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Chambers & Partners
“A superb advocate. Good at cutting through the noise to get at the points that matter.”
Richard Liddell KC is an experienced commercial advocate. His practice encompasses all areas of commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on construction and engineering, insurance, international arbitration, professional liability and sports law.
Many of his cases have an international dimension and he is frequently instructed in commercial and construction disputes in the Middle East before the DIFC Courts (where he has rights of audience) and in arbitration claims.
In addition to acting as an advocate and adviser, Rick is also regularly appointed as Arbitrator.
Rick is recommended as a leading practitioner in the legal directories in the following practice areas:
Rick is described by the directories as “incredibly responsive and a fantastic team player. Rick is a naturally gifted advocate with incisive cross examination and persuasive submissions.” “A powerful advocate and a joy to work with” and a “shrewd tactician” who is “intelligent and meticulous”, “very personable” and “good under pressure”. Rick is also described as someone who “manages difficult clients well”; is “very good on dispute strategy and tactics” and “good at cutting through the noise to get at the points that matter.” “Richard is a consummate team player, who is always up to speed on the details of even very complicated matters.”
Rick prides himself on being an incisive and responsive barrister and a user-friendly team player. He places particular emphasis on having a command of the detail but without getting bogged down in trivia and being able to provide the best practical and commercial solution to legal problems. “His intellect and quick grasp of the key issues in any claim is matched by his flexibility, commerciality and user-friendliness both for instructing solicitors and clients – a quality now always seen in KCs of his experience.” “Rick is also a brilliant strategist with an eye for the killer point that makes the difference.”
Rick appears in courts at all levels and in various jurisdictions as well as in sports disciplinary tribunals, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Rick’s commercial dispute resolution experience includes freezing injunctions and pre-action disclosure applications.
He undertakes a wide range of commercial work, including general commercial litigation, sale of goods, product liability, partnership disputes and commercial contract claims.
Featured Commercial Dispute Resolution cases
He was awarded a first in International Commercial Litigation whilst at Cambridge University and is particularly interested in the finance of international trade and has experience of claims involving conflict of laws.
Rick is a member of the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR).
Rick has wide experience and expertise in acting as advocate and adviser in domestic and international arbitrations, including:
His experience includes cases seated in London, Paris, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, the UAE (Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Global Market), as well as the application of foreign laws including those of UAE and Islamic Sharia, Ukraine, Russia and Monegasque.
He also accepts appointments as an arbitrator and has sat as sole arbitrator and as part of a panel.
Featured International Arbitration cases
A large amount of Rick’s work has an insurance element. As an incident of his construction and professional liability work, Rick frequently advises on policy interpretation and coverage issues. He has also been retained in several international reinsurance arbitrations of high value.
He has extensive experience of insurance disputes involving the construction of policies, the avoidance of cover and other policy issues generally (including aggregation clauses) and is also regularly instructed by insurers in subrogated recovery actions. He has been involved in a number of cases (for both insureds and insurers) where substantial business interruption losses have been claimed. He has recently co-authored an article on event cancellation insurance, which considers various coverage issues arising from the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.4newsquare.com/publications/sporting-event-cancellation-insurance-will-it-play-ball-or-be-kicked-into-touch/
Featured Insurance & Reinsurance cases
Rick’s interest in the field of insurance is not just confined to the cases in which he is instructed. Rick regularly gives talks and seminars to solicitors and insurers including seminars on HLB Kidsons v Lloyds and Aspen Insurance v Pectel and talks on “Design and Construct Insurance” and “Limits on Liability in Professional Indemnity Policies”.
He also assisted Lord Justice Rix in his preparation for The Peter Taylor Memorial Lecture: “Should Sprung lose its spring?” The Court of Appeal in Sprung v Royal Insurance (UK) Ltd [1999] 1 Lloyd’s Rep IR 111 had decided that there can be no claim for consequential loss by an insured for breach of a contract of insurance. Rick first had to consider the decision in Sprung when he was instructed on behalf of Countrywide Assured Group PLC. In the case of Mandrake v Countrywide [2005] EWCA Civ 840 (Rick was junior counsel to Michael Soole KC), the Court of Appeal held that it was bound by the present state of the law (Sprung) but Rix LJ stated that it seemed to him that the ‘controversial issues raised…may well interest their Lordships’ House’.
“Richard Liddell is consistently excellent and is a brilliant advocate both in writing and orally.” “He is very sharp and incredibly hard-working. It is impressive how quickly he can digest voluminous and complex documentation and summarise key points that require actioning.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Rick is exceptionally hard-working and client-focused. His advice is clear, concise and commercial. He is easy to work with and clients love his approach.” – Legal 500, 2024
“Richard Liddell has a first-rate attention to detail and is incredibly thorough.” “He is very commercial, gives practical and focused advice which is tailored to the client. He is also very quick to understand the commercial goals and what the client wants to achieve.” – Chambers & Partners
“Rick has made the transition to QC seamlessly, building an impressively busy practice. He has a lovely manner in submissions: clear and lacking in rhetoric. He is a pleasure to deal with and clearly very hardworking.” – Legal 500
“He’s quick, responsive and has a really phenomenal memory. He is very hands-on and friendly.” – Chambers & Partners
“He is very able, extremely thorough with great attention to detail, and a pleasure to deal with.” – Legal 500
“Extremely talented.” – Chambers & Partners
“A very able courtroom performer and shrewd tactician.” – Legal 500
“Very smart and conscientious.” “Bright, highly committed and extremely personable – a pleasure to work with.” – Chambers Global
A “very good advocate”; ‘quality junior’ who “has the ability to pick up and analyse complex technical information”; “A very consistent performer at a high level”. “Talented junior with a notably broad practice, who demonstrates particular strength in cases concerning architects, specialist consultants and civil and structural engineers. He regularly acts as sole counsel in adjudications and arbitration and has appeared as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He is becoming steadily more involved in disputes occurring in the Middle East and East Asia”. – Chambers & Partners
A large part of Rick’s practice involves construction and engineering disputes. Listed as a leading junior in Construction in the legal directories, he has extensive experience of advising and acting for employers, contractors and sub-contractors in a range of disputes, typically involving complex technical evidence. He also has wide experience of dealing with claims against or involving various different construction professionals including architects, engineers, M&E consultants and quantity surveyors.
He regularly appears in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC).
Rick also has experience of construction arbitrations (ICC and LCIA), adjudications, construction professional indemnity issues and contribution disputes.
Rick also has experience of dealing with construction disputes in the Middle East and in Eastern Europe and has a strong international practice.
Featured Construction & Engineering cases
Memberships
Rick is a member of the Adjudication Society.
“Richard is absolutely meticulous.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Richard is flexible, easy to work with, and accessible.” – Legal 500, 2024
“He is very commercial and gives practical, focused advice.” – Chambers & Partners
“Great on his feet, practical and sensible in his approach – everything goes together well.” “Really down to earth and collaborative.” – Chambers & Partners
“He is incredibly diligent, approachable and user friendly.” – Legal 500
“We received amazing feedback for him from our clients.” – Chambers & Partners
“He is a team player and is excellent on his feet.” – Legal 500
“He presents very well to clients, is able to speak with authority, and comes across as somebody who is credible and knowledgeable.” “He is very good technically, very commercially aware and understands the client’s interests and the need to try to resolve matters in a cost-efficient way.” – Chambers & Partners
“Has a very impressive work ethic and is extremely user-friendly and proactive.” – Chambers & Partners
“A superb advocate” – Legal 500
Rick specialises in all fields of professional liability, with particular emphasis upon accountants and auditors, barristers and solicitors, construction professionals and insurance brokers.
Listed as a leading junior in Professional Liability in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, he prides himself on being an incisive and responsive barrister and a user-friendly team player. He is meticulous and places particular emphasis on being able to provide the best practical and commercial solution to legal problems. He has wide advocacy experience and relishes his role as an advocate.
Rick is also regularly instructed to appear at mediations and round table conferences. He approaches all aspects of the mediation process (including drafting position papers and the advocacy element) with a clear understanding of its purpose and difference from adversarial litigation.
Rick’s interest in this field is not just confined to the cases in which he is instructed. Rick also gives talks and seminars on the subject and is a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association.
Rick regularly acts both for and against accountants, auditors and tax advisers in litigation and disciplinary proceedings. He is familiar with the audit process and applicable accounting and auditing standards. He is also frequently instructed in claims (against IFAS, solicitors, accountants and tax advisers), which require detailed knowledge and understanding of various tax regimes (both in the UK and abroad).
Featured cases
Rick was also engaged in litigation involving tax schemes (Information & Communication) technology: The Innovator Litigation.
Rick has also acted for and against the then Accountancy Investigation & Discipline Board (AADB) and the FRC (as Junior Counsel to Ben Hubble KC) in a number of high-profile matters:
Rick regularly acts in claims against construction professionals: most frequently architects and engineers, but also M&E consultants and project managers.
Featured cases
Rick has experience of claims involving financial services professionals and/or which require a consideration of the financial services statutory regime.
Featured cases
Rick is frequently instructed in claims involving insurance brokers and agents. He regularly acts in multiparty actions where both insurers and insurance intermediaries are parties.
Featured cases
Rick has extensive experience of acting for both claimants and defendants in claims against lawyers – both solicitors and barristers. His experience includes wasted costs litigation and claims relating to Share Purchase Agreements, commercial disputes, property transactions and mortgage fraud. He also has very considerable experience of claims arising from lost and mishandled litigation.
Rick has experience of dealing with contempt proceedings. He successfully acted for a solicitor client in resisting an application by a litigant in person to bring contempt proceedings against the solicitor in relation to various assertions made by the solicitor in a witness statement.
Rick’s experience in his first few years of practice of defending clinical negligence and personal injury claims (including being regularly instructed by the Metropolitan Police) has proved invaluable in dealing with professional liability claims arising out of an original dispute in the clinical negligence and personal injury fields.
Featured cases
Rick has extensive experience in respect of claims against valuers and surveyors, both those brought by lenders and those brought by property owners.
Rick also acted for Christie & Co (valuers) in a five day trial in the first known decision (according to Simpson on Professional Negligence) in which a party has recovered damages against an independent expert appointed jointly by the parties to carry out a valuation of a freehold licensed premises pursuant to an option in a lease.
He is currently acting for valuers in a claim brought by a short term finance company relating to the alleged overvaluation of an equestrian property in Newmarket.
He has wide advocacy experience and relishes his role as an advocate. Amongst other things, he has experience of and expertise in cross-examining expert witnesses, including valuers.
Featured cases
Rick has experience of defending claims brought against veterinary surgeons. His cases include:
Rick has also given talks on the liability of veterinary surgeons generally and more specifically in the context of pre-purchase examinations and the increasing number of claims relating to the buying and selling of horses.
Rick also has extensive experience of acting in equine related disputes. Please see the section titled ‘Equine Disputes’ for further information.
Rick has extensive experience of acting in equine related disputes, including ownership disputes and claims against veterinary surgeons and farriers. He has considerable experience of acting in cases involving horses in civil litigation and also in cases before the British Horseracing Authority (acting for the BHA and also acting for trainers and jockeys).
Featured Equine Disputes cases
Rick has wide experience of disciplinary work and this part of his practice is split between Professional Disciplinary Work and Sports Disciplinary Work.
In relation to the former, he has a strong track record in the financial disciplinary arena and his cases include being retained by the then Accountancy Investigation & Discipline Board AADB). He acted for the AADB (as Junior Counsel to Ben Hubble KC) in:
He has also acted for Respondents and is currently retained by an accountant to defend allegations of Misconduct brought by the Financial Reporting Council (led by Ben Hubble KC).
Rick is also currently acting for a chartered accountant and member of the ICAEW in proceedings before the ICAEW’s Disciplinary Committee relating to various audits.
In addition to prosecuting and defending accountants, Rick also has experience of defending disciplinary complaints brought against surveyors. He has been instructed to defend complaints brought against a Chartered Surveyor under the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Arbitration Scheme (administered by the Chartered Institute of Chartered Surveyors).
On the sports law front, he is regularly instructed by the British Horseracing Authority to appear at Inquiries, disciplinary hearings and appeal hearings involving cases of corruption and financial impropriety and allegations of bringing racing into disrepute and other improper conduct. He has also acted for jockeys and trainers in disciplinary matters instructed by the National Trainers Federation. He has also acted in doping cases both for the prosecuting body (the International Association of Athletics Federations) and the athlete (a professional football player).
Rick has been described in the legal directories as “highly skilled, knows his brief and is not aggressive, but is highly effective”, “proving himself to be a rising star at the Bar for horseracing cases” and “good at cutting through the noise to get at the points that matter.”
Rick has expertise in the specialist field of costs.
Featured Costs cases
“Incredibly pragmatic and good to deal with. His written work is fantastic and his cross-examination and advocacy are absolutely spot-on.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Richard is the complete package. His advocacy and particularly his cross-examination is fearsome, and his written work is always spot-on. A class act.” – Legal 500, 2024
“Richard Liddell KC is fantastic and has lots of experience across football and rugby. He is also polished in court.” – Chambers & Partners
“He understands the football law industry very well and is good with clients including footballers, clubs and agents.” – Legal 500
“His advocacy style is so engaging, and his closing is also fantastic.” – Chambers & Partners
“A welcome addition to the front Bench – a brilliant sports law lawyer with exceptional professional regulatory skills as part of his all-round talent. A vast array of sports-related experience and expertise. Tactical nous. Excellent manner with clients.” – Legal 500
“He has a great understanding of the world of sports disputes and he is able to draw on a host of past experience to help guide a case.” – Chambers & Partners
“Excellent at assessing the best strategic options.” – Legal 500
“Extremely talented in this field, having acted across a number of sports. A powerful advocate and a joy to work with.” – Chambers & Partners
Richard is a highly regarded sports law barrister. He acts for both athletes/players and governing bodies and has appeared in appeals in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Richard’s cases have spanned the following sports: athletics, badminton, boxing, cricket, eventing, football, hockey, horseracing, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby union and shooting.
Richard is instructed in sports commercial disputes, disciplinary matters and sports arbitrations, including anti-doping cases and safeguarding matters. He also advises on sports-regulatory and welfare issues; and has advised on the implications of the Equality Act 2010 (which provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all) in the context of a group of players with a particular disability.
Richard was one of a handful of ‘specialist advocates’ on the pro bono panel for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and acted in a number of matters in the lead up to the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo (2021) Olympics.
Featured Sports cases
Richard has previously acted for the IAAF in anti-doping appeals; the British Horseracing Authority in cases of corruption and financial impropriety; and has been retained in various sports commercial litigation cases.
Richard also lectures on sports law issues and is a member of the International Bar Association, BASL (the British Association for Sport and Law). He is also on the Editorial Board of LawInSport.
Rick has a strong commercial, insurance, product liability and professional negligence pedigree, which has enabled him to build a strong reputation for dealing with property damage claims; and he has extensive experience of acting in multi-party and high-profile claims arising out of damage to property, particularly caused by fire, explosions, water penetration and subsidence. Rick is regularly instructed to act on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in such claims.
Rick also has a very busy construction practice, which lends itself perfectly to those property damage claims against construction professionals. He is recommended as a leading junior in the legal Directories for Construction and is described as “a quality junior who has the ability to pick up and analyse complex technical information”; and “a very consistent performer at a high level” and “a superb advocate”.
He relishes his role as an advocate and frequently appears in the TCC. In addition to his court work, he has experience of acting in adjudications and arbitrations.
Featured Property Damage cases
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He is a member of COMBAR, PNBA, the Chancery Bar Association and the British Association for Sport and Law. He is also a member of the IBA and IPBA.
Education – M.A. (Cantab.) LL.M. (Cantab.)
In this article, Theo Barclay reviews the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision…
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