Richard's profile

For over 20 years he has handled high value complex personal injury claims including for those who have sustained brain, spinal and amputation injuries. He has dealt with claims in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and those with cross border jurisdiction issues, including in the US and Republic of Ireland. Richard has also been involved in several high profile injury claims that have attracted media interest.

Richard is frequently instructed in cases of the utmost complexity. This includes many instances where liability is disputed and where other lawyers have declined to act.

Richard was ranked as a Rising Star in the Legal 500 Directory in 2020, a Next Generation Partner in 2021, 2022 and 2023, a Leading Individual in 2024 and a Leading Partner in 2025 and 2026. He is also ranked in the Chambers and Partners guide, marking him out as one of the best personal injury lawyers in his field. Richard won ‘Catastrophic Injury Lawyer of the Year’ and was also shortlisted for ‘Outstanding Case of the Year’ at the Personal Injury Awards 2023. Richard is also one of only two solicitors in Liverpool to have achieved accreditation as a Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Richard is Assistant Secretary of ACSIL, an amputee charity based in Liverpool. Richard has a child with additional needs and a learning disability. This gives him a personal interest in the legal rights of the vulnerable and those with additional needs.

Richard has written extensively about matters of interest in the personal injury sector in articles that have been published in a range of professional journals. Richard also sits on the Board of Governors at the prestigious Expert Witness Institute. He has written and delivered lectures on the duties of expert witnesses in civil litigation.

Richard has developed a reputation as a leading personal injury lawyer. He frequently receives referrals from senior members of the legal profession and those involved in the rehabilitation of accident victims who have sustained catastrophic injuries.

Richard was born in Liverpool. He still lives there with his family. In his spare time he enjoys walking and exploring remote areas of the British Isles and Ireland.

Career and education history

• University of Liverpool LLB Law (1st): 2002
• Trained at a well-known firm in Liverpool
• Qualified in 2004
• Solicitor at Potter Rees Dolan: 2014
• Partner at Potter Rees Dolan: 2019
• Partner at Hugh James: 2023

Memberships and accreditations

• Member of the Board of Governors at the Expert Witness Institute
• Deputy District Judge (Northern Circuit)
• Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
• Solicitor-advocate (Higher Rights civil)
• Assistant Secretary of ACSIL (Amputee charity based in Liverpool)
• Ranked in Chambers and Partners
• Ranked as a Leading Partner in the Legal 500

Experience

Recent settlements include:

• £6.5m for HGV driver injured in a workplace accident (2026).
• Seven figure settlement (recovering the maximum available insurance indemnity) in a brain injury claim for a child following an accident in rented accommodation with cross border issues (2026).
• £4.5m for a below elbow amputee following a road collision in Ireland (2024).
• £5.5m for a below knee amputee following a road collision (2022).
• £525,000 in a claim for 90-year-old who sustained severe traumatic brain injury resulting in death within 2 years of the accident. Instructed by the victim’s son, a barrister (2022).
• c£2m in a contested subtle brain injury case (2020).
• £1m for a high achiever in a contested subtle brain injury case following a road collision (2019).
• £2.6m for an upper limb amputee following a workplace accident (2018).

Reported cases include:

• Ashton v City of Liverpool YMCA [2023] EWHC 707 (KB) – Occupier’s liability claim. Acting for claimant who fell from 4th floor window of a homeless hostel resulting in extensive polytrauma including brain and spinal injuries. 6 day High Court liability trial resulting in judgment for the Claimant for two thirds of her claim.
• Charnock v Rowan and others [2012] EWCA Civ 2. Court of Appeal – Admissibility of hearsay evidence in a trial arising from a bus crash involving multiple claimants.
• Barbara Hill v Master Concrete Northern Ltd [2010] EWHC 3613 QB. – Successful claim for a pedestrian who had been involved in a collision with a HGV resulting in below knee amputation.