He is ranked in Chambers UK and The Legal 500, being described by sources as “phenomenal”, “extraordinarily focussed”, “calm”, “strategic and commercial”, “super impressive”, “a first-class lawyer” and “the complete package”.
He has extensive experience representing companies and individuals in the most serious, complex and high-profile contentious matters. He advises regarding investigations and prosecutions involving offences such as corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety, food safety and hygiene, environmental , fire safety, and product safety. He is frequently involved in significant cases involving ESG compliance issues. He also advises regarding financial offences such as fraud, bribery, insider dealing, market manipulation and money laundering.
He is instructed at the earliest stages to provide creative, strategic and proactive advice regarding crisis management, internal and external investigations, regulators’ powers (e.g. dawn raids, compelled document requests and enforcement notices), corporate co-operation, interviews under caution, prosecutions, civil penalties and associated proceedings such as inquests and inquiries. He is skilled at using the latest technology to meticulously prepare large cases.
Richard’s cases often require technical expertise in overlapping areas of business crime and regulation, for example joint police and HSE investigations, and allegations of regulatory breaches combined with financial crime.
His experience includes matters falling within the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environment Agency (EA), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Local Authorities, Fire and Rescue Authorities, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Insolvency Service and police / Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
He is frequently asked to comment on regulatory and corporate crime issues, including writing and speaking about novel developments and trends.
After graduating from the University of Leeds with an LLB (Hons) degree in 2003, Richard completed his Legal Practice Course with a distinction and was awarded the Law Society Prize for the highest mark achieved at the learning institution that year. He trained and qualified into a leading national firm before moving to an international firm. Richard joined BCL in 2012 and became a partner in 2018.
Cases:
- Advising a company in relation to The Grenfell Tower fire.
- Advising in relation to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.
- Advising a utility company regarding the largest ever investigation by the Environment Agency.
- Representing a defendant in the largest and most complex investigation into insider dealing ever conducted by the FCA.
- Advising a global steel producer regarding a joint Police and HSE corporate manslaughter and health and safety investigation following a double fatality.
Publications:
- ‘Corporate Investigations 2024 – England & Wales’ – ICLG (co-author) (January 2024)
- ‘Environment Agency to issue £250 million civil penalties to polluting water companies’ (co-author) (October 2022)
- ‘UK greenwashers could face crackdown following US and German actions’ – Investors Chronicle / Financial Times (contributor) (June 2022)
- ‘CMA to issue consumer protection penalties of up to 10% of global turnover – greenwashing becomes more costly’ (April 2022)
- ‘You receive a Health and Safety Improvement or Prohibition Notice: when, why, and what to do next’ (March 2022)
- ‘Covid Inquiry: what is it and will prosecutions follow?’ (June 2021)
- ‘Tesco fine serves as warning to food industry’ – New Food Magazine (May 2021)
- ‘Unlawful killing following Maughan’ – The Barrister (April 2021)
- ‘Tesco receives highest ever food safety fine of £7.56 million’ – New Food Magazine (April 2021)
- ‘SFO cooperation guidance provides clarity on leniency’ – Compliance Week (contributor) (August 2019)
- ‘Perils of self-reporting’ – Financier Worldwide (July 2019)
- ‘Self-reporting of corporate wrongdoing should be further encouraged’ – Euronews (July 2019)
- ‘Food allergen labelling consultation launched following high profile inquest’ (February 2019)
- ‘Corporate Investigations 2019 – England & Wales’ – ICLG (co-author) (January 2019)
- ‘Regulating autonomous vehicles – New corporate criminal offences’ (January 2019)
- ‘New manslaughter sentencing guideline likely to lead to longer prison sentences’ (September 2018)
Speaking:
Richard is regularly invited to present on business crime and regulatory issues, particularly in relation to emerging risks. Recent speaking engagements include:
- British Institute of International and Comparative Law – ‘HRDD Forum: Transnational Implications of mHREDD Laws’ (27 June 2023)
- Lexology, BCL Solicitors and 2 Bedford Row (Eleanor Sanderson and Shauna Ritchie) – “Defending Regulatory Investigations & Prosecutions” (November 2022)
- Matrix Chambers – Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Conference – ‘Greenwashing: Who, Where, What, Why, How?’ (April 2022)
Professional Memberships:
- Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- UKELA (UK Environmental Law Association)
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- The Law Society