Peter Todd

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I was admitted as a solicitor in 1994, so I have over 25 years post qualification experience. I was an equity partner of a top 200 London litigation law firm for over 10 years until in 2021 I joined Scott Moncrieff as a Consultant solicitor.

I specialise in clinical negligence and common law dispute resolution, public law and contentious costs. My practice areas cover a wide range of civil litigation, including inquests, catastrophic/fatal injury claims, claims for birth defects caused by chemical or pharmaceutical exposure and criminal injury cases.

I have expertise in cases involving acquired spinal cord injury or brain injury, injury caused by vaccines, organophosphates, and various defective pharmaceutical products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

I also have expertise in cases involving challenging NHS refusal of funding for expensive medical treatments.

I am expert in using legal aid where available and spent about 20 years as an independent adjudicator for the Legal Aid Agency, latterly as Chair of the Special Controls Review Panel which determines funding appeals in high profile and complex cases.

I have expertise in contentious costs and was as a Solicitor Assessor in the High Court – advising on appeals against detailed assessment decisions with a High Court Judge and Costs Judge.

For tort claims I now mainly act on a conditional fee basis when legal expenses insurance is not available.

I conduct professional negligence claims and contentious probate cases, claims for breach of confidence or under the Data Protection Act 1998, public law & human rights cases, contentious costs & commercial litigation.

I have also acted as a professional trustee, attorney and deputy in matters involving probate and administration, trusts, court of protections matters and property transactions.

I am a specialist in product liability/clinical negligence, brain and spinal cord injury and multi-party actions. I deal with inquests and appeals to the First Tier Tribunal in vaccine cases, and am a veteran of several previous multi party actions such as the Gulf War Syndrome cases and organophosphate litigation.

I acted pro bono for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (R v Lord Chancellor, on the application of APIL) commencing proceedings for judicial review against the Lord Chancellor regarding his failure to review the discount rate, and then for APIL as an Interested Party in the proceedings issued against the Lord Chancellor by the Association of British Insurers. This led to the reduction of the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%, and a substantial increase in value of catastrophic loss claims.

I acted for 86 clients with narcolepsy from the Pandemrix® vaccine (the 2009/10 pandemic swine flu vaccine). The Claimants all had narcolepsy (a serious incurable neurological disorder) after the swine flu vaccination.

I acted for 99 Claimants who had visual impairment due to defective intra-ocular lenses manufactured by Oculentis BV.

I have also had success with claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979, including with appeals against refusals of awards. This included successfully defending the first ever appeal by the DWP to the Court of Appeal in a case under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in February 2017 in the case of DWP v John (a minor) [2017]

I have achieved substantial settlements in a number of other product liability claims including regarding defective metal-on-metal hip prostheses.

I previously served the Secretary of the Product Liability Special Interest Group of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

I am a ‘cyclist-friendly’ solicitor and have acted for many cyclists over the years who have suffered serious injury in road traffic collisions.

I have acted in a number of high profile judicial reviews of NHS England’s decision to refuse funding for medical treatment including R (oao S) v NHS England [2016] and R (oao SB) v NHS England [2017]

I acted in a challenge to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence in its decision regarding the assessment of a drug for Phenylketonuria. R (Cotter) v NICE and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, July 2020) (R (Cotter v NICE and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Feb 2020 Administrative Court)

I am strongly committed to the principle of access to justice for all, regardless of ability to pay.

I have been ranked by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and the Legal 500 as ‘a hugely experienced and impressive’ solicitor with ‘a first-class reputation…’ In Chambers 2021 I am described as “is very approachable, friendly and engaging. He is proactive in coming up with ideas, different angles and solutions, and realistic about prospects.” “His aim is to alleviate the suffering of marginalised groups and does so with integrity and considerable sympathy.”

NOTABLE CASES

Acted pro bono for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers in proceedings for judicial review against the Lord Chancellor regarding his failure to reduce the ‘discount rate’ set under s.2 of the Damages Act 1996 (2010-12). This prompted the current review of the discount rate.
Acted for the Claimant in a civil claim for rape against the actor/writer Steven Berkoff.
Inquest into the death of Geoffrey Perkins (2009).
Inquest into the death of a seven-year-old girl at a public swimming pool in Essex and civil claims arising from that incident including successful judicial review proceedings against the HSE (refusal to act as enforcing authority).
Primodos claims (a multi party action re causality of birth defects by a hormone pregnancy test).
Gulf war syndrome litigation (multi party action for veterans of Gulf war).
Organophosphate litigation (multi party action for farmers and others exposed to sheep dip and other pesticide applications of organophosphates).
Various appeals against refusal of compensation under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979.
Various claims under Consumer Protection Act 1987 against pharmaceutical corporations for damages, for injury and loss alleged to be caused by adverse reactions to vaccines.
Other multi party actions including the Romantica Cruise Ship fire case, the Kerrin Point multi-party action and the Hepatitis ‘C’ contaminated blood transfusions cases, for victims of abuse in religious children’s schools in Ireland & for victims of defective hip replacement prostheses.

CLIENT COMMENTS

“The solicitor was great – he got back to me really quickly and dealt with everything very promptly at a very stressful time. He listened to what was important to us and the pre-action letter to the Clinical Commissioning Group got the result we needed for our son.”
“Peter Todd and his team dealt with our case as part of a larger group in the Pandemrix case against GSK. The process lasted several years, during which they arranged meetings and visits by various specialists and experts involved in preparing our case. Peter and his team kept the wider group fully up to date throughout, as well as always keeping us personally updated via email, phone, Skype, sms, etc. They were always prepared to answer any questions we had (and we had plenty) during what was occasionally a pretty stressful experience, made less so by their dedication to our case. Thank you.”
“We received patient, clear and compassionate guidance throughout our case”
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you. Very professional and caring service provided by a brilliant team, specially Peter who went out of his way to help us”
“We cannot express enough, the gratitude for the amazing support through extremely stressful times. Always professional and understanding. Peter Todd you got us through it! Thank you!”
“Without your efforts on my behalf I would have secured no satisfaction whatsoever. I know how finely balanced the legal proceedings were and will be forever grateful for your sound advice throughout. I would be very grateful if my thanks could be communicated to all those who worked on my behalf.
“The success of the case would never have been achieved without the professionalism, of Mr Todd and his team. Also Mr Todd’s empathy throughout this case.”
“Peter Todd is really the most fantastic solicitor you could have. Anyone who has the misfortune of an accident claim should think themselves very fortunate to have Peter on the case. Thank you so much.”
“Peter provided an excellent overall service in which, importantly, I was treated as a person rather than simply a client."

MEMBERSHIP

London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA).
The Solicitors Regulation Authority Personal Injury Panel
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
The Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA)
The London Cycling Campaign.
Roadpeace.

CAREER

Consultant solicitor Scott Moncrieff & Associates Ltd 2021 to date
Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen – 1997- 2021
Assistant Solicitor, Herrington & Carmichael 1994-1997

EDUCATION

Articles – Herrington & Carmichael 1992-1994
College of Law, Guildford – CPE/Law Society Finals 1992
University of Plymouth, BSc (Hons) 1986-1989

Follow me on Twitter @petertodd_