Park Square Barristers Ltd.

Criminal, Inquests and Inquiries and Regulatory Crime

Crime 

Richard Wright KC is a criminal advocate who has defended or prosecuted many of the country’s highest-profile cases .

He was described as “the standout junior” on the North Eastern Circuit (The Legal 500, 2011) and “in the ascendant” (Chambers and Partners, 2013).

He was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2012, appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013, Head of Chambers at Park Square Barristers in 2015, Leader of the North Eastern Circuit (2020-22) and a Deputy High Court Judge in 2023

Ranked by Chambers and Partners 2024 as a “Star Individual” and described as a “A master of his art who is able to deal with the most difficult and complex matters effortlessly.”

Ranked by The Legal 500, 2024 in Tier 1 as a Leading Silk

Inquests and Inquiries and Regulatory Crime

Richard Wright K.C. is consistently recognised in the leading legal directories as a “Masterful Silk” and has been instructed in many of the highest profile cases on the North Eastern Circuit and beyond.Inquest and Inquiry work forms a significant portion of his practice and he has been instructed in many landmark cases. He has been a driving force in the recent expansion of the Inquest and Inquiries team at PSQB in the arena of Public Inquiries.Ranked as a Tier 1 Silk for Business & Regulatory Crime (including Health & Safety) and Inquests and Inquiries – The Legal 500 (2024) and Band One Silk for Crime (Chambers and Partners, 2024).

Ranked as a Band 2 Silk for Inquests & Public Inquiries – Chambers & Partners (2024)

His regulatory practice includes Health & Safety cases, those involving Environmental Waste, Fire Safety, Food Safety (particularly food allergen cases), Food Hygiene and Animal Welfare cases brought by DEFRA and he has been instructed in the highest profile Gross Negligence Manslaughter prosecutions.

He has been instructed in the Manchester Arena Inquiry, instructed as leading counsel by Her Majesty’s Assistant Coroner in respect of an application for Judicial Review challenging the coroner’s decision to leave the conclusion of unlawful killing to the jury, and is currently one of ten King’s Counsel appointed by Baroness Hallett as Counsel to the UK Covid Inquiry.

Richard also has particular expertise in Trading Standards prosecutions and his keen tactical judgement has led to him often being retained at an early stage in proceedings to provide advice to individuals and companies. This often results in the successful defeat of investigations before they result in charges. Richard also acts in professional disciplinary and misconduct cases.

His approachability to both his professional and lay clients combined with his keen intellect and his effective advocacy has meant that he has been constantly in demand to act in complex and high profile cases since taking silk in 2013.

Call 1998, SIlk 2013

Appointments: 2006 Deputy district judge (magistrates’ courts)

2012 Recorder of the Crown Court North Eastern Circuit Executive Committee Bar Council Advocates Graduated Fee Working Group

2017 Elected as a Master of the Bench of the Middle Temple

2023

Deputy High Court Judge

North Eastern CircuitLiberty

1997 University of Leeds, LLB