The man behind the no-win, no-pay law firm fighting Al Fayed’s sexual abuse claims

“Our aim is to obtain legal redress for clients who would otherwise have no access to justice,” says Richard Meeran, partner at Leigh Day.

This mission has landed the company in battles against major corporations such as Volkswagen, Shell and British Airways, resulting in settlements worth millions of pounds.

Innovative financing for justice

Unlike traditional law firms, Leigh Day works according to the well-known personal injury model used by so many American law firms: the ‘no win, no fee’ model used in most cases. This allows them to tackle high-risk, high-reward cases that have the potential to change industry standards.

To finance these expensive efforts, the company employs a unique strategy of partnering with specialized hedge funds that provide upfront capital in exchange for a percentage of profits.

The company also uses smaller personal injury claims to help fund its larger, riskier international legal claims.

This approach has enabled Leigh Day to tackle landmark cases such as the ongoing equal pay disputes against major UK retailers, which could result in hundreds of millions in payouts to claimants.

Controversy and criticism

Leigh Day’s aggressive tactics have not been without controversy. The company has faced criticism over its handling of cases in which Iraqi prisoners were allegedly abused by British forces. Although the incident was cleared of wrongdoing by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, emphasis was placed on the high stakes of the company’s work, which deals with powerful entities.

Critics have accused Leigh Day of making standard ‘ambulance chase’ claims, an accusation the company vehemently denies.

“Our work serves as a deterrent against future corporate misconduct,” Meeran said The times in its sturdy profile, highlighting the wider social impact of their business.

The Al Fayed road ahead



As Leigh Day continues to face new challenges, including the recent allegations against Harrods and its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, the company shows no signs of slowing down.

The company, in collaboration with U.S. law firm Motley Rice, is investigating potential legal action on behalf of individuals who allege they suffered human trafficking, rape, serious sexual assault, psychological abuse and exploitation while employed at Harrods, the office said.

The attorneys allege that the famed store essentially became a vehicle for human trafficking, with young women ostensibly recruited into leadership positions, only to be subjected to long-term sexual exploitation and abuse.



Among the legal team handling the claim is human rights lawyer Phillippa Kaufmann KC (pictured) of Matrix Chambers, regarded as one of the country’s leading human rights lawyers.

Systemic failure in sexual abuse claims

Leigh Day is also investigating the possibility of claims against the Metropolitan Police by survivors who reported their abuse but felt insufficient action had been taken.

This aspect of the investigation raises questions about the broader systemic failures that may have allowed the alleged abuse to continue unchecked for years, raising equally serious and wide-ranging problems.

Although the claims – potentially more than seventy – are hampered by limitation period issues, the legal strategy appears to focus on holding Harrods liable as an institution, rather than pursuing claims directly against Al Fayed’s estate, with the corporate responsibility and vicarious liability are recognized. of Harrods for the actions of the former owner and the alleged systemic failings within the organization.

It is also likely that lawyers will argue that the courts should not apply the standard time limits due to the exceptional circumstances of the case and the ongoing impact on surviving relatives.

Martyn Day, aged 67, remains passionate about his work: “For me it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives and holding the powerful to account.”

Dealing with another high-profile case seems to be all part of the Leigh Day workday.

Challenges and rewards are balanced to provide a unique law firm in the UK legal landscape with a business model that delivers rewards for the lawyers and, more importantly, for the victims of corporate malpractice.