1COR welcomes Matthew Leitch & Leo Kirby as new tenants - Oct 2025
Leo joined chambers as a tenant in October 2025 after completing pupillage. During pupillage, he was supervised by Natasha Barnes, Matthew Hill, Rachel Marcus and Shahram Shargy, and Gideon Barth. He gained experience in public law, clinical negligence, inquiries, inquests, personal injury, human rights, tax, and immigration law.
During pupillage, Leo undertook a secondment at a leading clinical negligence firm. He also undertook pro-bono work for Advocate.
Before coming to the Bar, Leo worked in the Cabinet Office, where he coordinated the UK government’s primary legislative programme into and through Parliament. At Stanford University, Leo worked as Graduate Research Assistant to Professor Larry Diamond, where he researched the role and effect of liberal democratic institutions around the world. Leo also worked as a case writer for Professor Francis Fukuyama, travelling to Bangladesh to produce a case study for use in teaching effective policymaking.
Leo enjoys a diverse practice and accepts instructions across the breadth of chambers’ areas of practice. Away from the Bar, Leo spends his time running, swimming and hiking.
Public Law and Human RightsLeo has been instructed in his own right in judicial reviews brought by claimants. He has had particular success in healthcare-related JRs against regulatory bodies.
During his pupillage he assisted members in all stages of judicial review in cases spanning national security, healthcare, and immigration.
In his previous civil service role, Leo advised on parliamentary programme of Bills across both Houses. He can advise on the legislative process, parliamentary procedure, and devolution.
Leo accepts instructions in all areas of public and administrative law as well as human rights. He is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘Junior Junior’ Panel.
Leo accepts instructions in all types of clinical negligence cases.
Leo has undertaken a secondment at a leading claimant clinical negligence firm. While there he advised on catastrophic birth injury and brain damage cases at all stages of claim.
During his pupillage, Leo worked on a wide range of clinical negligence matters for both claimants and defendants. He has prepared pleadings and drafted advices on liability, quantum and costs.
Leo has a particular interest in issues of anonymity. He has written on this topic in the Quarterly Medical Law Review, here and here.
During his pupillage Leo completed pleadings and Advices in tax cases. He is keen to expand his experience in this area of practice.
Leo has experience of working on major public inquiries.
Leo has been instructed to assist a core participant in relation to the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
During his pupillage Leo assisted his supervisors in relation to the Thirlwall (Lucy Letby) Inquiry on behalf of the families.
Matthew Leitch and Leo Kirby complete Advocate’s Pupil Pledge 2025 - Jul 2025