Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Dispute Resolution

Richard has a Chancery practice encompassing trusts, property and civil disputes before all levels of the judiciary including the Supreme Court.

Richard focusses on contentious trusts and estates work. He has a wealth of experience in a wide spectrum of disputes, acting for trustees, beneficiaries and protectors. His work has an international element and, amongst other jurisdictions, he has recently been involved in high value cases involving England & Wales, Gibraltar, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the BVI, the United States, Jersey and Guernsey. Richard is well placed to advise in relation to matters concerning inheritance, contentious probate, capacity, undue influence and related matters.

Recently he has been engaged in:

• • Acting in applications for the removal of trustees, protectors and executors;
  • Cross-border litigation concerning allegations of breach of trust or fiduciary duty by trustees or protectors;
  • Representing high net worth beneficiaries in high value estate litigation concerning challenges to the validity of wills, mental capacity, lifetime gifts and claims under the Inheritance Act;
  • Acting for some of the UK’s oldest and largest estates and handling applications concerning long standing family trusts.

Richard also deals with many high value commercial disputes, including actions for breach of contract, misrepresentation and professional negligence by solicitors and other professionals.

Finally, Richard has expertise in real estate law. These skills provide a sought-after synergy with Richard’s command of the area of contentious trusts, making him particularly able to handle all aspects of disputes where the areas of trust law and property law collide – for example in relation to cohabitee ownership disputes or where property holdings form an important part of a trust’s assets.

Qualified 2006; Payne Hicks Beach 2004, promoted to senior associate 2013 and partner 2015.

Richard studied Modern History at Oxford University.