Victoria Leigh

Partner

About Victoria

Victoria is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She advises clients on the full range of risk management issues and commercial disputes, both nationally and internationally, with particular expertise in corporate and commercial trading disputes, IT and data breach issues, pensions and financial services industry disputes, and regulatory investigations.

Victoria is recommended in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories and following outstanding client feedback, was named as a star lawyer in the Thompson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers global database, where it was noted that she is “really good at choreographing complex litigation and bringing in experts and barrister support where needed. She’s also good at relationship building.” Chambers 2022 states: “She is commercially practical, client orientated and technically expert.”

Victoria leads the Gender Diversity Resource Group as part of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programme and joined the Northern Power Women’s Power List in 2020.

Experience

  • Obtaining injunctive relief against a client's former employee for theft of confidential information and liaising with the ICO.
  • Assisting a chemical company resolve a dispute with a contractor over an aborted repair project at a water plant.
  • Advising a chemical company on a dispute over obligations under a supply agreement, settling on favourable terms prior to trial.
  • Advising a manufacturer on a ransomware attack.
  • Acted for a leading software supplier to the insurance industry on numerous claims by broker customers for loss of business and reputational damage arising from a data breach.
  • Acting for a large chemical company in a complex dispute over termination of an IT outsourcing agreement.
  • Acting for a software company in a dispute with a customer over unlawful diversion of business, including issues in relation to software audits, potential breaches of the Computer Misuse Act and applications for injunctive relief.
  • Advising pension scheme trustees and employers and IFAs in regulatory investigations conducted by The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, particularly in the first exercise of certain regulatory powers.
  • Successfully defending a US$1.5 million claim for wages and expenses by a former employee of a multinational in the oil and gas sector, who was working outside the jurisdiction.
  • Defending the buyer of a personal protection equipment supplier in the oil and gas sector in a claim for breach of contract in relation to earn-out provisions of a share sale agreement.
  • Acting for a large company in a warranty claim against the vendor for fraudulent inflation of profits.
  • Acting for a US-based corporation in successfully defending a £1 million claim under the Commercial Agents Regulations.
  • Advising several sponsoring employers and trustees of pension schemes on professional negligence claims against former advisers.
  • Acting for the majority shareholders and directors in a shareholder dispute in a care home business.

Credentials

Education
  • College of Law, Guildford, L.P.C., 1994
  • Durham University, LL.B., (Horsfall Scholar)
Admissions
  • England and Wales, 1997
Memberships & Affiliations
  • Member of the Association of Pension Lawyers “Pensions Litigation Committee”
  • Manchester Law Society Civil Litigation Committee
  • Pensions Litigation Court User Committee

Recognitions

  • Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK testimonials include:

    • “Victoria is a true business partner and is always there when you need her. She truly understands how to provide pragmatic legal support.”

    • “Victoria is highly experienced in UK pension regulation and knowledgeable in the manner in which the Pension Regulator acts.”

    • “I was extremely pleased with Victoria’s performance in supporting me. She replied to any enquiry very quickly and accurately.”

  • Recommended in Chambers UK 2026 for Litigation, North West

  • Recommended in Chambers UK 2026 for Pensions Litigation, UK-wide

  • Recommended in Legal 500 UK 2022 for Pensions; Dispute Resolution litigation

  • Recommended in Legal 500 UK 2022 for Commercial Litigation: Manchester

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2023 – Litigation

  • Northern Power Women – Power List 2020

  • Thompson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers

Expertise

Services
Litigation Pensions International Dispute Resolution Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets
Industries
Chemicals Healthcare