Richard provides and offers advice and representation to individuals and local authorities in administrative law matters concerning children (applications for assistance under section 17 Children Act 1989 and detention of minors under the Mental Health Act 1983), community care (including age assessment challenges involving local and central governments), education, funding, nationality and discrimination issues.

Richard is a member of Human Rights Law Association and Discrimination Law Association

Notable Cases

King (on the application of QP) v Coventry City Council [2023] UKAITUR

Represented the respondent local authority in its successful defence of a challenge to its age assessment in judicial review proceedings. 

King (on the application of HA) v Coventry City Council [2023] UKAITUR

Represented the respondent local authority in its successful defence of a challenge to its age assessment in judicial review proceedings. 

R (on the application of H) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2019] EWHC 2095 (Admin): Birth certificate; Surrogacy

Claim by a child for a declaration that the inability of her genetic father to be named on her birth certificate, by reason of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 s.35 and s.38, amounted to a breach of her rights under ECHR art.8 and art.14

R (G) v HCC; Admin Court 20th December 2018: Placement orders

Represented the successful claimant (mother) in judicial review proceedings to quash a decision by the local authority to place her children with prospective adopters.

Kiarie and Byndloss v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] UKSC 42

Whether certification under section 94B of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 complied with the procedural and substantive requirements of article 8 ECHR.

AB v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [2014] (Admin): Represented AB who was seeking to retrieve gametes from her partner (who was in a vegetative state) so that she could conceive their child.

LB Ealing v Dormer, [2009] (CA):  Whether the decision not to grant a tenancy of a property to the ex-partner of the original tenant who had long abandoned his tenancy breached, inter alia, Article 8 ECHR and the sex discrimination legislation. 

AK (Russia, Chechnya deserter) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] UKIAT 00294:  Application of paragraph 171 of the UNHCR handbook.

Krotov v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] 1 WLR 1825: Whether a particular conflict must be condemned by the International community before refusal to participate in the same can found an application for refugee status under paragraph 171 of the UNHCR Handbook.

Dempsey v London Borough of Camden [1998] UKEAT 1212-97-2002:  Assertion of public interest immunity before Employment Tribunal. Resulted in introduction of practice direction applicable to cases where public interest immunity is asserted before the Employment Tribunal.

Sanderson v Ministry of Defence, (EAT) [1996] IRLR 139:  Guidance on compensation for pregnancy dismissal from the armed forces

Allen v Canon Hygiene [1994] UKEAT 632-91-103 IRLB:  Sex Discrimination. Irrelevance of motivation for discriminatory act.

Cobbold v Immigrants Advisory Bureau [1993] UKEAT 519-91-2610:  Sex Discrimination. Irrelevance of motivation for discriminatory act.

Powell v Wandsworth Borough Council [1996] (CA): Renewed application for judicial review in the Court of Appeal. Discovery of privileged documents and cross-examination in judicial review proceedings.

Memberships

Housing Law Practitioners’ Association

Discrimination Law Association

Family Law Bar Association

Human Rights Law Association

Accredited Mediator for civil disputes

Qualifications

University of London LLB (Hons); LLM (Human Rights); PG Diploma In’tl Comm Arb.