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Overview
Richard joined Albion Chambers and built a highly successful junior practice in criminal law, before leaving chambers to move overseas. Richard thereafter successfully pursued a career in corporate finance, before returning to the UK and chambers in 2017. Since returning to chambers Richard has built an impressive and busy specialist financial remedy practice.
Richard is Head of Albion Chambers having previously held positions within the chambers leadership team and most recently as chambers Treasurer.
As a result of his corporate experience, he is able to combine commercial acumen, with the highest levels of advocacy and negotiation skills, setting him apart from his peers.
Richard regularly undertakes high value work, where issues can include the valuation and treatment of private companies and pension resources, along with the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements. Richard is also regularly instructed in TOLATA claims.
Richards’s reputation continues to go from strength-to-strength, and he is now the first choice for many of the leading financial remedy firms in the Southwest.
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Matrimonial Finance
Given Richard’s recent background in corporate advisory work, he has a particular interest in cases that involve the valuation of companies.
Additionally, since his return to chambers, he has undertaken work where issues included the assessment of assets outside of the jurisdiction, the applicability of Sharia Law, the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements and the impact of future inheritance.
Some of Richards recent cases include:
- W v W – Acted for applicant W where the issues included delay in issuing proceedings, assessment of assets outside of the jurisdiction and an assertion by H that the parties had entered into a binding agreement regarding the division of marital assets prior to the issue of proceedings.
- L v P – Acted for H in a case where, after a long marriage of over 25 years, the asset base exceeded £5.2m. FDR arguments included determination of matrimonial and non-matrimonial property and future prospects of a significant inheritance. Case settled at FDR with an award of £2m being made to W leaving H with in excess of 70% of the value of the pre-marital asset.
- L v L – Acted for H where issues involved argument as to matrimonial and non-matrimonial property in relation to significant pre-marital assets held outside of the jurisdiction, along with the impact of a significant future inheritance.
- A v A – Acted for W in proceedings where H challenged the jurisdiction of the courts, asserting that the parties had previously been divorced and assets divided in compliance with the principles of Sharia Law.
- F v F – Acted for H where W ran a conduct and contribution case in an attempt to resist sharing a significant police pension resource.
- E v E – Acted for W where H had failed to engage in the court process. Issues included committal proceedings against H for contempt, and adverse inferences being drawn by the court at final hearing as a result of non-disclosure.
- T v T – Advised W in relation to the enforceability of a pre-nuptial agreement that was entered into by W with the benefit of legal advice.
- N v K – Acted for W where issue revolved around legal ownership of the FMH. Proceedings included a preliminary hearing to determine legal ownership that involved joinder of a third party domiciled in Syria.
In November 2017, Richard delivered a presentation on “Spousal Maintenance and the Assessment of Needs” at the Devon & Somerset Law Society’s Financial Remedies and Trusts of Land: Practice and Update.
