Richard Honey practises as a barrister in the fields of public law and environmental law, with particular specialisms in judicial review and High Court statutory challenges, infrastructure projects, compulsory purchase, compensation and land valuation, and commons and village greens. He is called to the Bars of England and Wales and Northern Ireland. He is a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel of junior counsel to the Crown. Richard appears most frequently in the Planning Court and in the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber.
Richard is ranked as a leading barrister in four separate fields in Chambers and Partners: local government; environment; planning; and agriculture and rural affairs. He was the environment/planning junior of the year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards in 2018 (nominated in 2016 also).
In environmental law, Richard has been ranked as a leading barrister by both Chambers and Partners (2010-2020) and Legal 500 (2010-2019). Richard has been listed as the leading junior barrister in environmental law by Who’s Who Legal.
In planning law, Richard has been ranked as a leading barrister by both Chambers and Partners (2012-2020) and Legal 500 (2008-2019). He was ranked in the top 10 highest rated planning junior barristers in the Planning magazine survey in 2013, 2015 and 2017. He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2020 and the 2019 Legal 500.
Richard is also ranked by Chambers and Partners in local government (2014-2015, 2019-2020) and in agriculture and rural affairs (2015-2020), and by the Legal 500 in agriculture (2019).
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“"Brilliant." "He's very thorough and won't beat around the bush if he thinks something is wrong or unnecessary"” Chambers and Partners, 2020
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“Tenacious litigator and excellent advocate” Legal 500, 2019
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Has an expansive environmental practice that sees him advising on a range of matters including permitting, pollution liability, waste and land contamination, environmental taxation and protected habitats and species. He acts for both government bodies and regulated individuals and organisations. "He gets to grips with a huge amount of information quickly and his grasp of the detail is really impressive." "Very clever."” Chambers and Partners, 2019
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“"His knowledge of environmental and planning law is fantastic. He brings a fresh approach to criminal cases." "He gains people's trust and confidence very quickly and is extremely responsive and sensible."” Chambers and Partners, 2018
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“Has a broad environment practice that sees him advising on matters relating to permitting, pollution liability, waste and land contamination, protected habitats and species and environmental crime and taxation. Strengths: “He offers high-quality legal analysis, has a very quick turnaround of papers and provides advice which is practical, easy to understand and useful.” “Extremely thorough and very communicative, he’s a dream for a solicitor.”” Chambers and Partners, 2017
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“An environment focused junior who has experience dealing with permitting issues, nuisance cases and Environmental Agency prosecutions. Strengths: “He is a very measured barrister who’s mature beyond his years.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2016
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“He is excellent and is incredibly diligent.” Chambers and Partners, 2015
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“Seen as an environmental all-rounder, he has expertise in areas such as toxic tort cases, noise nuisance, EIAs, and matters relating to the Habitats Directive. He acts in both criminal and civil cases, and is regularly instructed by public bodies such as the Environment Agency and Natural England. Expertise: “He is outstanding” and “very bright.”” Chambers and Partners, 2014
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“Sources single out Richard Honey as “a star of the future: he provides clear legal and commercial advice and is an impressive advocate in court.” Honey is regularly called upon to act in a wide range of environmental cases, including matters relating to environmental crime, as well as habitats and nature conservation, contaminated land, waste, statutory nuisance and civil liability for pollution.” Chambers and Partners, 2012
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“Has “superb knowledge of environmental law, especially when it comes to hard-to-grasp, arcane subject matters.” He practises in all areas of planning and environment work, proving especially good on infrastructure issues.” Chambers and Partners, 2011
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“His attention to detail is phenomenal and his advocacy, particularly in cross-examination, is subtle and equally impressive” Legal 500, 2018
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“Exceptional - the go-to junior for serious environmental cases” Legal 500, 2016
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“Regularly appears in the High Court, and is an expert on compulsory purchase and infrastructure cases. He also features frequently in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). He is called to the Bars of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, and represents defendants and claimants of all kinds. Strengths: "A leading light in regards to CPO work, who is balanced, details-oriented and disciplined in the courtroom."” Chambers and Partners, 2018
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He has a very measured, never over-the-top, advocacy style and can unpick any legal problem however knotty” Chambers and Partners, 2017
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“His attention to detail is phenomenal and his advocacy, particularly in cross-examination, is subtle and equally impressive” Legal 500, 2018
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“Rated for his assimilation of detail and clear strategy” Legal 500, 2016
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“has a vast environmental law practice” Legal 500, 2014
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“many clients’ ‘preferred junior counsel for environmental matters’” Legal 500, 2012
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“quick thinking, an excellent advocate and unflappable under pressure” Legal 500, 2011
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“A co-operative and collaborative junior with superb judgement and experience of advocacy before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He also regularly appears in the High Court, and is an expert on compulsory purchase and infrastructure cases. He also features frequently in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). He represents defendants and claimants of all kinds.” Chambers and Partners, 2020
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“"Very much a member of the modern Bar. He's very accessible, very commercial, easy to deal with and his advocacy is great." "He has a real eye for detail and is very commercially aware. He has practised as a surveyor, and you can see that shining through in the nature of his advice and strategic approach he takes."” Chambers and Partners, 2019
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“Regularly features in complex infrastructure, planning and compulsory purchase cases, particularly in the High Court. He is also adept at handling judicial reviews. Strengths: “He has a phenomenal capacity for getting through matters and a very, very strong eye for detail.” “He is incredibly commercial and he previously worked as a surveyor. That shines through in the way he’s able to lend a practical steer to a case.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2016
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“Particularly adept at handling cases that raise both planning and environment issues. Expertise: “He is exceptionally good: bright, persuasive and easy to understand. Clients understand what he’s saying even when he’s discussing something very tricky.” “He is superb. He is always well prepared, works very hard, goes the extra mile and has a very good legal brain.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2015
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“Richard Honey continues to increase his profile as a notable planning junior, and is particularly experienced in matters involving compulsory purchase compensation and infrastructure issues. He frequently appears before the High Court on behalf of both defendants and claimants in challenges to planning decisions. Expertise: “He has very impressive attention to detail and is able to guide you through the case in a very effective manner.” “He is a very creative problem solver.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2014
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“The rapid rise of the “always excellent” Richard Honey continues unabated. Sources were keen to praise his work, calling him “one of those people who just presents his case very nicely and very convincingly, without making a huge song and dance about it.” His “terrific eye for detail” is often cast over High Court challenges to planning decisions”. Chambers and Partners, 2013
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“knowledgeable, dependable and highly intelligent”, “whom solicitors like as “he explains his advice to clients clearly and concisely.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2012
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“A skilled advisor, dogged in his determination, and a go-to for planning, compulsory purchase orders and compensation work in particular” Legal 500, 2018
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“very thorough, with good cross-examination and presentation skills” Legal 500, 2015
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“very thorough, with good cross-examination and presentation skills” Legal 500, 2015
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“He is very thorough, very meticulous, and instils confidence in clients.” Chambers and Partners, 2015
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“Acts both for and against local government bodies in a wide range of matters. He has particular experience in compulsory purchase and compensation cases, as well as highways and planning matters. He is also regularly instructed in cases involving local taxation, rating and local government powers. Strengths: "Richard is a skilled advocate and adviser, and he's also a pleasure to work with." "He skilfully highlights the key issues in a case and is very easy and agreeable to work with."” Chambers and Partners, 2020
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“"He has a terrific eye for detail, is very thorough and inspires confidence." "Richard's advice and advocacy is superb. He relates well to clients and communicates his advice clearly and precisely."” Chambers and Partners, 2018
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“Richard Honey demonstrates considerable skill in handling CPOs and compensation matters. Expertise: “He is unfailingly courteous and really goes the extra mile to assist. He is at his very best when dealing with complex matters requiring a really forensic, high-level approach.”“ Chambers and Partners, 2014
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“Well regarded for acting in town or village green registrations. His broad practice also covers local government, environment and general public law matters. He is noted for his in-depth expertise in protected habitats and species preservation issues. Strengths: "He is clear, concise and tactically aware." "He is very good; he puts a tremendous amount of effort into his work and is well organised."” Chambers and Partners, 2020
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“"He's done a lot of research into the more obscure areas of the law in this area, and his knowledge is encyclopaedic." "He's a very efficient advocate who never labours a point."” Chambers and Partners, 2019
“"Richard is unquestionably very able and knowledgeable of this area." "A great guy, a good lawyer and someone who is fantastically assiduous."” Chambers and Partners, 2017
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“Has significant experience in handling village green cases, and advises on highways and right of way issues. He also acts on countryside access matters, including issues concerning national parks. Expertise: “He made some strong submissions in a judicial review case and the judge was impressed.” “He is a strong choice for difficult planning and environmental issues.”” Chambers and Partners, 2016
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“enjoys an increasingly high profile for matters concerning commons and town and village greens. He acts as both advocate and inspector in cases relating to green registration applications, and also advises on highways, rights of way and other countryside matters. Expertise: “He clearly has a very comprehensive understanding of highways and footpaths and the law concerning rights of way.”” Chambers and Partners, 2015