Rodney Gardner
Rodney Gardner is a solicitor and Higher Court Advocate (civil) with an exceptional record across commercial, property, financial services and consumer credit litigation. He is recognised nationally for his work in landmark Supreme Court cases that have reshaped consumer lending law, and he brings this specialist expertise to clients of Gurve Legal on selected high-value litigation and insolvency matters.
Rodney's career includes conducting Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance [2014] UKSC 61, a landmark Supreme Court case establishing unfairness under the Consumer Credit Act, and McWilliam v Norton Finance [2015] EWCA Civ 186, a leading Court of Appeal decision on fiduciary duties owed by loan brokers. More recently, Rodney played a role in the 2025 Supreme Court motor finance litigation, Johnson v FirstRand Bank, Wrench v FirstRand Bank and Hopcraft v Close Brothers [2025] UKSC 33, which clarified the duties owed by motor dealers arranging vehicle finance.
Earlier in his career, Rodney advised on corporate finance transactions including stock market listings and buyouts, and was a licensed insolvency practitioner advising liquidators and administrators. He was also a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel for many years, handling claimant work including high-value catastrophic injury claims.
Rodney has significant experience structuring litigation funding for high-value claims, including Conditional Fee Agreements and After the Event insurance, for matters ranging from £250,000 up to several million pounds. This funding expertise allows clients pursuing substantial claims to proceed with a clear understanding of cost exposure and risk from the outset.
Rodney was named PPI Lawyer of the Year 2017 (Wealth and Finance Magazine) and Banking Lawyer of the Year UK 2018 (Finance Monthly). He is a member of the Competition Law Association and has written for the Solicitors Journal, New Law Journal and The Lawyer.
Outside of work, Rodney enjoys bridge, the theatre, gardening and walking.
Rodney's litigation expertise sits at the core of our dispute resolution and litigation service, covering commercial, property and financial services disputes for businesses and individuals alike.
Where litigation intersects with financial distress, Rodney also supports clients through our restructuring and insolvency service, drawing on his background as a licensed insolvency practitioner.