Richard Barraclough KC

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Call: 1980 | KC: 2003

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Richard Barraclough KC has acted for the Crown, individuals, local authorities, insurers, major construction and transport companies including London Underground and Transport for London, car manufacturers, factories, railways, hospitals, schools and the like.

He prosecutes and defends in cases of homicide.

A number of his cases infra have resulted in changes in or development of the law and practice.

He is a Common Lawyer whose vast experience in civil and criminal matters has been acquired over 40 years of a practice which includes inter alia:

Serious crime (principally homicide, abuse, fraud, illegal money lending and proceeds of crime);
Family and child welfare principally fact finding involving brain and other catastrophic injury, abuse and perplexing presentations/fabricated or induced illness. He has a particular interest in psychiatric and personality disorders;
Death and catastrophic injuries however caused;
Regulatory crime, local authority law and policy, consumer law, food law, licensing and Coroners Courts;
Civil and commercial advice and litigation including bankruptcy, contracts, trusts, wills, land, leases and employment;
Environmental crime and planning enforcement;
Civil fraud;
Professional including medical negligence;
Transport Commissioners;
Marine matters.

He appears in all courts including the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords (now Supreme Court). He appeared in the Privy Council for appellants in Capital (death sentence) appeals over a number of years.

Richard Barraclough KC is a recognised expert in jury trials and has been involved in a series of high profile murder, manslaughter, fraud, consumer protection, child abuse and rape cases.

He is equally at home as an advocate before judges and disciplinary tribunals.

He is expert in the handling of vulnerable witnesses and defendants and is a trained facilitator in relation to the process.

Richard is legal advisor to the General Medical Council and has broad experience of medical matters.

His Coronial practice has involved inquests into deaths following complex medical complications, Article 2 matters and appearance for the Coroner in judicial review.

Richard Barraclough KC is also now recognised as an expert in “baby shaking” cases both in the criminal and family courts often involving expert medical evidence given remotely from the UK and abroad.

He is known for his ability to work with teams of experts and for his common sense approach to litigation.

He advised and represented Lord Bramall in his claim for damages against the Metropolitan Police for conspiracy, misfeasance in a public office, trespass and defamation following the collapse of Operation Midland.

He is frequently brought in to lead in criminal cases involving death, abuse and significant medical issues including “shaken baby syndrome”. He has been engaged to lead in gang murders, murders involving complex scientific issues and as specialist Counsel approved by the Court to represent a defendant who was otherwise unfit to plead. He has undertaken the defence of a number of psychiatric patients accused of murder. Most recently, he has been involved in prosecuting complex sex cases involving substantial medical and other records and previous allegations and rape and where the evidence includes recording of the events.

Richard’s recent cases consist of:

• the prosecution of the last of 4 individuals accused of murder following his return from Pakistan after co defendants convicted variously of murder and manslaughter and conspiracy to rob;
• defence of an individual accused of attempt murder of a serving army officer where insanity and fitness to plead in issue;
• defence of an individual accused of murder of his mother by cutting her throat where fitness to plead and diminished responsibility in issue
• Prosecution of complex illegal money lending;
• Attempt murder of member of staff believed to be possessed by the devil;
• Prosecution of sex related matters;
• Defence of conspiracy to distribute contaminated meats;
• Prosecuting for the placing on the market food stuffs which caused a serious UK wide outbreak of Salmonella involving genome sequencing expertise;
• Defending in an FCA prosecution for a multi million Pound foreign exchange investment fraud

His commercial training and experience as a Solicitor provides him with considerable accountancy expertise for fraud cases. He undertakes complex Proceeds of Crime matters.

Notable Crime cases include:

R v Peacock (2023) (Central Criminal Court) defending in the trial of the double murderer Lee Peacock who compiled a list of up to four or five drug dealers to be assassinated or executed in north London.

R v Afolabi (2023) (Woolwich Crown Court) leading Daniel Stevenson. The case concerned conspiracy to rob, wounding and manslaughter. The conspiracy culminated in the ambush of a dealer in a car park. He was stabbed and bled to death. The two involved in the attack were convicted of manslaughter. All defendants were due to be sentenced for a variety of offences

R v Mohammed Atif (2022) (Sheffield Crown Court) murder by shooting of Sheffield Solicitor. MA is a a young man with a severe learning disability. Despite reports from psychiatrist and psychologist that he was fit to plead, he was unable to participate in the trial even with an intermediary. RB QC at short notice arranged for two S12 psychiatrists to report further and give evidence to Lambert J who ruled that he was unfit to plead. The jury thereafter considered whether he “did the acts”. At the close of the prosecution case the judge ruled on a submission that he had no case to answer and he was discharged. The remaining defendants charged with murder were convicted.

R v Tahir (2021) S2 Terrorism Act 2006.

Family court fact finding in a case of grooming and rape of young children (2021).

R v Alabaoso, Matimba and Tejan (2021) Prosecuting County Lines revenge murder of opposition drug gang member in gang warfare case.

R v Burnett (2021) Instructed to defend a man who kicked to death a homeless man living in a tent in a Dover graveyard. Complex issues of split personality and a large amount of medical and psychiatric evidence.

R v Islam (2020) Defending in a shaken baby case where a 6 week old baby suffered catastrophic brain and skeletal injuries. Following cross examination of the expert neurosurgical experts acquitted by direction of the judge of S18 causing grievous bodily harm.

R v Rebelo (2020) Prosecuting retrial in DNP manslaughter case with appeal to Court of Appeal.

R v Roach (2019/2020) Prosecuting County Lines revenge and control of market inspired murder.

R v Dugbo (2019) Environmental waste recycling fraud.

R v Smith (2019) Fraud by veterinary surgeon in horse sale case.

R v Shepherd (November December 2018 January 2019) Drug related execution of a subordinate. Cambridge Crown Court. Subject of Channel 4 two episode documentary “24 Hours in Custody” broadcast in January 2020).

R v ED (2019) Attempt murder by firearm shot twice close up in residential area. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Eldred (April 2019) Prosecuting manslaughter by male of his brother. Maidstone Crown Court.

R v Gledhill (June and July 2019) Drug revenge and gang related execution by firearm. Leeds Crown Court.

R v Siddique (2018) County Lines revenge murder in residential area of Farnborough Hampshire.

R v Smyth (2018) Defending a young mother charged with her partner with an offence under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 section 5 of inflicting serious injuries to her 19 day old baby, including some gratuitously degrading injury. The baby died but of a condition which could not be linked with the injuries. Click here for news item.

R v Rebelo (2018) Prosecuting the distributor of a slimming agent to vulnerable persons causing death, for manslaughter. An academic paper is being prepared on unlawful act and gross negligence manslaughter. Click here for news item.

R v Harding (2018) Representing a retired teacher accused of historic sex offences on pupils. The case involved historic film recordings made by the defendant. Click here for news item.

R v Martin (2017) Defending in a shaken baby death. Undertook the defence of a young father who had been accused of murdering his six week old baby. The case involved extensive expert and medical evidence as well as analysis of areas of medicine that are still developing. Click here for paper on this case. Click here for BBC News Report.

R v Walton (2017) Representing a man charged with murder by shooting of another and disposing of his body. Click here for news item.

R v Uddin (2017) Murder by stabbing in broad daylight in residential area. Gang fight.

R v Macdonald (2017) Murder of homeless individual camping in a park.

R v Ali (2017) Killing of youth by another youth using knife in residential area of Leeds. Acquitted of murder.

R v Waring (2017) International Cross Rail fraud and corruption trial involving Nigerian railway infra structure. Click here for news item.

R v Knight (2016) Defended in the trial of one of three brothers accused of the murder of a vulnerable woman. The case involves the effect of so called legal highs / Spice on the mind of an intellectually impaired individual and involved the calling of expert toxicological and psychological evidence. Click here for paper on this case. Click here for news item

R v Waters (2016) Representing a teacher before the Teaching Council on historic sex abuse charges.

R v Barham & Tomlin (2016) Defending in 8 week murder trial. Defending one of two defendants charged with the murder of a vulnerable male living in assisted housing. Click here for news item.

R v Mohammed Ibrahim (2015) Murder trial representing defendant. Three defendants charged with murder possession of firearms and conspiracy to rob. The matter concerned the execution by shotgun of a 17 year old who happened to be in a drug dealing house. The motive was said to be a drug “turf” war in South East London and in revenge for a stabbing of a member of the opposing gang. Defendant was acquitted on murder and firearms indictment.

R v Mundoma (2015) (see news item on this website). Represented defendant in this murder trial which involved a drugs deal that went wrong. Defendant acquitted on murder indictment.

R v Cisar (2015) Representing Slovak defendant charged with rape and child trafficking of most vulnerable female aged 16 with a very low IQ. All defendants acquitted on a submission of no case. Leading Chris Wray of Bond Joseph. Click here for a detailed commentary on the case

R v Slade (2015) Representing commercial haulier in multi million Pound importation of class A drugs out of Holland. Defence successful in argument that despite the opening of an Oxford office which was used solely for these importations he was ignorant of the contents of the haulage.

R v Roberto (2015) Representing defendant accused of rape. After close investigation the Defence were able to demonstrate that the allegations were flawed and the accuser had made similar allegations against others. Following the drafting of a substantial bad character application the Crown offered no evidence.

R v Chapman (2015) (See article on this website). Successfully represented Birmingham City Council in a prosecution involving a loan shark who appealed against a confiscation order made against him for £177,000.00. He had argued that his assets and monies were not part of his money lending business and had been accrued by other means. Significant proceeds of crime case.

R v Zuravliovas (2014) Leading for the defence of the first defendant, a Russian speaking Lithuanian in a 3 month murder trial. Accused of murdering a young Italian who had just arrived in the UK. Described as ferocious and merciless attack on the deceased and his friend who survived. Racial overtones. The trial lasted 3 months. Richard Barraclough’s performance described as “a masterclass” in advocacy.
Click here for National News Report

R v Clement (2014) Manslaughter following drunken debate between homeless individuals in Canterbury.

R v Peters (2013) Leading for the defence in a cases of gross negligence manslaughter arising from an arson attack.

R v Berry et al (2013) Leading in a significant case of conspiracy to steal railway line throughout the south of England.

R v Ripley 2013 Leading in a case of alleged murder by a young Romany girl of her boyfriend where one or more of the defences of suicide, self defence and accident was successful. Click here for news item.

R v Breedon (2013) Leading in a case of sexual abuse of children.

R v Etheridge (2013) Leading in a case of abuse of children.

R v Mitchell (2012) Leading for the defence in a case of cross generational abuse involving siblings, own children and a variety of other relatives. Concept of genetic predisposition to paedophilia raised. Please see research paper on the issues raised by this case.

R v Samuel Roberts [2011/2012] (Central Criminal Court) (Victoria Tube Station murder) Leading for the defence of Samuel Roberts who was present throughout the gang attack in the station and kicked the deceased whilst he was being stabbed. Defendant was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter and certain other offences following argument on “gang joint enterprise”. Click here for BBC News Report.

R v Kamara (Central Criminal Court) Leading for the defence in another gang murder in West London involving “joint enterprise” when the client was acquitted of murder.

R v Awale [2012] Leading for the defence in a case of murder by shooting by gang or by way of contract killing. This case involved the execution of 2 young men by a Somali gang. Case involved gun running, drug and people smuggling with complex issues relating to the bad character in Holland and the USA of various defendants and anonymous witnesses. First trial aborted after the Crown failed to investigate bad character adequately and following abuse argument.

R v Darren Peters [2012] (Central Criminal Court). Leading in a case of murder by fire after a young medical student who had been attacked by her then boyfriend enlisted the assistance of others to kill him. He was beaten, carried in the boot of a car and once in London burnt to death. This defendant was acquitted of murder. Click here for news item on this case.

R v Louzecky [2012]. Leading for the defence in a case of murder following a dispute in relation to a vacuum cleaner. This defendant was acquitted of murder and manslaughter. Click here for news report.

R v Sultan and others [2011] (Leeds Crown Court and Court of Appeal [2011] EWCA Crim 2240) Leading for the defence in an election fraud. Wholesale fraud after postal votes forged and impersonation of electors. All defendants were convicted but the convictions quashed in the Court of Appeal. See also Khan where leading for the defence in the Slough election fraud.

R v Parsons [2009] EWCA 64 Court of Appeal decision on the “COUTTS” issue when manslaughter to be left to the jury after appellant drove accomplice to scene of shooting and the issue being whether the appellant might have thought that the killer was intent on “winging” the victim only. Leading in the Crown Court and in the Court of Appeal. Click here for news report.

R v Yousef [2010] Leading for the defence of young woman accused of horrendous murder of 3 year old daughter who was stabbed multiple times. Tried to dissolve body in acid. Found unfit to plead due to mental illness and sent to a secure psychiatric hospital. Click here for news item.

R v Fender [2010] Murder, provocation. Leading for the defence of man accused of killing his girlfriend in front of child. Acquitted of murder.

R v Benson [2010] Leading for the defence of a drug dealer accused of the rape and kidnap of one of his female workers.

2010: Defence of anti-terrorist officer involving anonymous witnesses, diplomats and agents.

R v Eggleton [2010] Prosecuting bus driver for manslaughter. Conviction of the driver who ran over a man who was remonstrating with him.

R v Chittenden Leading for the Crown in the prosecution of a man under stress who was facing bankruptcy and “snapped” and held his wife who was asthmatic down in her bath thereby murdering her.

R v Christopher Langham Prosecution of well known actor and writer for possessing child images and unlawful sex.

R v Hubble (The P&O Ferry The Pride of Bilbao) Leading for the defence of the officer of the watch charged with manslaughter (shipping). See detailed article on the case here.

R v Willoughby (2004) EWCA Crim 3365 Leading for the defence of a publican who wanted to redevelop the premises but who was refused planning permission and then set fire to the pub, thereby killing his accomplice. Charged with manslaughter. The issue before the Court of Appeal was whether there was a difference between unlawful act and gross negligence manslaughter and whether a duty of care could be owed to an accomplice.

R v Matharu Leading in the case of murder of wife in a so called “honour” killing when the defendant disembowled his wife after he had formed an irrational belief that she was having an affair. Defence was the “Othello Syndrome” (insane jealousy). Click here for news item.

R v Mclean Led for the defence of a club doorman who, it was alleged, killed a customer by excessive force. The defence involved a fascinating analysis of the pathology of positional asphyxiation and its relationship with drugs and hyperexcitation, the cross examination of the Crown’s pathologist and the calling of a number of defence pathologists.

R v Azram Leading for the defence of Iraqi tortured by the then regime who then committed murder in the UK.

R v B (2005 All ER (D) 108) Principles of a mandatory life sentence for a 17 year old who had committed murder by setting fire to a house.

His regulatory practice involves by way of example planning enforcement, illegal slaughter/butchery/sale of meat, flytipping, breach of licence conditions, recycling plants, waste, collapsed cranes and other structures.

In 2024, Richard Barraclough KC was advising on £10M government development loan and professional regulatory implications

Advising and settling proceedings against TFL on behalf of international haulage company concerning fixed penalty notices

In 2024 advised the GMC at the investigative stage of proceedings, advised Solicitor in complex SRA misconduct allegations and a Chief Constable in police misconduct hearing.

He was named as Consumer Rights – Lawyer of the Year by Lawyer Monthly in 2018.

In 2021 Richard Barraclough KC, instructed to prosecute by Birmingham City Council brought to an end the long running saga of Tesco’s “use by date” prosecution concerning three stores in Birmingham. Tesco was fined £7.5 million for breaches of the “use by date” food legislation. Click here for news coverage of the case.

This case involved references to the Secretary of State under the Primary Authority legislation, the authority having been barred from prosecuting by the Primary Authority.

Richard Barraclough KC was instructed in an appeal against the revocation by the Environment Agency of waste permit for a London recycling unit.

In 2019 he prosecuted a multi million pound illegal money lending business involving authority to prosecute and exempt business lending.

He has defended in a case of multi million pound fraud involving exaggerated claims in respect of electrical recyclable waste, an environmental crime perpetuated by fraud. Click here for Environment Agency report.

He was instructed to defend professional veterinary surgeon in a case of conspiracy to defraud in relation to the pre sale vetting of horses. Click here for news item.

He prosecuted a ground breaking unlawful act and gross negligence manslaughter case involving the supply of DNP slimming tablets to vulnerable girls suffering eating disorders (REBELO). Click here for news item. In 2021 following another appeal, a significant case direction was made available click here.

Coroners Courts

Richard Barraclough KC acted for the Birmingham Coroner in Judicial Review.

R v HM Deputy Coroner for Birmingham ex parte Davies (2003) EWHC 618

He has acted for families in inquests involving complex medical issues

Notable Regulatory Cases

In 2016 he appeared before the National College for Teaching and Leadership on behalf of a teacher.

In Birmingham City Council- v –Wyeth (Trading as SMA Nutrition) he conducted the prosecution of the manufacturers of powdered milk for the illegal advertising of the product. Birmingham Trading Standards launched the prosecution. The case focused on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the UK Infant Formula and Follow on Formula Regulations 1995 and the evidence of world experts in the field. One issue involved the UK’s right to regulate the marketing of baby milk. Professor Tomkins of the Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health London is reported as saying “As someone who has spent his professional life concerned with ways of improving children’s health through improving nutrition and diet and as somebody who sees this as being eroded by attempts to violate the WHO code, I applaud the Trading Standards prosecution of SMA. I offer my thanks and congratulations but more importantly please accept on their behalf the thanks of children born and yet to be born who will benefit from your successful case”.

Re Cassandra Hasanovic where Mr Hasanovic was arrested for assaulting his wife. The proceedings were discontinued. He then murdered her. An Article 2 inquest resulted following his conviction. Richard represented the Crown Prosecution Service. He drafted the response by the DPP to the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths Report (Coroners and Justice Act 2009 Schedule 5 Paragraph 7 and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations) 2013. Click here for BBC News Report.

In Momentum Network Ltd [2012] Birmingham Crown Court Richard was Leading Counsel with Lee Bennett in the landmark prosecution of Momentum Network Ltd (trading as ‘Credit Card Killer’) and it’s directors Basil and Amanda Rankine, for fraud and under the Consumer Protection Regulations 2008. The value of the fraud was in excess of £1.8m and was part of a “debt sale” business described by the Office of Fair Trading as a “scam”. He and Lee Bennett pursued the same defendants in the civil court over some 5 days for enforcement orders under the Enterprise Act and then for the committal of Basil Rankine for contempt including an appeal by the contemnor to the Court of Appeal.
Click here for BBC News Report
Click here for ITV News Report
Click here for Local News Report
Click here for ‘This is Money‘ article

In R v Nicholson [2010] Warrington Crown Court he prosecuted a “loan shark” in Birmingham on behalf of Birmingham Trading Standards National Illegal Money Lending Team and Cheshire Police. The Defendant was convicted of illegal money lending, blackmail, assault and rape. Long sentence and IPP. Click here for news item.

He has advised a major insurer on consumer credit and the components of insurance premiums to be incorporated within APR calculations.

He also has an interest in cybercrime including the “Darknet”, intellectual property, passing off and copyright.

Olson v Maidstone Borough Council Judicial review of a decision to revoke hackney carriage licence after conviction for rape overturned. Issue of standard of proof in such administrative matters.

R v Kent Magistrates Court ex Parte Folkestone Court Practitioners & Users Group CO/2787/98 Review of decision to close local Magistrates courts

Murphy v Director of Public Prosecutions [1990] 2 AER 390

Acted on behalf of the DTI (now DBERR) under the employment agency regulations

In the case of the P&O Ferry Pride of Bilbao accident (Regina v Hubble) where three yachtsmen were alleged to have been struck and killed by a cross Channel ferry, he was Leading Counsel for the defence with a team of experts in hydrodynamics, body drift, tidal movements, radar, sailing and ship construction. The inquiry led to the review of bridge procedures on night hand over and highlighted shortcomings of navigation equipment (lights and radar equipment in particular) and the potential dangers of the presence of a large number of yachts in shipping lanes. Richard recently wrote a paper on this case entitled “Anatomy of a Trial for Manslaughter at Sea“.

Click here for news item.

His paper was accepted for publication by the Journal of International Maritime Law 2014 Vol 20.

He has advised on historic rights to fish over the eastern side of the Wash involving an analysis of the pre Magna Carta rights of the Lords of the Manor, ancient deeds, fishery orders, principles of accretion, intertidal areas and the movements of the sand banks and foreshore over centuries. On one notable occasion he was content to wade into the Wash in order to view fresh water streaming.

He has advised on the rights of certain Scottish islanders to moor their boats without payment of fees to the Crown Estate and the right of the Crown to take up illegal moorings, the islanders relying on Royal Charters of 1400 and 1584, the matter eventually being resolved in Edinburgh. His learning and research were submitted to the Scottish Government for use by the Amicus appointed to represent the islanders (Petition of Crown Estate Commissioners, Opinion of Lord Uist 2010 CSOH 70).

He has advised on ship collisions quantum (Jersey) and on occasion charter parties.

Family courts (fact finding and welfare) where serious allegations are made involving brain and other catastrophic injury, abuse and perplexing presentations/fabricated or induced illness.

Richard Barraclough KC has an interest in psychiatric and personality disorders.

His criminal, medical negligence and personal injury background provide him with particular experience and expertise in this area of practice.

Richard Barraclough KC advises in commercial matters generally including employment, insurance, competition law, gender pricing, bank miss-selling (cap and collar claims), international trusts, policy matters for a variety of institutions, standard banking terms and construction of wills.

By way of further example he has advised and on occasion been involved in litigation in relation to:

The potential liability (considering both UK and US law and practice) of major hotel chains in relation to possible claims for child exploitation where structure, management, staffing and systems are to be considered;
Boundary claims, restrictive covenants and matters of Common Land and the Commons Registration Act 1965;
Commercial contracts;
Penalty clauses;
Publishing contracts;
Franchises;
Computer licence agreements;
Petrol solus agreements;
Land banking schemes;
Excessive charge back levies;
Anti competition issues in relation to insurers and their relationship with aggregators;
Data sharing in the context of insurers and aggregators and anti competition issues;
Expenses insurance and freedom of choice;
Force majeure in the context of commercial contracts between certain major insurers and banks;
Liability of auctioneers for negligence following withdrawal of significant fine art collection by overseas Hong Kong/ American clients;
Unfair dismissal claims
Restrictive covenants in employment contracts
Safeguarding;
Disability discrimination issues
Long term sickness
Expertise in non solicitation/dealing/ competition covenants and team moves
Employment agency prosecution for the (then) DTI
The law of adoption in Russia
Issues of undue influence and capacity
Construction of wills and contentious probate issues including a 10 day trial in the Chancery Division of the High Court representing the family of a deceased who had parted with his estate before death.
Re M (contact; violent parent) [1999] 2 FLR 32 (Fam Div) Principles for allowing contact to violent father.

Landlord & Tenant

Richard Barraclough QC has also significant experience in the area of landlord and tenant, and his cases include:-

Construction of commercial leases;
Forfeiture of leases;
Local authority standard terms of tenancy agreements;
Rent reviews;
Hafton Properties Ltd v Camp & Another [1994] 03 EG 570 (leases)

Planning

R v Sanger (2014) EWHC 1922 (planning enforcement). Leading Emmaline Lambert to the Administrative Court from the Crown Court at Inner London for the London Borough of Newham. Click here for judgment. Click here for final costs and confiscation judgment given on 2nd June 2015.

Sage v Maidstone Borough Council (2003) UKHL 22 (planning enforcement and development) (High Court to the House of Lords)

Compensation claim for farm land under Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996

Advising on construction of Medway Tunnel Act 1990 and the management of the tunnel

Advising on the West End Tottenham Court Road traffic restriction scheme proposed by the London Borough of Camden

Advising on Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in relation to management of moorland

Planning committee for villagers opposing development of conservation site involving consideration of wildlife

Section 106 agreements

Prosecuting illegal money lending, food safety and manslaughter.
Advising local authorities in relation to controlled parking, price structuring and tariffs and potential vulnerability to be treated as ‘revenue generating’.
Data protection policies
Tenancy agreements
Employment issues
Local authority delegated powers and policy matters generally;
Judicial review of local authority tendering process

His work before the Traffic Commissioners has involved work on behalf of corporations in respect of applications for the revocation of operators licences following convictions for environmental offences and for local authorities in respect of allegations of breaches of road traffic legislation.

He has spent many years practising in this area of law and has been involved in a number of multi million pound claims for death and catastrophic injury.

He has acted for hospitals, factories, car manufacturers, London Underground and railway companies amongst others.

He represents major insurers by way of direct access. He was named as Insurance Barrister of the Year by Lawyer Monthly in 2018.

He has an interest in structures generally from buildings and factories to individual gantries, cranes and equipment and in particularly liability for collapse. He has experience of construction claims.

He has a particular interest in psychiatry and stress claims.

He has delivered lectures on this type of claim.

The breadth of his experience covers PVS and other brain damage cases, devastating skeletal and soft tissue injuries, asbestos related conditions, post traumatic stress claims, claims for medical negligence including matters relating to by way of example obstetrics, delayed diagnosis of cancer.

He is expert in the analysis of scientific issues.

He works easily with accountants.

He is happy to travel anywhere to see clients, sites and experts.

He undertakes round table settlement negotiations at any stage of proceedings.

He was Audit Counsel in the Benzodiazepine litigation.

He was instructed in the Myodil litigation.

Cutter v Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd. [1998] 4 AER 417 (compulsory third party insurance). Collision in a car park. Definition of “road” for the purpose of Council Directives and S145(3)(a) RTA 1988.

He conducted the defence of a major security company in relation to the provision of body armour and injury following armed robberies.

He has been involved in cases where a patient escaped from a psychiatric hospital and committed suicide and a resident who escaped from a local authority care home and was injured.

His knowledge and experience of criminal and civil liability work makes him the perfect advocate and advisor in health and safety matters.

He has delivered lectures to the British Thoracic Society (asbestos related law), and to Solicitors (in crime, civil and planning including inter alia abuse of process and the Ogden Multipliers), to senior investigating officers of the Metropolitan Police on homicide investigation and murder trials and to schools on the anatomy of knife murder.

"He is hard-working and stands out because of his quiet presence."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2025]

"Richard has an enormous capacity for detail, his analytical skills are unique and he is empathetic - he cannot be faulted."

― Legal 500 [2025]

"Richard is meticulous in his preparation and leaves no stone unturned in his pursuit of the truth. He commands respect because he is a careful thinker who plans his cases in detail from the outset. His witness care skills are excellent: a balance of calm authority with human empathy."

― Legal 500 [2025]

"An exceptional barrister and outstanding advocate in the courtroom with a commanding presence."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2022]

"He never loses focus in multi-day cross-examinations."

― Legal 500 [2021]

"Brilliant with clients, thoroughly prepared and an excellent presence in court."

― Legal 500 [2020]

"A highly experienced and accomplished silk who both prosecutes and defends a wide range of criminal cases. His caseload includes matters concerning serious sexual offences, violent crime, and he has acted in a number of homicides recently"

"He is very persuasive, very engaging and his work is of a very high standard."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2018]

"Highly recommended for serious sex trafficking and homicide cases."

― Legal 500 [2016]

"He has a very commanding presence in court that the jury could not fail to notice." "He is an outstanding barrister. He makes clients believe that he is on their side and that he is there for them."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2015]

"Commentators speak highly of his fantastic performance in court. His mixed defence and prosecution practice encompasses all serious criminal cases, and in particular complex murders". "He has a very distinctive, deep voice, which is almost a trade mark - it gives him a unique and effective courtroom style".

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2014]

Notable cases include: