Extensive experience in silk in large scale matrimonial finance, public and private law child cases and criminal work. Specifically – public law child cases involving all types of harm for LAs, parents and guardians. Private law children work concerning living arrangements, international relocation, adoption and child abduction and criminal work, including serious fraud, murder and sex abuse.

Extensive experience as a Deputy High Court Judge, Recorder and Deemster (IOM) including Financial Dispute Resolution hearings, matrimonial finance, public and private law children, adoption, permanent relocation abroad and child abduction cases.

Finance cases of interest include:

 

      • SK v WL (Ancillary Relief: Post Separation Accrual) 2011 1 FLR 1471 (Moylan J) represented wife in high value money case involving a business and the treatment of matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets. Mostyn QC now Mostyn J represented the husband.
      • AB and CB and Trustees of the X Trust 2014 EWHC 2998 (Fam) (Mostyn J) treatment of a post nuptial trust asset to meet needs of the parties.

Advised upon and settled many high value cases and appeared in Schedule 1 children disputes.

Richard has appeared for all types of parties in sex abuse, factitious illness, physical abuse and neglect cases at both High Court and County Court level and has extensive experience of trying such cases as a Deputy High Court Judge and a Recorder. In the last two years he has appeared for parents in alleged shaken baby, tin ear syndrome, factitious illness, physical and emotional abuse cases in courts outside London.

Cases of interest include:

 

      • Re KDT (a minor) (CA) 1994 2 FCR 721 represented a  LA where the appeal against a care order was dismissed. The appellant had contended that conditions could and should be attached to a care order.
      • Re L 2013 EWCA Civ 1481 leave to oppose adoption application, represented proposed adopter in CA.

Richard has undertaken as a judge numerous private FDRs in high value and complex matters. Details and the parties are confidential.  Former extensive judicial experience in FDR cases as a Deputy High Court Judge and at county court level as a Recorder.

Richard has represented parents in relocation cases at first instance and in the CA, and in cases involving intractable hostility by one parent to the other and in disputes about general child arrangements.

Qualified mediator in children and finance work and has undertaken numerous cases in England and Jersey and one in Gibraltar. All such cases must remain confidential.

Cases of interest include:

 

      • K v K 2009 EWCA Civ 986 took over case at appellate stage where Sir Mark Potter had determined the extent to which the English Court should follow Spanish law on the issue of PR and then successfully represented the mother before Munby J on a Hague Convention defence. Judicial experience in trying child abduction cases.
      • Also represented a father whose wife was ordered to return their child to the Lebanon.

For many years Richard prosecuted and defended in all types of criminal cases including murder, serious fraud, rape and sexual abuse.

Crime cases have included:

 

      • R v Price 2004 EWCA Crim 1359
      • R v Richens 1993 4 All ER 877
      • R v Wishart 2005 EWCA Crim 1337
      • In 2015 successfully represented a Defendant at Willesden MC on a common assault charge.

Reputation & Awards

‘a very solid, very senior silk, who has been there, seen it and done it’

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS 2018

Richard is extremely knowledgeable about the law relating to children. He is a calm, charming and robust advocate who gets to the point in a way that everyone can understand.’ – Legal 500, 2024

‘Richard’s diligence and attention to detail are his key strength. He has a good grasp of the multiple documents and complex chronology.’
– Legal 500, 2023

‘His knowledge base of the family justice system and its development over the years adds so much to his work and that level of experience is irreplaceable.’
– Legal 500, 2021

‘Is a thoughtful and thorough advocate; a force to be reckoned with in negotiation. He is very respected by the Bar and bench alike.’
– Legal 500, 2021

‘ Continues to be a commanding voice in court. ’
– Legal 500, 2020

‘ Inspires the utmost respect from judges and his opposition. ’
– Legal 500, 2020

‘a very solid, very senior silk, who has been there, seen it and done it’
– Chambers & Partners, 2018

‘Truly excellent’ (children law) & ‘Excellent’ (divorce and finance)
– Legal 500, 20018

Education

Council of Legal Education London
Bristol University BA in Classics and Philosophy
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Darlington
State primary school in Darlington

Professional Memberships

FLBA
Resolution
SE Circuit
Sussex Sessions Bar Mess

Privacy Notice

Please click here

Print PDF Back to index

https://www.1kbw.co.uk | clerks@1kbw.co.uk | 020 7936 1500 | Copyright 1 King's Bench Walk 2024