Rachel Russell
Call 2001 (Gray’s Inn)
Qualifications MA (Oxon); Gray’s Inn Scholar
Professional Memberships Member of the Personal Injury Bar Association and
Employment Law Bar Association
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury
An experienced personal injury practitioner who acts for both claimants and defendants.
Rachel has extensive experience of dealing with multi track claims at all levels including claims concerning fatal
accidents and injuries of the utmost severity, with particular expertise in employer’s liability claims, public liability
claims and Highways Acts claims.
Rachel frequently advises and represents several local authorities, NHS trusts and Police forces throughout South
West England, Wales and nationally.
Civil Fraud
Rachel frequently conducts cases where fraud is an issue, acting in the main for defendants in cases of this type.
She has advised in and conducted trials in cases covering a wide variety of such issues including vehicle
occupancy, staged and semi-staged accidents, LSI and deliberate exaggeration and had enjoyed high success
rates in persuading courts to dismiss such claims.
Rachel has recently authored and delivered lectures on the issue of ‘fundamental dishonesty’ in relation to the
new QOCS regime and s.57 CJ&CA 2015
Industrial Disease
Rachel has extensive experience in all areas of industrial disease litigation including asbestos-related conditions,
noise induced hearing loss, work related upper limb disorders, occupational stress, harassment and bullying and
is able to advise on and represent clients in all areas of such work including liability, limitation, causation and
apportionment.
Recent successes include representing the defendant at the trial of limitation in a noise induced deafness claim,
following which the claim was dismissed.
Animals
Acting for both claimants and defendants in claims involving animals, she has broad experience of dealing with
cases of this type not only using the Animals Act but also in employers’ liability and common law negligence. As
a keen horsewoman herself, she has a particular interest in equine cases and has had conduct of numerous such
cases, including acting for the successful claimant in a case concerning an accident at a leading racehorse
trainer’s stables.
Aviation
Rachel has a developing practice in the field of aviation accidents and personal injury claims arising from such
accidents. She recently represented the family of the deceased pilot at the Inquest into a helicopter crash in
Norfolk which concerned the death of all four occupants, including the Conservative peer Lord Ballyedmond.
Inquests
Rachel frequently appears at Inquests representing all types of interested persons and has been instructed in a
number of high profile inquests which have attracted national press coverage. She is able to deal with all issues
arising from and associated with Inquests, including Inquests where Article 2 is engaged.
CICA
Rachel is familiar with the CICA regime and is able to advise and represent clients pursuing such a claim. Rachel
has experience of CICA claims of the highest value having represented claimants who were brain injured as
children and received multi-million pound awards.
Rachel is willing to accept instructions on a CFA basis in appropriate cases and is qualified to undertake Public
Access work in appropriate cases.
Recent cases
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Wakefield v South Wales Police - represented the defendant at a multi-day trial concerning liability for
an accident during police training.
V v B - represented the defendant at a multi-day assessment of damages hearing involving complex
issues of causation and quantum. 'Beat' defendant's Part 36 offer following assessment.
Re W - Junior to Richard Stead in a multi-million pound CICA claim acting for the claimant who had
been brain injured as a child. Drafted schedule of loss and appeared with Richard Stead at the final
hearing.
Page v Kingston NHS Trust - represented the claimant at an assessment of damages in a case concerning
a lady who was paraplegic and sustained a serious ankle injury. Issues raised included the basis upon
which general damages should be assessed taking into account the absence of 'pain' arising from the
leg injury and the basis upon which the claim for the future requirement for bespoke orthotic footwear
should be assessed. Judgment in excess of £130,000.
Rachel is willing to accept instructions on a CFA basis in appropriate cases.
Public Access
Rachel is qualified to undertake Public Access work in appropriate cases, for further information, please visit our
Public Access page.
Articles
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Latest Developments in Credit Hire Litigation – November 2009
Sharp Relief – PI Focus – February 2015
Contact details
[email protected]
St John’s Chambers
101 Victoria Street
Bristol BS1 6PU
Telephone 0117 923 4700
www.stjohnschambers.co.uk