AREAS OF EXPERTISE Care & Supervision Child Abduction Child Arrangement Court of Protection Family Relocation Internal and Abroad civil

Richard is a practitioner of family law, including private and public law children’s cases. His specialist areas include all aspects of care proceedings and adoption, acting for parents, children (children’s guardians), adopters and other family members as well as local authorities. Richard has undertaken cases involving all areas of child abuse and neglect including Munchausen syndrome by proxy, sudden infant death syndrome (cot death), non-accidental injuries and child sexual abuse. He also has experience in adoptions with a foreign element. He regularly has to deal with expert witnesses from the fields of paediatrics, radiology, orthopaedics, psychiatry and psychology. Reported cases: Re A and D (Children) [2011] EWCA Civ 265; Richmond LBC v B, W, B and CB [2011] 1 FLR 1345; Newham LBC v AG [1993] 1 FLR 281; Croydon LBC v A (No.1-3) [1992] 2 FLR 341, 348 and 350; Re K (A Minor) (Wardship: Adoption) [1991] 1 FLR 57.

Call 1971. Appointments: Deputy District Judge with ‘Private Law Children’s Ticket’; former lay member of the Church of England, Canterbury Diocesan Synod.

Appointments

In 1994 Richard Clough was appointed County Court Deputy Distric Judge dealing with all aspects of civil, matrimonial finance, banruptcy housing and landlord and tenant law and procedure. In 2010 Richard received specialist confirmation ("Private Law Family Ticket") to hear all aspects of private law children applications.  

Introduction

Richard is Head of the 33 Bedford Row Family Practice Group and has recently accepted a Door Tenancy. He has over 30 years' experience acting in complex cases, many demanding particular sensitivity. He is known for his calm, persuasive advocacy on behalf of all clients, whether parents, adopters, grandparents, children's guardians, local authorities or government departments. He has a thorough knowledge of the Wardship jurisdiction of the High Court.  

Richard has appeared in some of the most complex cases in the family justice system including allegations of factitious illness, non-accidental injury (NAI) infant death,  shaking incidents, skull and other fractures, sexual abuse, including multi-generational abuse, and all forms of neglect. He is known for his ability to absorb and analyse complex factual, medical and psychiatric evidence.  

Richard has extensive experience of  cases with a foreign element including foreign marriage and divorce and EU enforcement issues. He has appeared in many cases involving internal relocation and applications to remove from the jurisdiction. He is experienced in all aspects of child abduction, including Hague and non-Hague. He advises local authorities on jurisdictional issues, foreign placements and international mirror orders.  

Richard accepts instructions in the Court of Protection, including issues relating to deprivation of liberty, applications for serious medical treatment, applications relating to vulnerable adults and the appointment of deputies (welfare and financial affairs).

Richard was appointed a Deputy District Judge in 1994 and received a  specialist "ticket" in private family law authorising him to sit as a Deputy District Judge in 2010. His family cases benefit from his wide-ranging experience of  the law including  property, housing and insolvency issues that are frequently found in the disputes that arise in the family courts. His experience in courts at all levels representing the full range of clients, both public and private, ensures that his advice is based on sound experience and is solution-oriented.

Notable Cases

Richard has appeared in a number of reported cases over the years. These include:

Re D (a Child) (care order, designated authority) [2012] EWCA Civ, 627

Re D (children) [2011] EWCA Civ,  265

Richmond LBC v BW, B&CB [2011] 1FLR,  1345

Metropolitan Borough Council v L [1996] 3All ER, 264

Newham LBC v AG [1993] 1FLR,  281

Croydon LBC v A (no 1-3) [1992] 2FLR,  341, 348, 350

Re K (a Minor) (Wardship:  Adoption) [1991] 1FLR, 57

Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)

Sutton Valence School, Kent; Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Finals Parts I & II).

Skiing, cricket (mostly as a spectator) and motor cars. He and his wife also enjoy the theatre, opera, 1960s/70s rock music and gardening.