People
Craig Leigh
Founder and Managing Director
Craig is a dual-qualified lawyer who holds a current practising certificate from both the Bar Council/ Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Craig was called to the Bar of England and Wales in July 2009 by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. He was admitted to the roll and was granted higher rights of audience in civil proceedings in July 2016.
During the early part of his career, Craig developed a specialist practice in costs and civil litigation funding which meant he was predominantly engaged in drafting pleadings for use in detailed assessment proceedings and providing representation at all manner of hearings concerning the assessment of costs. These ranged from short hearings listed to deal with straightforward procedural matters to multi-day detailed assessment hearings involving complex technical challenges to bills worth in excess of £500,000. In recent years, whilst Craig has maintained a keen interest in costs, he has now developed a more wide-ranging common law practice.
As well as overseeing business operations, Craig’s practice requires him to attend hearings of all types including interim applications, case management conferences, costs and case management conferences, pre-trial reviews, disposal hearings and trials. When not attending court, Craig is regularly instructed to draft pleadings and provide advice on liability and quantum, as well as in relation to discrete issues that arise, both in writing and in conference.
Craig’s core practice areas are costs and civil litigation funding, consumer credit and finance, professional negligence and residential landlord and tenant. However, his transferrable skills and his ability to quickly assimilate new information means he is able to offer his services across a wider range of civil and commercial practice areas.
Craig is approachable, diligent, and adept in providing solutions to legal problems faced by his clients. When he is not in work, Craig enjoys attending the gym, watching his beloved Liverpool FC, and spending time with friends and family.
Stenio Aladim
Legal Counsel
2009 marked the beginning of Stenio’s legal career, when he passed the National Examination of the Brazilian Bar (“the OAB”). Stenio served as the Strategic Director of a renowned Brazilian law firm during his professional tenure in Brazil. In this capacity, he oversaw intricate civil litigation cases involving healthcare organisations, telecommunications, food, and textile companies, among others.
Stenio is additionally a Portuguese-qualified European lawyer, and the SRA granted him registration as a foreign lawyer in February 2021. Stenio is duly authorised to provide advice on English and Welsh law and to practise European, Portuguese, and Brazilian law in England and Wales in his capacity as a Registered Foreign Lawyer regulated by the SRA.
Stenio, who recently passed the Bar Transfer Test and was admitted to the Bar in July 2023 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, has successfully petitioned the Bar Standards Board for a reduction in the pupillage requirement; thus, upon successful completion of a shortened three-month practising pupillage, he will be granted authorisation to practise as a barrister.
He is employed by 8PP to aid clients in the litigation process through the provision of advocacy, drafting, and advisory services. Stenio is regularly retained to proffer legal counsel, draft pleadings, and appear in court in cases involving allegations of undisclosed commission payments associated with diverse consumer finance products, as well as on behalf of clients bringing claims regarding adverse housing conditions.
His clients commend Stenio for placing their objectives at the centre of his work, which enables him to determine the most satisfactory course of action to resolve their legal issue, be it through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or litigation.
Stenio speaks three languages fluently: Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
Neil Smith
Legal Counsel
Neil qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and has over 15 years’ experience covering a wide range of areas of civil litigation. Neil also holds his higher rights of audience qualification which allows him to accept instructions to appear in the higher courts in England and Wales.
Neil regularly appears in the courts across England and Wales as an advocate handling all manner of hearings including pre-action disclosure application hearings, case management hearings, allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, settlement approval hearings, final hearings, disposal/stage 3 hearings appeal hearings, as well as all manner of interim application hearings.
When not attending court, Neil is regularly retained to draft pleadings and to advise on liability, quantum, and other technical matters in relation to the CPR or case strategy.
Throughout his career, Neil has handled a wide range of civil and commercial litigation matters including commercial disputes, debt recovery and insolvency matters, landlord and tenant disputes (including possession matters involving both residential and commercial property), personal injury, consumer credit and financial mis-selling, and parking litigation.
Neil also has significant experience as a fee earning Solicitor, meaning he fully understands the challenges and pressures that come with the day to day running of a busy caseload. This translates to Neil providing advice which is pragmatic and addresses the issues he has been asked to tackle expeditiously.
In his spare time, Neil enjoys watching football and is an avid follower of Liverpool FC. He also enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Ignatius Ozoilo
Legal Drafter
With admission to both the Nigerian Bar and the Bar of England and Wales, Ignatius possesses a multidisciplinary and dual jurisdictional practice heritage. Ignatius is an advocate for J-K Gadzama LLP, one of the most sizable sets in Nigeria.
His legal acumen has been immeasurably honed through his encounters with litigants-in-person and professional lawyers, as well as through his interactions with clients of varying persuasions and his ability to extract from the evidence presented the pertinent key facts necessary to help win cases.
From clinical negligence to employment and public law issues, Ignatius has amassed an interest in and participated in a variety of practice areas over the course of his career. Ignatius primarily handles instructions regarding matters involving residential landlord and tenant and consumer credit disputes. In addition to advice on liability, quantum, and procedural matters, Ignatius is proficient in drafting any type of pleading.
Ignatius is a lifelong music enthusiast who takes pleasure in lawn tennis and sports (especially football). He enjoys listening to music and has a broad spectrum of tastes, ranging from Coldplay to Rihanna.
Peter McDowell
Legal Drafter
Over the course of more than two decades, Peter has amassed a wealth of experience in numerous practice areas, including motor claims, personal injury, credit hire, and fraud, through his work in a variety of positions within the insurance industry, litigating on both the fast track and multi track.
Peter spent a decade at a top-50 law firm prior to joining the team at 8PP. His expertise and fascination with technology, coupled with his meticulous attention to detail, proved advantageous in his role as an Intelligence Analyst, following his initial employment as a fee earner within a sizable fraud department.
Peter has provided counsel to clients engaged in a wide range of litigation throughout his professional career. This has included cases involving medical negligence, employer’s liability, road traffic accidents, fraud, and marine and employer risks. In a number of high-profile cases, he conducted investigations that led to successful defences being advanced on behalf of his clients.
Peter assists clients in the areas of residential landlord and tenant, data protection and privacy, and consumer credit, providing advisory and drafting services as an integral part of his responsibilities at 8PP.
Peter consistently goes the extra mile for both clients and co-workers due to his affable nature, adaptability, and diligence. Peter primarily dedicates himself to his family. However, he also harbours a profound passion for motorcycles and motorcycle construction, in addition to being an enthusiastic musician.
Deborah Eke
Legal Drafter
In her native Nigeria, Deborah is a certified barrister and solicitor and a seasoned negotiator and litigator. In her prior position, she was primarily engaged in criminal and civil litigation, in addition to handling family-related issues.
Deborah is entrusted with the responsibility of providing counsel on a range of matters, encompassing the provision of advice on liability and quantum, as well as drafting pleadings, in the areas of consumer credit and residential landlord and tenant.
Deborah’s primary objective in carrying out her responsibilities is to achieve the desired outcome for her clients through the most suitable approach, be it by suggesting a settlement or proceeding to litigation. Deborah consistently places the client’s objective at the core of her decision-making process when executing instructions.
Deborah’s non-work interests include music, films, and sports.
Thomas Julian
Legal Drafter
Before becoming a member of 8PP, Tom enjoyed a prosperous tenure as an independent solicitor’s agent.
During his time as a solicitor’s agent, Tom was entrusted with the responsibility of appearing in the county court on a diverse array of civil matters, with a particular emphasis on disputes pertaining to property, finance, and consumers. He has represented a diverse array of clients, including private landlords and FTSE 100 corporations, in proceedings that concluded with final hearings.
As a result of accepting a diverse array of instructions, Tom routinely renders counsel, composes pleadings, and provides representations in chambers or at small claims track final hearings pertaining to consumer credit, housing disrepair, banking, and construction.
At present, Tom is engaged in the final stages of his LPC in pursuit of obtaining the requisite credentials to practise law as a solicitor. Subsequently, he plans to acquire accreditation for higher rights of audience in order to provide legal assistance to clients in the resolution of disputes before the High Court and county courts.
Rebecca Hodgson
Clerk
Everything that 8PP does revolves around Rebecca, who provides assistance and support to every member.
In addition to maintaining accurate datasets on case instructions and allocating incoming instructions, she negotiates fees and manages diaries as part of her daily responsibilities. Rebecca additionally aids in the procurement and dissemination of training materials for the team, ensuring that all members remain current with developments in the industry and in adherence to the regulations set forth by the SRA and Bar Standards Board.
Being the initial point of contact for numerous clients seeking to instruct 8PP, Rebecca is frequently commended for her amiable disposition and eagerness to provide assistance. Due to these attributes, she is capable of cultivating and sustaining outstanding relationships with our clients.
Rebecca enjoys cooking, needlework, and creative writing during her free time.
