Introduction

Richard began his career as a common law barrister practising in crime, insolvency and family. Later, giving up crime, his work included public law children care cases, personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Subsequently, he focused on financial remedy cases and professional negligence (solicitors and barristers in family cases).

In 2003 he became an accredited civil mediator, training with the team from ADR Chambers, led by the highly regarded mediator and arbitrator, Allan J. Stitt.

His wide legal experience has ranged from successfully securing libel damages from the BBC for a businessman with a worldwide reputation to fending off substantial claims by a litigation lender in a consumer credit setting.

His professional negligence practice is almost exclusively related to solicitors’ and barristers’ liability, predominently in family cases.

His family law work is principally financial remedy applications and civil intervener claims. It includes financial claims for children (Schedule 1 cases) and Part III 1984 Act applications. He undertakes inheritance disputes (having previously mediated many of these claims) and drafts pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements (including those with an international element).

His accepts instructions in civil and regulatory cases and has a special interest in trustee-beneficiary disputes and contempt of court.

Professional Negligence

Richard’s cases are focused on solicitors' and barristers' legal liabilities arising from negligence in family law cases. Predominantly, these cases involve financial remedy applications after divorce.

This work includes liabilities arising from incorrect advice on pension provision and from mistakes in advocacy.

Richard has advised both claimants and insurers acting for defendants.

Acting as a mediator of these claims has given Richard a different insight on early stage assessment of how cases can be settled quickly.

Family Finance & Property

Most clients facing financial claims after marriage or relationship breakdowns first want to know their barrister can and will fight to support and protect them in their contested proceedings.

This is Richard's approach with his clients who have included many people in high status positions and others in financial difficulties even to the brink of bankruptcy. He has represented a former Cabinet Minister, a Grand Prix racing driver and entrepreneur, the wife of a Premier League manager and footballer, a television presenter and wife of a TV celebrity. With equal commitment he has fought for clients with modest means or in difficult financial circumstances, and also on a pro bono basis. He recalls one day representing an African Queen before the President of the Family Division and the next day helping  the wife of a council road worker in a Surrey County Court.

He advises on and drafts Pre-nuptial and Post-nuptial agreements, including where there is an international element, and advises and drafts Cohabitation Agreements.

He has had long-standing experience of Schedule 1 to the Children Act claims, free-standing and together with TLATA claims.

Professional Associations

Professional Negligence Bar Association

Family Law Bar Association