Steven Richards

Head of Fraud | Dispute Resolution |

Steven is a commercial litigator who leads the firm’s multi-disciplinary Fraud and Cybercrime practice. He works on high value and complex commercial claims with an emphasis on corporate disputes, banking and financial sector litigation, professional negligence, contentious insolvency and insurance disputes. He advises regularly on business critical and urgent disputes and has particular knowledge of obtaining, enforcing and responding to applications for injunctive relief (including freezing, search and seizure and delivery up orders). In addition to extensive High Court trial expertise, Steven has significant experience advising clients on the resolution of disputes through mediations and out of court settlements.

In all cases, Steven’s primary goal is to understand the objectives of the client and to work to identify what value means to them in the given context. Cost plays an important role in disputes work and Steven has extensive knowledge of litigation funding and the management of cost risks. He also spearheads the firm’s fixed fee litigation service which offers an alternative to the traditional hourly rate, allowing us to share the cost of risk with clients and provide them with the comfort that legal fees can be kept within budget.

One recent highlight for Steven has been acting for a group of investors in a successful challenge to the Court of Appeal in respect of their claim against Clydesdale Bank, which related to a failed Cape Verde real estate scheme. The case was widely reported in the press and clarifies the law in relation to the scope of the rights of third parties under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.