BCL Solicitors LLP

Corporate Crime and Regulation

Richard is a partner specialising in corporate crime, regulatory investigations (including ESG compliance) and financial crime.  He has extensive experience representing companies and individuals in relation to the most serious, complex and high-profile contentious matters.  He is instructed from the early stages of cases to provide proactive advice regarding crisis management, large internal and external investigations, regulators’ powers, corporate co-operation, interviews under caution, prosecutions and associated proceedings such as inquests.

He advises regarding a broad range of offences, such as corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety, food safety and hygiene (acting for Michelin starred restaurant groups and high street name food businesses), environmental (he advised in relation to the largest ever investigation by the Environment Agency), fire safety and trading.  He also advises regarding financial offences such as fraud, bribery, insider dealing (he represented a defendant in the largest and most complex investigation into insider dealing ever conducted by the FCA), market manipulation and money laundering.  He is frequently instructed in cases which require technical expertise in overlapping areas of business crime and regulation, for example joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigations and allegations of regulatory breaches combined with financial crime such as food and environmental fraud.  The nature of his cases often involves the exercise of regulators’ powers (e.g. dawn raids, compelled document requests and enforcement notices).

His caseload includes matters being investigated and prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Food Standards Agency, Local Authorities, Fire and Rescue Authorities, Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, Information Commissioner’s Office and Crown Prosecution Service.

Trained and qualified into a leading national firm before moving to an international firm, gaining comprehensive experience in complex, high-value and multi-jurisdictional matters.  Joined BCL Solicitors LLP in 2012 and was invited to join the partnership in 2018.

Notable recent publications: The Barrister – ‘Unlawful killing following Maughan’ (April 2021); New Food Magazine – “Tesco receives highest ever food safety fine of £7.56 million” (April 2021); Compliance Week – “SFO cooperation guidance provides clarity on leniency” (contributor) (August 2019); England & Wales chapter of ICLG: Corporate Investigations 2019 (co-author) (January 2019); Thomson Reuters, “Guide to Investigations of Corporate Manslaughter, Health and Safety and Environmental Offences”; The International Comparative Legal Guide to Business Crime 2017 – England & Wales, “Developments in Corporate Criminal Liability: New Offences of Failing to Prevent Financial Crime and Failing to Prevent Tax Evasion”.

The Law Society, Health and Safety Lawyers Association, UKELA (UK Environmental Law Association), Fraud Lawyers Association

Graduated from the University of Leeds with an LLB (Hons) degree in 2003.  Completed the Legal Practice Course with a distinction and was awarded the Law Society Prize for the highest mark achieved at the learning institution for the year.

Graduated from the University of Leeds with an LLB (Hons) degree in 2003. Completed the Legal Practice Course with a distinction and was awarded the Law Society Prize for the highest mark achieved at the learning institution for the year.