Richard is a highly experienced dispute resolution lawyer who helps businesses resolve complex, high-value and commercially sensitive disputes. He combines robust legal analysis with clear, practical advice, helping clients protect their commercial position while managing cost, risk, reputation and business disruption.
Before joining Harper James, Richard was a partner and held senior leadership roles at several leading national law firms. He has advised household-name corporates, major UK financial institutions and SMEs, giving him a broad understanding of the challenges organisations face at every stage of growth.
Richard specialises in complex, high-value litigation across a wide range of contentious matters, including financial services disputes and regulatory investigations, commercial litigation, professional negligence claims, shareholder disputes, commercial debt recovery and insolvency matters, and property disputes. Known for his strategic and pragmatic approach, he helps clients resolve disputes effectively while protecting their commercial interests.
Richard also has extensive experience managing large-scale dispute portfolios, remediation schemes and outsourcing projects. He advises businesses on complex disputes, helping them manage risk and secure commercial, cost-effective outcomes through negotiation, litigation and ADR. Working closely with in-house legal teams and senior stakeholders, he develops effective dispute resolution strategies, manages sensitive matters and delivers pragmatic, commercially focused advice.
Clients value Richard’s ability to cut through complex legal and factual issues, focus on what matters commercially and maintain momentum in challenging cases. One client described his approach as “professional, strategic and persistent”, adding that it was “the key to achieving the best outcome”.
Work highlights include:
- Defending a UK bank in a £35 million fraud claim
- Leading recoveries in a large multi-party mortgage fraud case recovering circa. £2 million
- Managing a volume professional negligence ADR programme
- Advising a banking client on £5 million commission clawback claim
Outside work, Richard enjoys spending time with his family and has a longstanding love of rugby.
