindall v Thames Valley Police & Ors (2024): acted for the appellant to the Supreme Court in this Fatal Accident Act claim, establishing the existence of the 'Interference Exception' when determining public authority liability.
- Bishopsgate Contracting Solutions Ltd v O’Sullivan (2021): defeating multiple allegations of breach of directors’ duties under Companies Act 2006 and securing an order for indemnity costs.
- XRB v Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust (2021): achieving settlement of a £14.5m infant brain injury claim.
- Jamous & Anor v Mercouris (2019): concerning strike out, non-compliance with disclosure and the appointment or otherwise of litigation friends.
- Mulugeta Guadie Mengiste & Anor v Endowment Fund For The Rehabilitation of Tigray & Ors (2017): $100m jurisdictional dispute and professional negligence claim.
- Sheikh v Page and Others (2017): Securing multiple Civil Restraint Orders, leading to an 'all proceedings order', following vexatious conduct by a claimant asserting a £64m property development fraud.
- Menon and Others v Herefordshire Council (2015): collateral use disclosure, misfeasance in public office and wrongful arrest.
- Reg (Russell) & Others v Bar Standards Board (2014): test case concerning the adequacy of the Bar’s then disciplinary process.
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.
Memberships
- London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA)
- Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA)
- Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
- City of London Solicitors Company
- City of London Law Society (CLLS)
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.