The Top 20 Legal Battles of 2025: A Look at the Leading Cases and Lawyers
In 2025, the legal landscape is dominated by a slate of high-stakes disputes that promise to reshape sectors from infrastructure to public procurement, and to test the limits of regulatory frameworks. The Lawyer’s annual “Top 20 Cases of 2025” provides a roadmap of the year’s most consequential litigation. Below, we explore some of these landmark cases and the lawyers driving them — the people to watch in this year of mega-disputes.
1. Pogust Goodhead vs. BHP
- Case: Victory for Pogust Goodhead as BHP is held liable for the Mariana Dam collapse. (thelawyer.com)
- Lawyers: Tom Goodhead (Pogust Goodhead) leads for the claimants, representing nearly 640,000 victims in what is described as possibly the largest class action in the English courts. (Financial Times)
- Why It Matters: The case is not only emotionally powerful but has major implications for corporate accountability, cross-border litigation, and environmental justice.
2. Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) v Al Rajaan & Others
- Case: A gargantuan £1.2 billion fraud claim, with allegations of corruption tied to Kuwait’s public pension fund and its former director general. (Twenty Essex)
- Lawyers:
- Claimant (PIFSS): Anna Dilnot KC, Mark Belshaw, and Joshua Kimblin (Essex Court) (Essex Court Chambers)
- Defendants: For Man Group and related entities: Joe Smouha KC, James Collins KC, Felix Wardle, Freddie Onslow (Essex Court). (Essex Court Chambers)
- Why It Matters: The case probes deep issues of international bribery, fiduciary duty, and governance. Its trial is listed to last a full 12 months. (Twenty Essex)
3. Pan-NOx Emissions Group Litigation (“Dieselgate”)
- Case: One of the largest group litigations in the UK, with over 1.2 million claimants asserting more than £6 billion in alleged damages from diesel emissions. (39essex.com)
- Lawyers:
- For the Peugeot Citroën defendants: John Taylor KC, James Cutress KC, Samuel Ritchie, and Christopher Monaghan (Cleary Gottlieb). (Fountain Court Chambers)
- For Fiat Chrysler: Simon Atrill KC, Sam Hussaini (Cleary Gottlieb). (Fountain Court Chambers)
- For Vauxhall: Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC (Cleary Gottlieb). (Fountain Court Chambers)
- Why It Matters: Diesel emissions remain a hot-button regulatory and public health issue. This litigation could influence how automotive giants respond to environmental and consumer liability.
4. One Hyde Park v Laing O’Rourke Construction South
- Case: A major construction dispute over alleged defects in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) works at the luxury One Hyde Park development. (Atkin Chambers)
- Lawyers:
- Dominique Rawley KC and Katie Powell act for Laing O’Rourke. (Atkin Chambers)
- The lawyer team is backed by Pinsent Masons. (Atkin Chambers)
- Why It Matters: The case raises important questions about damage recoverability, remediation offers, and how residential property losses are calculated — especially in high-end real estate.
5. The New Lottery Company Ltd & Northern & Shell v Gambling Commission
- Case: A challenge to the UK Gambling Commission following a contentious procurement process for the national lottery operator. (Twenty Essex)
- Lawyers:
- Claimants (TNLC & Northern & Shell): BCLP is acting for them. (bclplaw.com)
- Defendant (Gambling Commission): Landmark Chambers’ James Neill and Barney McCay counsel the Commission. (Landmark Chambers)
- Other Counsel: Rose Grogan (39 Essex Chambers) is also instructed on the case. (39essex.com)
- Why It Matters: With nearly £8 billion at stake in the procurement contract, this case combines public law, procurement rules, and high finance.
Other Notable Figures in the Top 20
Beyond these marquee disputes, several other barristers and law firms feature repeatedly across the list:
- Quinn Emanuel: The firm is named in five of the Top 20 Cases, according to their own announcements — illustrating their heavyweight role in commercial disputes. (quinnemanuel.com)
- 39 Essex Chambers: Barristers from this set appear in three cases. (39essex.com)
- Landmark Chambers: Notable counsel such as James Neill and Barney McCay are recognized for their role in the lottery procurement case. (Landmark Chambers)
- Capital Law: Also featured for their work in one of the top disputes. (Capital Law)
Trends Reflected by the Top 20
Looking across the list of top cases in 2025, a few broader trends emerge:
- Complex, Cross-Border Litigation: Many of the top disputes involve international dimensions — from Kuwaiti public funds to multinational corporations.
- Environmental & Regulatory Risk: Litigation tied to emissions (Dieselgate) and major disasters (Mariana Dam) underscores increasing accountability for environmental harm.
- Public Procurement Scrutiny: As governments outsource more, procurement litigation is becoming more lucrative and legally sophisticated.
- High-Value Commercial Disputes: From construction defects to auditor negligence (e.g., the NMC Health v Ernst & Young case) — the potential financial stakes are massive.
Why These Lawyers Matter
- Strategic Counsel: The KC (King’s Counsel) and powerhouse firms involved are not just litigating — they’re shaping how entire industries might be regulated, held accountable, or restructured.
- Reputational Impact: Being part of a “Top 20 Case” elevates the profiles of chambers, law firms, and individual barristers: for clients, courts, and the market, these names become associated with high-skill, high-stakes advocacy.
- Influence on Legal Precedents: The judgments in many of these cases could set lasting precedents in procurement law, environmental law, construction liability, and class-action mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Top 20 Cases of 2025 reflect an evolving legal battleground: governments, corporations, and individuals are clashing over billions, in disputes that carry profound social, environmental, and economic implications. The lawyers leading these fights aren’t just litigators — they’re architects of legal change. From Pogust Goodhead’s class action on the Mariana Dam to Pinsent Masons’ construction defense in London’s most luxurious real estate, 2025 promises to be a defining year in global litigation…