Profile

Rory is the lead liability partner for Kennedys in Scotland. He qualified in Scotland in 2001 and became qualified in England and Wales in 2003. Rory has an interest in health and safety law, is National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) qualified and manages teams based in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Rory represents insurers and self-insureds in relation to liability matters. He specialises in personal injury claims including abuse, catastrophic injury, disease and fatal claims across many different sectors, including manufacturing, construction, oil and gas and farming etc. He is experienced at defending Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutions and managing high-value claims. He has extensive experience in dealing with fatal accident inquiries (FAIs).

Rory represents insurers and self-insured large corporates across the full range of casualty work. He is experienced in dealing with high profile fatal accidents and HSE prosecutions. He is regularly called upon to assist in the immediate aftermath of incidents.

Rory is well known in the Scottish profession and was chair of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) in Scotland (2013/14). He was the Scottish representative on the Disease Sector Focus Team for two years. During Rory’s chairmanship, the focus of FOIL in Scotland was on the Court Reform Act, which is dramatically altering personal injury practice in Scotland. He chaired the FOIL response to consultations on court reform, FAIs and Scottish pre-action protocols.

Rory has a leading role ensuring the coordination and development of Kennedys’ Scottish practice. He joined Kennedys in 2014 as part of the team setting up the Scottish offices, having been a partner in another law firm’s insurance team working in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

He is regularly invited to speak at events hosted by clients to provide training and information. He is also sought as a speaker by external organisations, including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Edinburgh branch).

Rory is an author of Kennedys’ Claims Handling Law and Practice Guide, the fourth edition of which was published in February 2021.

Rory also contributed to the fourth edition of Kennedys’ Global Legal Handbook, one of our most popular guides, which outlines the main legal and procedural issues that case handlers may encounter when dealing with claims across 53 jurisdictions globally.

He also contributed to the Claims inflation and personal injury claims: a global review report, published in June 2023.

Qualifications

  • Qualified in Scotland in 2001
  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2003
Rory Jackson has got an excellent understanding of the market and he is great with clients.

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defender (Scotland)'
    "Team head Rory Jackson is ‘highly regarded by colleagues and peers’ and is active across a range of sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas".
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Notable practitioner for 'Personal Injury: Mainly Defendant (Scotland)'
    "Rory Jackson's client service is exceptional".
    "Rory Jackson has got an excellent understanding of the market and he is great with clients".
    Chambers UK 2024
  • Notable practitioner for 'Personal Injury: Mainly Defendant (Glasgow, Edinburgh and surrounds)'
    "Rory Jackson provides concise advice to ensure matters are dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible".
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defender (Scotland)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2023
  • Notable practitioner for 'Personal Injury: Mainly Defendant (Glasgow, Edinburgh and surrounds)'
    "I think he is very straight-talking and looks at matters pragmatically. He is very approachable and happy to give advice."
    Chambers UK 2022
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defender (Scotland)'
    "Rory Jackson is extremely professional, approachable and knowledgeable."
    "Rory Jackson is a leader from the front, supportive, accessible, excellent ambassador."
    The Legal 500 UK 2022

Work highlights

  • Managed a £5 million claim involving an industrial accident resulting in C4/5 spinal injury. Complex issues of ongoing care resolved for c.£3 million out of court settlement.
  • Managed/conducted numerous complex fatal accident inquiries, including representing a social worker in respect of the death of Declan Hainey, toddler. High profile incident acting for one of the key social workers whose role was focused upon by the Sheriff. See also determinations in Petr Adamik, Danielle Scott, David and Stuart Black, and James Love.
  • Handled the defence of a fatal claim by the family of a deceased saturation diver, including issues of causation, familial relationships and issues around loss of support.
  • Handled complex high value road traffic accident claims, including catastrophic claims and dealt with complex issues of valuation and tactics.
  • Advised haulage companies in relation to various large incidents including fatalities allegedly caused by blind spots on commercial vehicles, accidents during deliveries and alleged breach of tachograph regulations. Minimising negative coverage for the clients throughout.