Hi my name is Roger Bolt
I qualified as a solicitor in 1977, some seven years after my return from Australia where I lived for 6 years as a "£10 Pom". I trained at the College of Law in Lancaster Gate and started my working legal career at the North Kensington Law Centre near Portobello Road. Much of my time at the Law Centre was spent at the local DHSS (now DHS) office and Notting Hill Gate Police Station haggling with police officers and social security officials on behalf of clients. It was here that I developed a passion for a good argument which led me, eventually, to specialise in litigation and in particular personal injury work. I continued my involvement with the voluntary sector on moving to North London by working at the North Islington Law Centre as a volunteer for about 15 years. My formal training was gained at a firm in Finchley called Osmond Gaunt & Rose where I undertook a wide variety of work including conveyancing, matrimonial, unlawful evictions, solicitors and medical negligence - and in particular personal injury work acting always for accident victims not defendants.
In 1986, at which time I was a partner at Osmond Gaunt & Rose, I left that firm together with another partner, Lynne Burdon, to start Bolt Burdon in Islington. Initially the firm consisted of me, Lynne, a trainee (Julie Aldred) and two secretaries. As the firm has grown in size my role has evolved and I am now Senior Partner of Bolt Burdon Kemp and a partner in Bolt Burdon. I have recently retired from being a long serving member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and am an APIL Fellow. For many years I was a member and sometime chairman of the Legal Services Commission Costs Appeals and Customer Redress Committees, I am an Assessor for and member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel, a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and International Bar Association. I lecture frequently on personal injury law particularly costs. I am a great believer in the English Legal System and the fact that, if used properly, it provides machinery that really works to resolve disputes of all kinds. I try not to despair at the relentless obsession by those in the corridors of power with trying to reduce a very personal service offered by lawyers to their clients down to the level of a supermarket trolley. Outside work my five children keep me very busy. If I can find any spare time I play my favourite ice blue Fender Stratocaster - in a pale imitation of Steve Cropper - in a blues/soul band currently called The Big Girls Blues Band - ; I am passionate about music of all types particularly blues, jazz, cajun, country and soul. I like cooking and eating Mediterranean food, sailing and am an obsessive supporter of Arsenal Football Club. I travel frequently to Australia to drink a glass of Shiraz in the Icebergs bar overlooking Bondi Beach where my daughter, Susie, now lives.