Richard is multi-qualified as a Barrister, Solicitor and Chartered Quantity Surveyor and has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Apart from his work as legal adviser on many projects around the world, the focus of his work is dispute resolution. Richard is an experienced adjudicator, arbitrator and mediator. Prior to reading law and being called to the Bar in 1996, Richard started his career as a Site Surveyor and went on to become a Contracts Director/Chief Surveyor.

Richard has acted on a wide variety of construction, building, telecommunications, rail and civil engineering projects which involved the investigation, management and successful resolution of contractual and commercial disputes Having acted as arbitrator, adjudicator, mediator, lead representative and as expert witness on matters of quantum, programming and planning, Richard is highly experienced, both as a party representative and as advocate, in all forms of litigation and dispute resolution, including arbitration, adjudication, mediation, conciliation, expert determination and dispute boards.

Richard has acted as lead representative in over 600 adjudications, 31 of which have been reported in cases. Richard is well known for his robust approach and ability to lead from the front. Example of recent reported cases:

• Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd v Higgins Construction Plc [2013] EWCA Civ 1541
• Glendalough Associated SA v Harris Calnan Construction Co. Ltd [2013] (TCC)
• Thameside Construction Company Ltd v Stevens & Anor [2013] EWHC 2071 (TCC)
• Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd v Higgins Construction Plc [2013] EWHC 1322 (TCC)
• Thameside Construction Company Ltd v Arthenella Ltd [2011] EWHC 2695 (TCC)
• Fileturn Ltd v Royal Garden Hotel Ltd [2010] EWHC 1736 (TCC)
• Harris Calnan Construction Co. Ltd v Ridgewood (Kensington) Ltd [2007] EWHC 2738 (TCC)
• Mears Ltd v Costplan Services (South East) Ltd and Others {2019}EWCA Civ 502

Richard has been appointed by party agreement and from a number of appointing bodies including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Examples of reported cases in both England & Wales and Northern Ireland are:

• JG Walker Groundworks Ltd v Priory Homes (East) Ltd [2013] EWHC 3723 (TCC) (6 December 2013)
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive v Healthy Buildings Ltd [2013] NIQB (24 October 2013)
• CG Group Ltd v Breyer Group Plc [2013] EWHC 2722 (TCC) (05 September 2013)
• Bexheat Ltd v Essex Services Limited [2022] EWHC 936 (TCC)

Richard regularly advises clients upon the many and various issues that can impact upon a project through its lifecycle from pre-contract to post-completion, including strategic and dispute avoidance advice during the engineering and construction process. Richard had significant experience in the vetting, drafting and negotiation of a range of construction and engineering contracts (including JCT, NEC, FIDIC, IChemE, and EPC) and in the drafting and reviewing of main contracts, sub-contracts, bonds, guarantees and collateral warranties.

Richard is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Richard is also a member of:

• The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• The Law Society of England & Wales
• The Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association
• The Chartered Institute of Building
• The Expert Witness Institute
• The Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors

What clients say:

“I have known Richard for many years and have engaged him a couple of times in a professional capacity and have to say I have always found his legal knowledge and work to be excellent, he is very committed and self-motivated in achieving the right results.”

“First class legal representative, expansive construction and building industry knowledge with a great success rate for clients. No hesitation in recommending Richard’s skills and work ethic.”

“I personally worked with Richard for the first time in 2008 when he advised on some complex construction contract negotiations, although he has been associated with our company for many years prior. Richard is a font of knowledge on the pitfalls of contract detail. He has the ability to advise today to cover the potential of future happenings, for the protection of all parties involved. He always provides detailed advice based on real life potential and I would have no hesitation in recommending his contract legal services in the future.”