Wotton + Kearney

Commercial Litigation

Richard Leder OAM is the Head of Commercial Litigation. He is a market-recognised leader in commercial litigation, personal injury, and defamation litigation and dispute resolution. He acts in many complex personal injury matters, including for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and other institutions in historic sexual abuse claims.

Richard is considered one of Australia’s leading specialists in media law and defamation. He has acted in many high-profile defamation cases, including for Rebel Wilson and Grant Denyer. He has advised Channel 7 Melbourne for the past 30 years and is also the longstanding advisor to The Conversation Media Group and The Big Issue.

Richard has worked across several Royal Commissions and inquiries into historical sexual abuse, mental health, aged care quality and, more recently, the police handling of the Lawyer X case.

More broadly, Richard is a seasoned commercial litigator and has acted for many leading Australian corporates. He is also an experienced negotiator with an impressive track record in assisting clients to avoid costly litigation.

Richard was awarded a medal in the Order of Australia in 2019 for his contribution to the community, including his involvement with the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. He sits on a number of community and NFP boards as part of his willingness to give back to the community and is passionate about his pro bono work.