Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
We have adopted a specialist team approach to our practices for many years. We feel that this is the way our clients want us to work, and that specialisation leads to the provision of a better service.
Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Richard Smith KC is a Crime barrister and Sports Law barrister. He has over 35 years’ experience at the Bar, and for over 20 years has been described as a ‘Leading Silk’.
Chambers & Partners calls him a Barrister who “achieves incredible results from seemingly impossible situations” and praises him for being “refreshingly unstuffy, proactive and a high-quality lawyer”.
Those who have instructed Richard note that “his client care and courtroom skills are exemplary; he prepares very thoroughly and is very responsive”.
Having taken Silk at the age of 38, and with over 30 years of experience at the Bar, Richard is one of the most senior and experienced Kings Counsel practising in serious Crime on the Western Circuit.
Chambers UK has consistently described Richard as a ‘Leading Silk’ and ‘Star individual’. Richard’s criminal practice is marked by particular experience in the defence and prosecution of cases involving allegations of murder. As the directories note, he regularly appears in the leading cases on Circuit.
Richard combines quality advocacy with a “wonderful manner with juries”. He is similarly regarded for his caring and approachable manner with clients.
A proven reputation gained over many years means that Richard is regularly instructed in privately funded defence cases, by those who want to have the very best representation in respect of the criminal allegations made against them.
Richard also often draws on his criminal court experience (in particular expertise in the examination of expert and professional witnesses) when instructed to act in family proceedings – in cases where the Court is seeking to resolve issues of fact where serious criminal allegations are being made against parents.
Richard has a national reputation in Sports Law. Over the years his practice has covered a wide spectrum of sports, most notably rugby.
Described in this field as being “a hugely intelligent, articulate counsel who remains resolutely calm in a crisis”, Richard’s advice and advocacy extends to involvement with clubs, professional bodies, and individual participants both at professional and amateur level.
For some time Richard has been retained as Counsel to the England Rugby Team, in that role attending the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. He has toured with, and acted for, the British and Irish Lions in 2005 2009 and 2021.
Richard’s experience in the field is now recognised and called upon by a number of governing bodies, who have invited him to adjudicate on disciplinary matters. He also advises on the drafting of sporting regulations.
He has lectured to sporting bodies and solicitors alike, both home and abroad, on the subject of sports discipline.
Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
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