Melanie Jacques

Partner Leigh Day

Melanie Jacques is a Partner at Leigh Day solicitors, specialising in international human rights claims and corporate liability cases. She has represented individuals and communities across the world in cases relating to human rights abuses, unlawful detention, environmental damage and parent company liability. She has extensive experience of complex group actions and cross-border disputes involving jurisdictional issues. 
In recent years, Melanie has developed a practice specialising in Gender-Based Violence issues in the agri-business industry. She has successfully represented tea plantation workers in several claims for compensation arising out of serious allegations of sexual assaults and/or sexual harassment sustained in the course of their employment on plantations owned by British companies. A 2021 claim by Malawian tea and nut workers resulted in an innovative settlement, which included compensation for the claimants and a range of restorative justice measures, designed to improve the safety and security of female employees and improve conditions for women in the wider community.