Shoosmiths LLP

General Counsel

Richard Follis was appointed Shoosmiths first General Counsel on 1 May 2021. Reporting to the CEO, he has particular responsibility for compliance, quality and risk. He is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and Money Laundering Compliance Officer. He is also tasked with scoping the firm's GC function and establishing a team to oversee governance and enterprise risk management in support of the firm's ambitious growth plans. Richard joined Shoosmiths in 2006 as a Partner and head of clinical negligence. He became a board member in 2013 on appointment as Practice Group Head of the firm's Access Legal consumer offering. Latterly Richard became head of our Personal Advisory Division. For very many years a noted practitioner in the field of clinical negligence, he was ranked as 'Senior Statesperson' in the 2020  edition of Chambers UK. Richard served as President of the Birmingham Law Society in 2006 and, having been an AvMA panel member since 1991, was appointed an Honorary Panel Member in 2021.

Prior to joining Shoosmiths in 2006, he was a partner at Alexander Harris (now Irwin Mitchell) and Challinors Solicitors in the West Midlands. Richard served as President of the Birmingham Law Society and has been an AvMA panel member since 1991.

He was head of the firm’s clinical negligence team for seven years, before being promoted to the role of divisional head and joining the Board in 2013.

APIL; AAJ; Birmingham Law Society Council; Birmingham Medico-Legal Society.

Halesowen Grammar School; University College Cardiff (1979 LLB Hons).

Riding, sailing, music.