Role
Richard is a solicitor and was a partner and Head of Corporate and Banking Litigation at Norton Rose. He has practised as a Chartered Arbitrator, a Registered Commercial Mediator and a High Court Advocate (Civil). Since leaving full-time legal practice he held the position of Professor of Dispute Resolution at Nottingham Law School, where he is now an Honorary Professor.
Career overview
Teaching – Has taught dispute resolution skills, procedure, contract law and conflict of laws (private international law) in law firms and universities in the UK, USA, China, Hong Kong and in many European countries. Having studied at Harvard Law School (short courses) he regularly teaches in the United States for Lex Mundi and has lecture slots at leading UK city and regional law firms and in-house legal departments of companies to practising lawyers and their clients.
Mediation - Lead mediation roles in well over 100 mediations concerning secured lending disputes, rights of way, options, neighbour disputes, commercial landlord and tenant disputes, social housing disputes, professional negligence relating to property transactions and Independent Housing Ombudsman Mediation scheme appointments. Other mediations relating to computer hardware contract disputes, computer software disputes, fraud and professional negligence.
Railway disputes - Since 2010 has been the Allocation Chair and a Hearing Chair of the Access Disputes Committee, which is responsible for the operation of the dispute resolution procedures that form part of Access Agreements of all industry participants on the national railway network of Great Britain. The Allocation Chair has a variety of powers and responsibilities under the Access Dispute Resolution Rules which form part of the Network Code and Hearing Chairs determine disputes with the assistance of industry advisors.
Arbitration - As sole arbitrator and representing parties – Arbitrations concerning completion accounts arising from commercial property transactions, rent reviews, service charge and other landlord and tenant disputes, and railway arbitrations. Conducted contested hearings on merits and directions hearings as sole arbitrator and written reasoned awards. As Allocation Chair of the Access Disputes Committee - holding oral hearings, telephone hearings, papers only applications, the writing of reasoned decisions and advice to the Committee on matters of arbitration, mediation, adjudication and litigation.
Legal practice – While in practice he was involved in numerous reported cases conducted in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords, including Wimpey Homes Ltd v. Scottish Special Housing Association [1986] 1 WLR 995 HL, (insurance provisions in the JCT contracts) and Ashville Investments Ltd v. Elmer Contractors Ltd [1988] 2 All ER 577; [1988] 2 Lloyd's Rep 73n CA, (jurisdiction of arbitrators to deal with fraud and misrepresentation claims).