Practice Profile
Richard is a CEDR accredited mediator who has mediated many disputes and acted for parties involved in mediations, principally in relation to his practice areas at the Bar. He has a high success rate as a mediator.
Recently, he has been involved in multi-million pound cases for BT, the GLA, a range of water companies (including Anglian, Northumbrian, United Utilities and Yorkshire), Virgin Media, Belfast International Airport and Harrods.
His mediation style is to seek to build relationships of trust speedily, to defuse antagonisms, build co-operation and encourage pragmatism while also drawing the focus as swiftly as possible to the critical issues. He recognises that preparation both by the mediator and the parties is essential for a mediation to have the necessary direction and sense of progress. He benefits from acting as mediator because it develops empathy and soft skills that are of vital importance for the entirety of his practice.
He practices in town and country planning, local government, rating, compulsory purchase and compensation law, parliamentary bills, infrastructure, and administrative law. He has a wealth of experience and a strong reputation for advising and conducting litigation and mediation – both in England & Wales and further afield (having been involved in cases in Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, the Caribbean and Ascension Island) - in those fields. He appears regularly at inquiries, in tribunals and the courts. He acts for claimants, ratepayers, developers and local authorities.
He is Leader of the Parliamentary Bar.
He is General Editor of Ryde on Rating & the Council Tax, the leading text book on rating.
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"He is approachable and willing to give very practical advice." "He is very experienced and he has a certain manner that endears him to clients”. "He is very analytical and very good at applying his knowledge of law to practical problems."
Chambers and Partners, 2016"A very confident and strategic advocate, Richard has a lot of knowledge about this area and its history."
Chambers and Partners, 2023"He knows the subject matter inside out and is incredibly eloquent". "He's incredibly intelligent." "He is really sharp-witted and very good strategically".
Chambers and Partners, 2018“He is convincing in his arguments and has an excellent tribunal manner”.
The Legal 500, 2017"Richard is really experienced and knows this area very well. He is very knowledgeable in court and good on his feet."
Chambers and Partners, 2023