Christopher Oldfield

Chris is a partner in the liability team in Manchester. He qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1997 and joined Kennedys in 2009. He supervises a team handling employers’ and public liability claims. He has extensive experience in defending claims including fatalities and inquests.

His clients include employers’ and public liability insurers, brokers, liability adjusters and corporate entities and self-insureds.

Chris has represented several national construction companies and national house builders in relation to fast and multi-track personal injury claims.

Chris has a particular niche in sports-related claims. He is the nominated solicitor for UK Athletics and British Cycling. Notable cases include the successful defence of a claim against an athletics coach brought by an international athlete who suffered bilateral stress fractures allegedly caused by the athlete’s training regime (Davenport v Farrow).

A further example was the successful representation of British Cycling in relation to the duties of the organiser of a cycle race held on public roads (Brown v Brent and British Cycling Federation).

Chris has presented seminars on the pre action protocol, claims defensibility and evidence gathering, Part 36, vicarious liability and the impact of Jackson Reforms.

Chris is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).

Qualifications

• Qualified in England and Wales in 1997