Richard leads the Real Estate Disputes team at Mills & Reeve. Unusually for a solicitor, his predominant workstream is rating. Richard is regarded as an expert in this area, is an honorary member of the Rating Surveyors Association and has commented in the national press regarding the proposed reforms to rating and mitigation strategies.

Richard and his rating team:

• Act on Valuation Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and senior Court actions on behalf of ratepayers, with over a dozen reported cases. We work with our clients and rating surveyors to reduce the business rates burden. Richard gives both legal and practical advice on merits, case management and strategy – as well as the occasional advocacy. Richard has been instructed by well-known retailers, museums, charities, utility companies, rail operators, food & beverage operators and logistics companies, among others. 
• Specialise in empty rates mitigation and have advised investor landlords and developers on the lawfulness of various schemes, as well as representing rates mitigation providers in the Courts. Richard acted on a judicial review for a mitigation provider, which has recently been re-opened by a billing authority.
• Provide strategic and preventative medicine advice on all aspects of rating law and practice. Richard spends more time advising clients on likely outcomes than in litigation itself, helping clients navigate a difficult and onerous system.