Robert Dickason specialises in clinical negligence and has particular experience in personal injury, health- and injury-related group litigation, product liability, and health and safety.

Appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel, Robert regularly represents the UK Government in those fields, as well as at inquests and public inquiries, and in claims concerning human rights and national security. Current Governmental instructions include:

  • The Contaminated Blood Products Group Litigation;
  • The UK Covid 19 Inquiry;
  • Covid-19 care home discharge litigation;
  • Representing the Ministry of Defence in relation to Gulf War Syndrome/Illness claims by military veterans following Gulf War deployment in the 1990s.

Robert has been consistently ranked as a Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence since 2016. He acts for patients, Trusts, private providers and individual clinicians alike in civil claims and at inquests. His practice spans the full clinical spectrum. He is instructed in the most complex liability and quantum disputes. He is good with clients and can be relied upon to turn papers around promptly.

Robert has extensive experience in group litigation and product liability matters, particularly in the healthcare and personal injury spheres. Current and recent cases include those arising from vaccination; chemoprophylaxis medication; hormonal pregnancy tests; medical treatment (infected blood); and public health management of infectious disease (Swine Flu, Covid 19).

He has extensive experience of personal injury litigation, both individual and group claims, at all levels of severity. He also has experience in contempt of court proceedings arising where clinical negligence and personal injury claims have been tainted by dishonesty.

Robert has an established health and safety practice, having appeared in several high profile and complex cases from 2012 to date (e.g. Grenfell Tower Fire, Lakanal House Fire, Sterecycle manslaughter, Warwickshire Fire). He has particular expertise in health and safety matters arising in healthcare, medical and care settings, both public and private. He undertakes the full range of contentious and advisory work, representing public authorities, care home providers, large conglomerates, small and medium businesses, and individual directors and employees in civil and criminal litigation, and in inquest and regulatory proceedings.

Expertise

Robert has been consistently ranked as a Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence since 2016. He acts for patients, Trusts, private providers and individual clinicians alike in civil claims and at inquests. His practice spans the full clinical spectrum. He is instructed in the most complex liability and quantum disputes. He is good with clients and can be relied upon to turn papers around promptly.

Robert is also co-author of the causation chapters of the APIL Clinical Negligence textbook and Personal Injury loose-leaf.

Notable Clinical Negligence cases


Masih v The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2023] EWHC 1280 (KB)

Successful causation trial and appeal in fatal cardiology claim.

Bass v Ministry of Defence [2020] EWHC 36 (QB)

Successful defence against claims of inadequate chemoprophylaxis during deployment to Afghanistan.

Raggett v Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Ors [2016] EWHC 1604 (QB)

Successful multi-defendant liability trial arising from avoidable lower limb amputation.

A v East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2015] EWHC 1038 (QB)

Wrongful birth complicated by chromosomal abnormality.

Robert has extensive experience of group litigation, especially in the healthcare, personal injury and product liability fields. He is ranked for Group Litigation in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500; and for Product Liability and Personal Injury in Legal 500.

Current and recent cases include those arising from vaccination; chemoprophylaxis medication; hormonal pregnancy tests; medical treatment; and public health management of infectious disease (Swine Flu, Covid 19).

Ongoing instructions include:

  • The Contaminated Blood Products Group Litigation, instructed on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care in relation to claims arising from the infected blood tragedy.
  • Covid 19 litigation arising from the deaths of residents in care homes during the first wave of the pandemic, where he acts for the Department of Health and Social Care.
  • Claims by military veterans against the Ministry of Defence alleging illness arising from Gulf War deployment in the 1990s.
  • The Grenfell Tower Litigation where he is instructed on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in relation to >1000 claims brought on behalf of survivors of the fire, bereaved families and members of the emergency services.

Robert is ranked for Personal Injury in Legal 500 and has extensive experience of PI litigation at all levels of severity, including catastrophic injury. He is regularly instructed in employers’ and public liability insurance contexts, and in both civilian and military claims. He represents claimants and defendants alike at all stages of civil litigation and at inquests.

Robert also has experience in contempt of court proceedings arising where clinical negligence and personal injury claims have been tainted by dishonesty.

Robert has particular expertise in personal injury group litigation (see above).

Robert has an established health and safety practice, having appeared in several high profile and complex cases from 2012 to date (e.g. Grenfell Tower Fire, Lakanal House Fire, Sterecycle manslaughter, Warwickshire Fire).

He has particular expertise in health and safety matters arising in healthcare, medical and care settings, both public and private.

He undertakes the full range of contentious and advisory work, representing public authorities, care home providers, large conglomerates, small and medium businesses, and individual directors and employees in civil and criminal litigation, and in inquest and regulatory proceedings.

Current and previous cases include:

 

Notable Health & Safety cases


Care home deaths (various, 2022-2024)

Representing care home providers, individual carers, and the Department of Health and Social Care, at inquests and in civil claims arising from deaths in care settings.

Grenfell Tower Fire (2022+)

Instructed on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in relation to large-scale civil litigation.

Exercise Unified Response (Howell, deceased) (2019)

Representation at inquest of power station owners following death of paramedic during 2016 disaster simulation exercise conducted by pan-European emergency services at Littlebrook Power Station.

R v C&R Construction (2018)

Representation of construction company at inquest and in criminal proceedings following fatal fall from height.

R v Sterecycle (Rotherham) Ltd & ors (2014)

Defending employee manager in manslaughter prosecution following fatal explosion at waste processing facility.

R v Wilson [2013] EWCA Crim 1780; [2014] 1 Cr. App. R. 10

Representing director of hotel in appeal against conviction based on defective indictment.

Lakanal House (2013)

London tower block fire causing significant loss of life; represented company responsible for window installation at ‘super-inquest’ into fatalities.

Warwickshire Fire (2012)

Defence of Fire and Rescue Service in prosecution for manslaughter following death of firefighters in warehouse blaze.

Related updates

Robert Dickason is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.

"He is very reassuring to clients and he is so smooth on his feet."; "Robert is just enormously impressive."

Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners 2025

"He is a joy to work with."; "He is a terrific advocate and wonderfully personable."; "Robert is an exceptional leading junior."; "He is empathetic and understanding with clients and a fierce negotiator with defendants."; "Robert is excellent."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2025

'He does not shy away from hard work, and is sought after as a junior by a number of top product liability silks.'

Product Liability, Legal 500 2025

‘Rob is outstandingly good, an excellent drafter and very reliable. Very experienced in personal injury litigation.’

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2025

‘In terms of his advocacy, Robert is as crisp as a freshly-ironed shirt. He is also very warm with clients and good at building up a rapport. He does not shy away from hard work, and is sought after as a junior by a number of top group actions silks. His impressive personal injury practice complements his growing product liability expertise.' 

Group Litigation, Legal 500 2025

‘Excellent attention to detail, fantastic approach with clients and very personable to work with.’

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2025

"He was professional and considerate … I always felt that we had the upper hand with Robert on our side."

Client Testimonial, 2024

"Robert is really thorough, really hard-working and also has very reliable judgement."; "Robert is charming and incisive. He is great in a pinch and great on a team."; "Robert Dickason is very independent, knows just what is needed and has an ability to deal with clients."

Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners 2024

"Rob is very bright and quickly gets to grips with the complexities of a case. He is a brilliant negotiator and advocate."; "He takes a proactive and commercial outlook for the clients where appropriate and provides useful tactical insight."; "He is well liked by clients, quick to come to grips with complex cases and commercially pragmatic."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2024

‘Rob is as smooth as a freshly ironed shirt: he is easy to work with, fantastic with clients, and persuasive on his feet.'

Group Litigation, Legal 500, 2024

‘Rob brings his serious clinical negligence experience to bear on products cases. He really has a detailed understanding of the technical side of these cases.'

Product Liability, Legal 500, 2024

‘Rob is extremely efficient and soundly astute, quick to get to the issues and great with witnesses.'

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500, 2024

“Robert is a brilliant negotiator and advocate. He brings a fresh perspective and vision to the most difficult cases.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

“He is very driven and results-focused.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

“Robert is very bright, responsive and approachable.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

"Robert is the Swiss army knife of barristers, he is across everything."

Group Litigation, Legal 500 2023

"Very clever, sees the wood for the trees, good analytical skills, excellent written advocacy."

Product Liability, Legal 500 2023

"Rob is very impressive with both his speed and ability to respond to instructions. His advice is always spot on."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"Robert is hugely hardworking, which combined with his legal brilliance and very easy manner make him a hugely impressive barrister. He has a ready wit and advocacy style which works extremely well."

Product liability, Legal 500 2022

"He is a really good all-rounder who responds quickly to provide decisive and pragmatic advice."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2022

"A very sharp and incisive questioner who always has a full measure of the complexities of the medicine at hand."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2021

"He is decisive, focused, efficient and excellent with complex cases."

Product Liability, Legal 500 2021

"Especially good with clients."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2019

"Very personable, calm and thorough. He is confident and very genuine with the clients."

Health & Safety, Chambers and Partners 2018

"A bright, thorough and very competent junior."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2017

"Professional and very thorough," he's "very intelligent, down to earth and easy to work with."

Health & Safety, Chambers and Partners 2017

"He is very thorough and leaves no stone unturned."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2016

"A reassuring manner with sensitive clients."

Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law, Legal 500 2015

To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4709 or Ben Fitzgerald on +44 (0)203 758 4759 for a confidential discussion.

Our dedicated practice management team can help you identify the right barrister for your case.

  • Attorney General’s A Panel (2024-2029)
  • Attorney General’s B Panel (2020-2025)
  • Attorney General’s C Panel (2015-2020)
  • Former Judicial Assistant to Lord Judge LCJ and Lord Carnwath CVO (2010)
  • Law Commission, Criminal Law Team (2008)
  • Membership: HSLA, PNBA, PIBA, LCLCBA

  • APIL Clinical Negligence textbook (causation chapter)
  • APIL Personal Injury loose-leaf (causation chapter)

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