Rachit Buch
Rachit specialises in personal injury, industrial disease, clinical negligence and international and travel law. He is ranked in the legal directories for personal injury: industrial disease (Band 2, Chambers & Partners) and clinical negligence (Tier 4, Legal 500). He is described as “a strong advocate”, who “excels at understanding both the overall picture and the important details of the case. He has a great manner with clients”.
His industrial disease practice focuses on mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases.
His clinical negligence practice includes birth-related claims, surgical negligence and delayed diagnosis in oncology and other disciplines.
He acts for claimants and defendants in high value and complex litigation. He has particular expertise in cases with an international element, including jurisdictional challenges, cases involving foreign law and accidents abroad.
Rachit has experience in cases involving a public law aspect, including liability of public bodies such as the Ministry of Defence. He was instructed in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, as well as having an established inquest practice.
He is instructed in claims involving issues of national security including sensitive military deployments or undercover policing.
Having studied Human Genetics for his first degree, Rachit applies his knowledge of scientific and medical issues to the law.
Personal Injury
Rachit specialises in fatal accident claims, cases involving serious multiple injuries and psychiatric harm. He has expertise in employers’ and public liability cases.
He has been instructed in numerous cases involving allegations of psychiatric harm and former undercover police officers, including Mark Kennedy v Commissioner and Wilson v Commissioner.
Rachit has considerable experience of complex issues of medical evidence, cross examining expert witnesses at trial as well as costs budgeting and advising on procedural issues.
He has written numerous articles for the Personal Injury Law Journal and delivered talks and seminars for particular firms as well as at chambers events.
Download sectionIndustrial Disease
Rachit is ranked in Band 2 for Chambers & Partners 2024 for Personal Injury: Industrial Disease.
His industrial disease practice focuses on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease. He is regularly instructed to advise or appear in court in claims involving low exposure, multiple defendants and complex issues of causation and quantum. He acts on a CFA basis and considers pro bono work where possible.
He is also instructed in other high value industrial disease work, including noise-induced hearing loss and silicosis claims.
Rachit was junior to Harry Steinberg KC in Haxton v Phillips Electronics at first instance, in Ward v (1) Wellcome Trust (2) Harrods) HHJ Melissa Clarke (12 November 2021, unreported).
Download sectionClinical Negligence
Rachit is ranked in the Legal 500 2024 for clinical negligence at Band 4.
He specialises in:
- Birth-related injury
- Delayed diagnosis in oncology and other specialisms
- Surgical negligence
- Negligence in general practice and
- Cosmetic surgery negligence
He is instructed as junior and in his own right in cases of high value and complexity. He acts predominantly for claimants.
Having studied Human Genetics at university, Rachit uses his knowledge of scientific and medical issues in his clinical negligence practice. He has a particular interest in cases involving clinical geneticists and diagnostic specialisms.
Download sectionInternational & Travel
Rachit is instructed in cross-jurisdictional personal injury claims and aims to provide practical advice and advocacy when considering international aspects of personal injury and other claims.
He is regularly instructed in claims involving jurisdictional challenges and high value issues involving foreign law on liability and quantum.
Rachit acted in a pre-trial review hearing in the Mau Mau litigation for intervening charity the Redress Trust and is developing his practice in cross-border claims.
Download sectionPublic Authority Liability
Rachit has particular experience advising on and acting in cases involving the Ministry of Defence, local councils and police forces.
He has considerable experience of stress at work claims, having acted in a series of claims arising out of stress at work for police officers, and in occupiers’ or employers’ liability claims for councils.
Download sectionPublic Inquiries
Rachit is experience in inquest work and specialises in inquests involving medical care and police inquests. He acts on a CFA and pro bono basis where appropriate.
Rachit has been instructed to act for the Metropolitan Police in the Undercover Policing Inquiry from July 2015 and has a particular interest in the public law aspects of inquiry and inquest work.
Download sectionCases
Undercover Policing Inquiry
Wilson v Commissioner (claim arising out of harm caused by relationship with former undercover police officer)
Haxton v Philips Electronics Ltd (in the High Court; claim for reduction in value of dependency claim when both husband and wife contracted mesothelioma)
Ward v (1) Wellcome (2) Harrods H.H.J. Melissa Clarke (12 November 2021, unreported)
Wright v Secretary of State for Home Department (claim alleging breach of human rights from unlawful prison sentence)
Kennedy v Commissioner (claim made for psychiatric harm arising out of service by a former undercover police officer)
Download sectionMemberships
Rachit is an active member of PIBA.
Qualifications & Awards
LLB comprising of BVC and GDL from 2008 – 2010 at College of Law (2:1 average).
MA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy, Economics of Health from University College London in 2010 – 2011 (Merit).
BSc. Human Genetics from University College London 2005 – 2008 (First Class).
Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn).
Hardwicke Entrance Award (Lincoln’s Inn).
Publications
Contributor Asbestos: Law & Litigation, Sweet & Maxwell, 2019 (Chapters; Common Law, Statutory duties)
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