Rachit Buch

Rachit specialises in personal injury, industrial disease, international and travel law and clinical negligence work. He has an interest in employment law claims, particularly in cases involving psychiatric harm.

His industrial disease practice focuses on mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases.

Rachit has experience in cases involving a public law aspect, recently being instructed in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, as well as an established inquest practice.

He acts for claimants and defendants/respondents.

Having studied Human Genetics before studying for the Bar, 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.

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Industrial Disease

Rachit’s 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 issues of causation and quantum. He acts on a CFA basis and considers pro bono work where possible.

Rachit was junior to Harry Steinberg in Haxton v Phillips Electronics at first instance.

Rachit also accepts instructions in claims involving exposure at work to harmful substances and noise induced hearing loss.

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Employment & Discrimination

Rachit regularly appears in multi-day Employment Tribunal hearings for claimant and respondent.

He specialises in claims involving protected disclosures, disability, race and sexual orientation discrimination and associative discrimination.

He has successfully conducted numerous costs applications and judicial mediation.

He has particular experience of cases involving police officers and staff, acting in multi-day tribunal hearings involving alleged discrimination, whistleblowing, and advising on potentially sensitive matters using the national security tribunals procedure.

He regularly advises companies and individuals on claims involving team moves and injunctive relief.

He is valued by solicitors for providing detailed and practical advice on merits, quantum, costs and appeal.

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Clinical Negligence

Rachit specialises in advice and court work in clinical negligence. He has particular expertise in:

  • Delayed diagnosis in oncology
  • Claims involving Obs/Gynae
  • A & E/trauma medicine
  • Negligence in general practice and
  • Cosmetic surgery negligence

Having studied Human Genetics at university, Rachit is keen to use his knowledge of scientific and medical issues in his clinical negligence practice and has a particular interest in cases involving clinical geneticists and diagnostic specialisms.

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International & 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.

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.

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Public Authority Liability

Rachit has particular experience advising on and acting in cases involving 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.

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Public 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.

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Cases

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)

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)

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Memberships

Rachit holds memberships to PIBA and ELBA.

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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Rachit is pragmatic, approachable and a strong advocate for asbestos victims.

Chambers & Partners, 2024

Rachit excels at understanding both the overall picture and the important details of the case. He has a great manner with clients and provides pragmatic advice.

Chambers & Partners, 2024

He gives thorough and well-reasoned advice and his manner in conference is excellent.

Chambers & Partners, 2024

He explains things in a way that clients understand and they always appreciate his advice.

Chambers & Partners, 2024

...Counsel have in-depth knowledge and a high level of expertise.

Legal 500, 2017

...The set of choice for personal injury matters including travel litigation, which is an area that chambers is constantly strengthening.

Legal 500, 2017

…Second-to-none strength in depth and a broad church of barristers, all of whom are fiercely intelligent

Legal 500, 2015

…A wealth of talent at both senior and junior levels acting for both claimants and defendants

Chambers & Partners, 2015