Roderick Abbott

Roderick Abbott

Call: 2006

"Has a forensic eye for detail and an ability to simplify complicated issues."

Legal 500 2023

Roderick Abbott has developed and maintained a deliberately broad practice within Chambers’ key areas of specialisation.

Before joining Chambers Roderick worked in the in-house legal team of a film production and financing company.


Expertise

Roderick acts for Claimants and Defendants across the full range of personal injury work. He has particular expertise in defending claims which are alleged to be fraudulent or fundamentally dishonest.

Notable cases:

Recovered substantial damages for a construction worker who lost several fingers when his hands were trapped between two steel girders.

Advising an employer whose employee died of COVID whilst working abroad during the pandemic.

Defending an NHS Trust in a claim by a former employer alleging long-term back injury caused by work in a hospital records department.

Defending a local authority in a claim brought by a teacher attacked in school by a child with special educational needs.

Roderick has represented local authorities and police forces at coronial inquests. He has experience of public inquiries and was recently seconded to the Metropolitan Police legal team working on the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Notable cases:

Represented a local authority at an inquest into the death of a motorist whose vehicle collided with a fire appliance.

Roderick has advised and represented individuals and organisations subject to regulatory action by financial services regulators.

He has also advised on regulatory compliance.

Notable cases:

FSA v Allen: successfully defended an insurance broker accused of misappropriation of client funds.

FCA v Geddis: successfully defended a trader accused of creating a disorderly market on the London Metal Exchange.

Advised the developers of an algorithmic trading platform on regulatory compliance issues.

Roderick acts for several police forces across the whole range of civil claims, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, and human rights claims. He also advises and represents forces in police disciplinary matters.

Roderick was recently seconded to the Metropolitan Police legal team working on the Undercover Policing Inquiry. He has also worked in-house on secondment to Thames Valley Police.

Notable cases:

Representing a force whose officers entered the wrong property when conducting a counter-terrorism raid. The case involved complex issues as to the veracity of the claimant’s alleged psychological symptoms.

Defending a force in a claim for racial and sexual discrimination arising out of the attendance of officers at an alleged domestic abuse incident.

Advised a force as to the lawfulness of obtaining a foetus for DNA testing.

Advised a force on the procedure for obtaining “special procedure material” from a media organisation. The case involved particular sensitivities as it related to an ongoing counter-terrorist investigation

Roderick is familiar with the wide range of factual and legal issues that can arise in this surprisingly poorly-understood area. He is well versed in the tactics used by credit hire organisations to maximise recovery, and he can provide a complete service to defendants and their insurers from pleadings, through tactical advice and onwards to trial. He is particularly experienced in the subset of credit hire cases that has emerged in recent years which involve claims by delivery riders which are often many times the value the original vehicle and which give rise to their own unique set of tactical problems.

 

Roderick has extensive experience of defending against fraudulent claims. He can advise on pleading points (including whether the evidence is strong enough to advance allegations of fraud) and on the many tactical questions which it is important to get right to maximise the chances of exposing fraudulent claims. A significant amount of Roderick’s practice involves trial advocacy in fraudulent claims, and he brings to bear a wealth of experience in cross-examining fraudulent claimants which is invaluable in getting the right result for defendants.

 

Recent News


Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

  • Brasenose College, Oxford: BA Modern History (First Class Honours).
  • BPP Law School, London: GDL (Outstanding); BVC (Very Competent).

  • Pegasus Scholar to Hong Kong (2010).

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