Introduction
Head of St Philips Chambers (2020 – 2023), Chair of the Bar of England and Wales in 2019 and Leader of the Midland Circuit from 2014 to 2017, Richard is one of the country’s most eminent regulatory and criminal silks. He has consistently featured at the top of the legal rankings since taking silk in 2011.
Recent comments in the legal directories have included:
Richard is a very high-quality advocate who has proven ability over many years in regulatory crime. He has a tremendous eye for detail, excellent judgment, and decision making under pressure. He is able to bring the Judge and jury along with him when prosecuting or defending. His easy manner and calm authority in all situations makes his advocacy very persuasive.
The dedicated Richard Atkins QC is a powerful and persuasive advocate who attracts praise for his ability to command and control the courtroom and proceedings
A quintessential jury advocate – A very smooth performer – A born advocate – A very authoritative silk A very impressive silk; juries love him – A very compelling jury advocate – Conscientious, meticulous and fearless
He is a highly experienced advocate and is admired for his serious crime practice, which features both prosecution and defence work, in cases ranging from murder to fraud
He’s very hard-working and has an excellent manner with juries – He is a very intelligent and very sharp advocate
He is a quality advocate
Richard prepares his cases very well, looks at every document and considers every point
Richard specialises in serious criminal and regulatory offences concentrating on homicide, health and safety, consumer law, trading standards, licensing, fraud, tax, and sex cases. He defends and prosecutes in equal measure. He is well known for his ability to assimilate amount of detail, and to put it across to the court or tribunal he is appearing before in an effective and easily digestible manner. He appears regularly in the Court of Appeal.
Richard was part of the leadership team of the profession for many years. He dealt with senior Government Ministers and officials, and the country’s most Senior Judges. He has had considerable involvement with both the Legal Services Board and the Bar Standards Board dealing with the regulation of the profession. During his year as Chair of the Bar of England and Wales, Richard presented to international gatherings of lawyers across the globe. Richard has regularly lectured to solicitors, barristers, police officers and a variety of professional bodies on a wide range of legal topics and is a much sought after speaker and moderator. He is an advocacy trainer and a vulnerable witness advocacy trainer.
Richard sits as a Crown Court Recorder (part-time criminal Judge) and is one of a small number of Judicial College Tutor Judges who train Crown Court Judges. He also sits as a fee-paid (part-time) Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal.
Richard is regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Richard is a member of the following bodies:
- The Criminal Bar Association
- The Private Prosecutors Association
- The Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- The Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- The Institute of Licensing
To contact or instruct Richard on criminal matters please contact his senior clerk Andrew Rourke– arourke@st-philips.com, 0121 246 2163.
To contact or instruct Richard on regulatory matters please contact his senior clerk James Withers– jwithers@st-philips.com, 0121 246 2175.
Alternatively, you are welcome to contact our CEO and Director of Clerking, Joe Wilson– jwilson@st-philips.com, 0121 246 2136.
Health & Safety, Corporate and Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Richard has prosecuted and defended health and safety cases throughout his career at the Bar. The cases have included fatal accidents at work involving falls from height, collapsing trenches and failing equipment. Other cases have involved serious injuries caused by falls, dangerous machinery and deficient workplace practices. Richard is currently instructed by several large construction companies in cases under investigation by the HSE or Police involving fatal accidents at construction sites.
Richard has also acted on behalf of business operators charged with Fire Safety offences.
Richard is regularly instructed by major firms of solicitors to advise corporate clients (pre-charge) who are under investigation in relation to fatal accidents and are facing possible charges of corporate or gross negligence manslaughter. He advises pre-charge and then represents the client at Court if charges are brought. Instruction at an early stage, before the Health and Safety Executive has decided whether to bring charges or what charges to pursue, can be of considerable benefit to the defence client. In particular, instruction to attend at an inquest can ensure that appropriate procedures are followed at the inquest hearing and appropriate verdicts are left for the consideration of the inquest jury. In cases where fatal accidents have occurred there is a growing tendency on the part of the Health and Safety Executive to seek to prosecute for offences of Corporate Manslaughter and to use the inquest hearing as a vehicle to gather evidence that would otherwise not be available to them. Instructing an advocate to appear at an inquest to make measured but forceful submissions can have substantial benefits in relation to the subsequent outcome of any case. Richard has had success in ensuring that the verdict of “unlawful killing” was not left to an inquest jury thus reducing the prospect of the client subsequently facing corporate manslaughter charges.
In the case of DM, Richard advised that a corporate client should not attend an oral interview but should provide written answers. The prosecution did not then bring corporate manslaughter charges. At the subsequent trial at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) on health and safety charges Richard led James Puzey and after a 6-week trial, the client was acquitted on all charges.
In the separate cases of MR (leading David Munro) and ST (leading James Puzey), Richard was instructed to represent national bus companies in relation to fatal accidents.
In the case of A (leading David Munro), Richard represented a carer charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of a patient she had fed inappropriate food to, who had then choked death. Richard persuaded the Prosecution to accept lesser charges and persuaded the Judge to pass a non-custodial sentence.
In the case of Tewkesbury Borough Council v Wm Morrison’s, Richard led Mark Jackson (no 8 Chambers) in the prosecution relating to the death of an employee with epilepsy who died following a fall from a staircase at work. A fine of £3.5 million was imposed after conviction following trial.
Richard has lectured on several occasions at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health annual conferences.
Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)
Richard has extensive experience of homicide cases, both prosecuting and defending. He has dealt with numerous killings arising out of domestic incidents and of children killing or attempting to kill their parents. He has dealt with cases involving fitness to plead issues; and diminished responsibility both by reason of abnormality of mental functioning and self-induced intoxication.
He has considerable experience of dealing with cases with complex medical issues involving psychiatrists, pathologists, toxicologists and paediatricians.
In the case of PL, a terrorist murder and the bombing of a Mosque, Richard persuaded the Judge not to pass a whole life sentence following a plea of guilty.
In the case of YM, Richard successfully argued before the Court of Appeal that a murder conviction should be quashed, and that no retrial should be ordered.
In the case of UA, the jury acquitted Richard’s client of conspiracy to murder.
In the case of GA, Richard represented a client charged with the murder of his father. He represented the client at the fitness to plead hearing where he was found to be unfit to plead and then conducted the hearing to determine whether he had committed the fatal act. Richard then subsequently dealt with the case some years later when the client became mentally well enough to stand trial and successfully persuaded the prosecution to accept a plea to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
In the high-profile case of LJ, Richard prosecuted a trans-gender athlete who attempted to murder a senior official at the British Athletics Federation.
In the case of CC, Richard prosecuted a man who had killed both of his parents who pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
In the case of GSM, Richard defended a man acquitted of murder in a drug related knifing.
In the case of WN, Richard, leading Darron Whitehead (St Philips), successfully argued before a High Court Judge that the prosecution of a retired Doctor for the gross-negligence manslaughter of his wife should be stopped at the close of the prosecution case.
Richard has prosecuted and defended a number of murders and attempted murders where the Defendants have been under the age of 18, including: the prosecution attempted murder case of AB where a 12 year old attempted to kill his mother; the prosecution murder case of PK & ZM where the younger Defendant was only 13 years of age; the prosecution attempted murder case of MY where the defendant was 12 years of age; and the defence murder case of KD where Richard’s 17 year old client was acquitted of murder.
Fraud, Business and Financial Crime
Richard has defended and prosecuted a large number of substantial and lengthy fraud trials. He regularly defends business executives facing allegations of dishonesty and fraudulent trading, as well as matters arising from insolvency or bankruptcy. He has defended and prosecuted a number of international boiler room frauds. In one case of Cheating the Revenue, the prosecution reconsidered their position after Richard’s legal submissions and dropped the most substantial part of their case in relation to Corporation tax, accepting limited pleas in relation to Income Tax offences only. Richard led Jenny Josephs (St Philips) for the Crown in a 14-week multi-million-pound, multi-Defendant, fraud that took four years to prepare. They then successfully upheld the convictions in the Court of Appeal before the Lord Chief Justice (R v Lewis 2013 EWCA Crim 776). He recently led Kiran Pourawal (St Philips) in a 7 defendant 5-week charity fraud prosecution.
Richard is currently instructed to defend the principal defendant in a two month long international fraud and money laundering trial leading Daniel Oscroft (No 5 chambers) and also to defend the principal defendant in a multi-million pound Ponzi scheme fraud, leading Ben Close (St Philips).
Richard also led a large team, including James Puzey (St Philips) and other junior Barristers, for HMRC in the First Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber in a VAT carbon credit fraud.
As Junior Counsel, Richard was an “A-list” prosecutor for the DTI and was also instructed by the SFO in the prosecution of a substantial green form legal aid fraud.
Richard often deals with the associated Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation applications.
He has previously chaired the St Philips Chambers Proceeds of Crime Act Seminar and the St Philips Chambers “Fraud: A 360 Degree Approach – A Criminal and Civil Crossover Conference.”
Richard has lectured to the West Midlands Police National Fraud Forum.
Organised Crime
Throughout 2018 Richard led Nicholas Smith (St Philips) prosecuting a series of international cigarette importation trials involving 25 Defendants for HMRC. He previously prosecuted a large HMRC “Cheating the Revenue” case (leading Jonathan Barker (St Philips)) in Nottingham. He has defended cases concerning international drugs importations, including a three-month cannabis importation trial prosecuted by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (leading Stuart Baker (St Philips)). The case involved telecommunications evidence and he cross-examined a telephone expert for two days. The case also involved intercept evidence which is not admissible if carried out in the UK but is admissible if it is carried out abroad in accordance with the law applicable in the country where the intercept takes place. As a result of this he had to cross-examine a Dutch Law Professor and Dutch Prosecutor and call a Dutch Law Professor for the defence.
He has dealt with several international boiler room frauds and an international credit insurance fraud. In one case which had links to America and the Far East, investors were duped into investing in non-existent shares and then targeted again to invest in further non-existent shares. In another, he prosecuted a multi-million-pound multi-handed fraud which targeted banks, businesses and credit card companies.
He defended a man charged with kidnap and blackmail arising from organised crime in a 6-week long trial. He successfully challenged Prosecution hearsay applications relating to allegedly reluctant witnesses and ultimately obtained the acquittal of his client.
Terrorism
In ZA, Richard defended a man charged with terrorist offences who had been “bedroom-radicalised” and built a nail bomb in his bedroom, which it was alleged, he planned to detonate near to the main London to Birmingham railway line. After Richard’s cross-examination of the Police CCTV identification expert, the trial Judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, directed the jury to disregard the CCTV evidence as Richard had demonstrated it to be completely unreliable.
In the high-profile case of PL Richard represented a Polish man charged with the murder of an 82 year old Muslim man in a random attack in the street, 3 counts of causing an explosion relating to the planting of bombs at Mosques in the West Midlands and one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of future terrorist acts. The case was heard at the Old Bailey (The Central Criminal Court). Richard persuaded the Prosecution to accept pleas to fewer charges and limited the basis of the pleas in relation to the terrorist and bomb offences. He then successfully persuaded the High Court Judge not to pass a whole life sentence after making submissions relating to European, Human Rights and English law.
Serious Sexual Offences
Richard regularly defends people charged with serious sexual offences. He has dealt with all types of sexual offences from rape to sexual assault, voyeurism, exposure and downloading of indecent images. Many of the cases have involved: child witnesses; people with mental health problems; and historic sexual abuse. In two of his most recent cases, he successfully defended a professional man charged with indecency with a 15-year-old girl and in another case, he successfully defended a businessman alleged to have raped two women. He is adept at analysing huge amounts of digital material such as is now contained on mobile telephones in preparing cases.
Trading Standards, Consumer Protection, Food Safety & Regulatory Offences
Richard prosecutes and defends trading standards, consumer protection, food safety and other regulatory cases.
He prosecuted Tesco Stores Limited (leading Jonathan Salmon) pursuant to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for their misleading pricing of strawberries throughout all of their stores in England and Wales. The defence took issue with the legality of the prosecution which they argued over the course of 3 days. The trial Judge ruled in favour of the Prosecution whereupon Tesco Stores Limited then pleaded guilty.
Richard has advised a number of local authorities in respect of the prosecution of national companies.
In the case of X Ltd (leading Ben Mills (St Philips)), he successfully appealed a terminating ruling made by a Judge in a trial of a company selling security systems which targeted elderly and vulnerable consumers. The prosecution alleged that the company was guilty of unfair commercial practices and misleading actions contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Court of Appeal (R v X Ltd 2013 EWCA Crim 818) agreed with Richard’s submissions and reversed all of the trial Judge’s rulings and ordered a re-trial. Lord Justice Leveson gave guidance (for the first time) on the important terms of “commercial practice” and “transactional decisions” in the Regulations. The judgment also clarified what needs to be proved when recklessness is alleged on the part of a company, the Court of Appeal once again accepting Richard’s submissions.
In the case of AR, YR & FK, Richard (leading Naomi Gilchrist (St Philips)), prosecuted a high-profile trading standards case for Birmingham City Council which had featured on the BBC’s Watchdog programme. It concerned companies which were committing fraud by false representation. The Defendants pleaded guilty at trial and Richard and Naomi dealt with the subsequent POCA proceedings.
Richard has considerable experience of defending offences relating to houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). In his most recent case his client was acquitted of half of the charges he faced by the Magistrate hearing the case. Richard then persuaded the Crown Court Judge who dealt with the sentence and POCA proceedings that the prosecution POCA application for almost £1 million was bad in law and that the appropriate figure was £200. The Prosecution appealed and the Court of Appeal found for Richard’s client upholding the Crown Court Judge’s decision and rejecting the Prosecution argument [R v Bajaj 2020 EWCA Crim 1111].
In the case of GP, Richard defended a tradesman charged with defrauding customers in relation to the supply of thermal roof coating and persuaded the sentencing Judge not to send his client to prison.
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 are a topic on which Richard has also lectured. He has delivered seminars at St Philip’s Chambers on Consumer Law and Trading Standards matters and has organised and Chaired seminars to Local Authorities tailored to their specific requirements on aspects of Consumer Law and Trading Standards and other areas of Regulatory Law.
Inquests & Coronial Law
As is the case with many advocates, Richard cut his teeth as a very junior Barrister dealing with in-quests. Time has though moved on and the enactment of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the appointment of a Chief Coroner has led to a sea change in the way inquests are now dealt with. With the Health and Safety Executive in particular seeking to use the inquest hearing as an extra weapon in their armoury in an aim to bring ever increasingly severe charges it has never been more important to ensure that a high-quality advocate is instructed to appear at an inquest.
In one fatal accident case, Richard attended the pre-inquest hearing and was successful in persuading the Coroner not to leave a verdict of “unlawful killing” to the inquest jury. As a result of Richard’s submissions, the Coroner ruled that there was no evidence of the offence of Corporate Manslaughter on the face of the papers and would not allow the inquest to be used as a vehicle to re-open the investigation into possible Corporate Manslaughter charges. Richard’s knowledge of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and associated rules and procedure were instrumental in securing a favourable out-come for his clients.
Licensing
Richard has dealt with many licensing cases during the course of his career. His most recent case was leading Duncan Craig (St Philips) in a high profile appeal against a license revocation.
Disciplinary Tribunals & Professional Regulation
Richard has considerable experience of Tribunal work and has appeared before the Professional Golfers’ Association National Disciplinary Committee. He sits as a fee-paid Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal and is also a past Chair of the Financial reporting Council Disciplinary Tribunal.
As Chairman of the Governors of King Henry VIII and Bablake Schools in Coventry he chaired disciplinary tribunals and “ill-health” tribunals.
He has also advised a major sport’s body in relation to how to conduct disciplinary tribunals in relation to youths.
Education
Inns of Court College of Advocacy School of Law (Bar School) 1988 – 1989
BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, St Catherine’s College, Oxford University 1985 – 1988
King Henry VIII School Coventry 1973-1984
Appointments
Head of St Philips Chambers 2020 – 2023
Chair of the Bar of England and Wales 2019
Vice-Chair of the Bar of England and Wales 2018
Master of the Bench of Gray’s Inn 2014
Leader of the Midland Circuit 2014 – 2017
Tribunal Chair for the Financial Reporting Council 2014 – 2022
Fee-paid Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal 2014
Queen’s Counsel 2011
Crown Court Recorder 2005
Called to the Bar 1989
Other Information
- Helped launch the Bar Council Speakers for Schools project and is actively involved in the Bar Council’s programmes for improving public legal education and social mobility.
- Regularly gives talks to schools and Universities about the law and the profession.
- Chaired the St Philip’s Chambers and Aston University annual “Access to Law and the Bar” Conferences.
- Judged the finals of the National Schools Mock Trials Competition.
- As a Midland Circuit and Gray’s Inn advocacy trainer and vulnerable witness advocacy trainer, he trains pupils, new practitioners and senior practitioners in the art of advocacy.
- First Barrister to be elected to the Birmingham Law Society Council.
- Chairman of the Governors of the Coventry Schools Foundation (2011-2014), which governs King Henry VIII Senior and Preparatory Schools and Bablake Senior, Junior and Pre-Prep Schools. In this role he also chaired tribunals dealing with teachers’ and parents’ grievances and heard appeals from the decisions of the Headmasters.
- A sought after after-dinner speaker who has spoken at such events as the Institute of Bar Clerks Annual Dinner, the Birmingham Law Society President’s Dinner, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Dinner, the Birmingham Medico-Legal Association Dinner and the Association of Cardiovascular Intervention Physicians Annual Dinner.
- Richard enjoys 20th Century military history, ballroom dancing, good red wine and (last but not least) his family and grumpy Lakeland terrier.
Testimonials
“He is a superb leading counsel and provides advice in a robust and easy-to-understand manner.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“He is bright and wholly committed to the case he is fighting for.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Richard is an advocate with charisma and an engaging style.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Richard is a highly effective prosecutor. He has the ability to manage the challenges of serious multi-handed cases and to present cases of complexity with clarity. He commands the respect of the court, cross-examines robustly and thoroughly, and holds sway with the jury.” Legal 500 2025
“Richard is a strong jury advocate who can powerfully argue whilst being able to speak in common sense. He is an impressive figure in the court.” Legal 500 2024
“Richard is an absolutely outstanding KC. Without question the first person we always look to on serious crime. His ability, professionalism and his endless work ethic is unrivalled.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“He’s a highly accomplished advocate and bridges the gap between complexity and presenting a complex matter in an understandable way for the jury.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Richard is a very high-quality advocate who has proven ability over many years in regulatory crime. He has a tremendous eye for detail, excellent judgment, and decision-making under pressure. He is able to bring the judge and jury along with him when prosecuting or defending. His easy manner and calm authority in all situations make his advocacy very persuasive.” Legal 500 2023
“Richard prepares his cases very well, looks at every document and considers every point.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is a quality advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is excellent with a jury and enjoyable to work with. Judges and opposing counsel bend to his will.” Chambers UK 2022
“He is a strong jury advocate. You know the moment he walks into court that he is in control and nothing appears to shake or faze him. A powerful speaker. ” Legal 500 2022
“A persuasive and forceful advocate who never fails to impress both lay and professional clients.” Legal 500 2021
“His presence in court is simply outstanding.” Legal 500 2021
“Always meticulously prepared and an extremely forceful advocate.” Chambers UK 2021
“A very compelling jury advocate.” Chambers UK
“He’s very hard-working and has an excellent manner with juries.” Chambers UK
“A quintessential jury advocate.” and “He is a very smooth performer.” Chambers UK
“A born advocate.” and “A very authoritative silk.” Legal 500
“A very impressive silk; juries love him.” Legal 500
“Conscientious, meticulous and fearless.”, “He has risen quickly to senior-silk status.” Legal 500
“He is a highly experienced advocate and is admired for his serious crime practice, which features both prosecution and defence work, in cases ranging from murder to fraud.” Chambers UK
“He is a very intelligent and very sharp advocate.” Chambers UK
