Barrister Profile
Within his private law practice he often deals with matters which require fact-finding hearings on the most serious of allegations, intractible hostility cases and has experience of cases involving international abduction and leave to remove from the jurisdiction.
Richard’s financial practice centres around ancillary relief on divorce, including cases with intervenors and Tolata matters, however he also has experience of enforcement proceedings and is often able to broker a successful compromise agreement in cases without parties having to endure the stress and expense of a final hearing.
Expertise
Family: Care & Children
Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings
In public law children matters, Richard represents local authorities, parents, grandparents and guardians. Richard is regularly instructed in very complex matters, and has considerable experience in cases involving alleged non-accidental injury, complicated medical evidence, sexual abuse cases and neglect. He has experience in lengthy private fact-findings which include the instruction and challenge of expert evidence. Richard frequently encounters applications within care proceedings for Special Guardianship Orders.
He is experienced in international jurisdictional issues, medical treatment cases and issues of disclosure both in the Family Court and under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.
Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989
Richard frequently advises and acts in a wide range of private law children applications – from contact/residence disputes, including cases involving serious allegations of domestic violence, sexual abuse and parental alienation – to choice of schools and medical treatment. He has represented parents, relatives and children in complex cases.
Domestic violence & injunctions
Richard has considerable experience in injunctive proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996, dealing with both ex parte and on notice applications. He has represented Applicants and Respondents in serious non-molestation matters and occupation orders. He is also experienced in Protection from Harassment actions.
Family: Finance
Richard's family finance work frequently involves complicating factors such as trusts, hidden assets, and enforcement. He also has experience in more modest cases that regularly involve difficult or creative solutions.
Richard has a strong practice in matrimonial finance and property disputes and attends all hearings during the course of proceedings including MPS applications, final hearings and enforcement at all levels.
Cohabitation including Trusts of Land & Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
Richard has a wealth of experience in cases involving property disputes under Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. TOLATA (both as freestanding civil applications and as an intervener within financial remedy proceedings).
Richard accepts instructions under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.