Richard is an experienced commercial litigator/arbitrator and undertakes a wide range of advisory and complex commercial disputes work. He is a specialist in all aspects of disputes but particularly in the areas of international (including offshore), data protection, civil fraud, breach of directors duties, insolvency, shareholder and general commercial contract disputes. Richard focuses on commercial work with a state element such as cases where the state is a party or where there is a regulatory or statutory element eg healthcare, pharma-related regulatory or contractual matters; environmental issues or public international law, building on his strong public law experience.
Richard has extensively worked in other jurisdictions outside England, including the Caribbean (Anguilla, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman, St Vincent, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos), Canada, United States, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Isle of Man.
Richard has been listed in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories and they describe him as “one of the finest minds at the Bar… an intellectual giant who is an asset to the Bar” Chambers and Partners (2019), “Richard is very thorough and well versed with judicial review applications” “bright, creative and wonderful to work with” Chambers and Partners (2022), “… a charming advocate and tackles difficult cases fearlessly.” Legal 500 (2021), “He’s willing to listen, tactically astute, knows a lot about core procedure and is good at identifying the key issues of a case.” Chambers and Partners (2020) and “A very knowledgeable silk” Legal 500 (2020).
Further information
Appointments
- Deputy High Court Judge (2012)
- Recorder (Crown Court) (2006)
- Kings Counsel (2002)
- United Kingdom’s representative to Venice Commission (Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law) (2011- 2019); Member of Executive and Chairman of Working Methods Sub-Commission
- Bencher, Middle Temple (2009)
- Visiting Professor, University College, London (2015 to date)
- Chairman, Constitutional and Administrative Bar Association (2008-2010)
- Associate Fellow, Centre for Public Law, University of Cambridge since 2001
- Chairman, Bar Council Committee on Civil Legal Aid 2005-2012
- Vice Chairman Bar Council Remuneration Committee 2006-2008
- Bar Council Remuneration Committee 2005 to 2010
- Bar Council Public Affairs Committee 2006-2007
- Bar Council International Affairs Committee 2008-2010
- Bar Council 2004-2007
Recent Publications/Papers