Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and joined the city law firm, Travers Smith. He practised in the commercial litigation department and was made a partner in 1991. Notable cases included acting for a consortium of local authorities in a challenge to the privatisation of the water industry in 1989, and representing the Mirror Group Pension Trustees in the Maxwell litigation in the early 1990s. Richard transferred to the bar in 1995, and joined 5 Essex Court in 2005.

Employment Law

Richard is a specialist employment lawyer, regularly representing both respondents and claimants in courts and tribunals and providing clear and practical advice on work-related issues. He has a particular interest in discrimination law, and is the co-author of “Disability Discrimination in Employment” which was published by Oxford University Press in 2009.

Recent cases:

Watkins v Xerox (UK) Ltd: Acted for claimant in 10 day constructive dismissal hearing in Watford employment tribunal
Tuffley v Amlin Corporation Services Ltd: Acted for claimant in 5 day disability discrimination claim in Central London employment tribunal
Saunders v Hampshire County Council: Acted for defendant local authority in disability discrimination claim
Unite the Union v Swissport Ltd: Acted for respondent in collective redundancy consultation claim in Manchester employment tribunal
Gardiner v Swissport Ltd: Acted for respondent in sex discrimination claim in South London employment tribunal
Rowan Capital Management plc v Marchmont: Acted for defendant in High Court proceedings for injunctive relief for alleged breach of restrictive covenants in employment contract
Lucas v Dalkia plc: Acting for respondent in unfair dismissal claim in Birmingham employment tribunal
Baxter v Titan Aviation Ltd: Acted for respondent in discrimination claim brought under the Part-Time Workers Regulations 2000
Ellis v North Yorkshire Police: Acted for respondent in constructive dismissal claim in Leeds employment tribunal

Personal Injury

Richard also has extensive experience of personal injury cases, and is particularly interested in employer’s liability for work-related stress, accidents at work, and health & safety issues.
Recent cases:
· Saunders v Hampshire County Council: Acted for defendant local authority in claim for breach of statutory duty under health & safety legislation
· Shute v Hampshire County Council: Acted for defendant local authority in claim for breach of statutory duty under health & safety legislation
· Barry v Malik: Acted for defendant in occupier’s liability claim
· Bond v Edworthy & MIB: Acting for severely injured claimant in claim against MIB
· Tucker v Williams: Acting for severely injured claimant in negligence action
· May v Hampshire County Council: Advising defendant local authority in claim for provisional damages for breach of statutory duty under health & safety legislation

Commercial Law

Richard has considerable experience of commercial dispute resolution, both as a solicitor and as a barrister. He has acted in numerous High Court and County Court actions, covering a wide range of commercial and contractual disputes, professional negligence, partnership, insolvency and property cases.

Recent cases:

Management & Business Advisors v Charbonnel ET Walker Ltd: Acting for defendant in multi-track commercial contract dispute in Norwich county court
MI Design v Hall: Acted for defendant in 5 day multi-track building dispute in Luton County Court and in subsequent appeal to Court of Appeal
Mannion v Ginty: Acted for claimant in property claim in Chancery Division of the High Court
Mirza v Bromley: Acting for defendant in partnership dispute in Bromley County Court

Lectures

Richard provides CPD lectures to solicitors on all aspects of his practice, and his regular updates on discrimination law are available as podcasts from CPDcast.com.

Education

College of Law, 1981-1983

Oriel College, Oxford, 1975 – 1979 (1^st in Classics)

Charterhouse School (Scholar) 1970-1975

Interests

Family, Piano, Chelsea FC, Coastal Paths.

CPDCast link