Rhoderick Chalmers is developing his practice in all of Chamber’s practice areas, particularly in clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests public law, human rights, tax and costs. He also accepts instruction on pro bono cases.
From a background in academic research in linguistics and history, he moved to the International Committee of the Red Cross, helping to establish their field mission in Nepal and working with state and rebel forces to promote the observance of international humanitarian law. He is fluent in French, Nepali and Hindi, and has a good knowledge of Russian, Spanish, Bengali and Sylheti.
Whilst completing his legal studies, he volunteered for the Free Representation Unit, representing clients in social security hearings and on appeal. He produced a guide on court interpreting and provided training for new volunteers at induction sessions. He continues to provide advocacy skills training.
During his pupillage he worked on cases involving professional liability, energy and natural resources, jurisdiction and conflict of laws, Commonwealth law, shipping, insurance and reinsurance. He also worked on complex commercial disputes and continues to bring this experience to cases with a strong commercial element.
Commercial Cases include:
- Appeared in the High Court for the claimant in freezing order and committal hearings in a commercial fraud case.
- Cases involving contract law including an appeal before a circuit judge and a permission to appeal application to the Court of Appeal.
- Representing national gym chain in commercial dispute.
- Acted in a loan recovery dispute.
- Currently instructed on a claim for damages arising from the seizure of goods in Hong Kong following the expiry of a CITES licence permitting their export from the UK
Rhoderick is starting to develop his expertise acting as a junior in both defendant and claimant cases. He was recently instructed in a multi track trial and is experienced at drafting, application hearings and CCMCs as well as infant settlement approval hearings. He is further able to advise clients on issues relating to liability, quantum and evidence.
He has given training and talks on issues of quantum in personal injury and clinical negligence cases as well as advocacy skills training.
He continues to build a strong practice advising both claimants and defendants. He has acted as a junior in fast track and multi track trials as well as extensive experience in drafting, making applications and in other hearings. This includes appearing in RTA’s, Stage 3 quantum hearings and infant settlement approval hearings.
He has given training and talks on issues of quantum in personal injury and clinical negligence cases as well as advocacy skills training.
Rhoderick has built experience across the spectrum of Public Law through his instruction as part of the Attorney General’s Junior Junior scheme. This includes a number of cases including involving immigration, asylum and unlawful detention. He is would like to develop his claimant practice in this area
Selected Cases
- Trojan Horse Inquiry
- Kimathi & others v FCO: (Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation.)
- Advised on a high value, complex fraud case involving woodland grants.
- CCMC regarding the appointment of an Equality Act advisor.
RAC has experience representing families in inquests throughout the UK. He has broad experience in inquests related to mental health and clinical negligenc and recently acted in a two week inquest.
He is able to provide talks and training on recent developments in inquest law with complex mental health and clinical negligence issues.
Selected Cases
- Acted in a two week inquest with Art. 2 and mental health complexities concerning the death of a young patient sectioned under the MHA.
- Acted in a week long inquest regarding a death in a care home.
Rhoderick accepts work in all areas of Public law with a particular interest in human rights. Recently he has acted in inquests which addressed questions of the scope of human rights law and involved Article 2 issues.
He developed his interest in human rights during seven years with the International Crisis Group as Deputy Director for South Asia, a role which combined field research and policy advocacy. He had the opportunity to work closely with organisations including the United Nations, the International Commission of Jurists and leading human rights NGOs, as well as with governments and politicians in Asia, Europe and the US.
Through his experience as part of the Attorney General’s Junior Junior Scheme he has been instructed on cases involving immigration, asylum and unlawful detention. He is would like to develop his claimant practice in this area.
He has recently provided training on complex immigration issues and asylum law as well as advocacy skills training.
Rhoderick has been recently instructed in both sides of historic abuse cases and is developing his practice in this area.
He is developing his experience in this area with experience in applications and regularly appears before QBD Masters in hearings involving costs.
Selected Cases
During pupillage with Owain Thomas QC, he worked on tax cases as pupil which included Airtours in the Supreme Court. He continues to develop his practice in this area and has worked on cases in the First Tier Tax Tribunal.- Airtours Holiday Transport Ltd v HMRC [2016] UKSC 21: (Supreme Court case with pupil supervisor by Owain Thomas QC relating to VAT tax treatment of supplies in tripartite contracts.)
He has experience in a series of reviews and appeal challenges to specialist training decision made by Health Education England.
He has recently been instructed in a data protection case regarding the alleged leaking of confidential personal information in a prison.
Rhoderick recently advised in a high value complex fraud case involving woodland grants which Defra is seeking to recover.
Rhoderick uses his background as a pupil in a commercial set to build his practice as a junior on commercial disputes. This includes those with employment and equality element.
Selected Cases
- CCMC regarding the appointment of an Equality Act advisor.