People

Abigail Leigh

Barrister

aleigh@kbgchambers.co.uk

Call year | 2022

Practice overview

After successfully completing pupillage at KBG Chambers in Family & Civil Law, Abigail became a tenant in January 2025. She takes instructions in all matters of Family & Civil Law.

Abigail is currently an Assistant Lecturer at the University of the West of England, part-time, where she lectures on the Bar Training Course. She is invested in the future-generation of barristers and mentors students across the south west. She is regularly invited to speak to students about a career at the Bar.

Before joining Chambers as a pupil, Abigail was an Assistant Support Lecturer for the University of the West of England lecturing on a variety of areas of law including legal method and legal rules, crime, employment, commercial, family, EU, and ADR. She also lectured on the Professional Skills Negotiation Course for trainee solicitors.

Abigail volunteered from 2019-2023 for North Bristol Advice Centre, specialising in Personal Independent Payment appeals. All cases she represented were successfully appealed. Her client rapport was commended.

In 2023, she completed her dissertation, ‘A review of the current UK surrogacy laws, Law Commission recommendations, and suggestions for reform’, and received a distinction. It has been published in Child and Family Law Quarterly and can be viewed via Lexis+ https://plus.lexis.com/api/permalink/ce5dae01-0e16-4d0f-8a2f-e0023bfbfc95/?context=1001073

Expertise

Public Law

Abigail regularly acts for Local Authorities, parents and guardians at all stages of care proceedings. This includes, case management hearings, IRH’s, final hearings, contested removals and matters involving issues of mental health, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Abigail has represented a Local Authority to obtain injunctive orders in the High Court and her client care is regularly commended.

Private Law

Abigail represents parents and r16.4 guardians in all stages of private law proceedings. She is regularly instructed on complex cases that include a quasi-public element. Abigail has represented clients in fact-finds, and complex multi-day final hearings in matters involving relocation, re-introduction of contact and residence disputes. This includes matters of serious domestic violence and allegations of sexual abuse of a child.

Matrimonial Finance

Abigail is instructed on matters at all stages of finance proceedings. She is regularly instructed at FDR’s where matters often settle with a consent order. She has been instructed on complex matters including cryptocurrency, business valuations, pensions and complex family dynamics.

Injunctions

Abigail is regularly instructed on all types of injunctions, including occupation orders and non-molestation orders for Applicants and Respondents. Issues will often include serious domestic abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse.

Civil Law

Abigail is instructed on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in:
o Small Claims Trials
o Fast Track Trials
o Possession Hearings
o Bankruptcy Hearings
o MOJ Stage 3Hearings
o Infant Settlements
o Applications under the Civil Procedure Rules

Abigail is instructed in all types of Civil Law including, Landlord & Tenant, Personal Injury, and Road Traffic Accidents.

Qualifications

LLM (integrated masters with BTC) – University of the West of England – Distinction (2023)
BTC – University of the West of England – Outstanding (2022)
ADR ODR International Accredited Civil/Commercial Mediator (2022)
LLB (Hons) – University of the West of England – First Class Honours (2021)
Western Circuit Advocacy Award (2022)
Named Gray’s Inn Bar Course Scholarship – Jean Southworth Scholarship (2021)
UWE Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence (2018 & 2019)
UWE Bristol Futures Award (2020)