Richard Wood BA

Richard combines his responsibilities as Chambers’ Head of Centre in Ipswich with a busy common law practice throughout East Anglia.

He will accept instructions on a "No win, no fee" basis in appropriate cases.

Employment 

As a highly experienced Advocate, Richard has over 15 years experience dealing with a variety of litigation within private practice as a Barrister.

If you wish to find out more about Richard, please see his personal website at www.easlaw.co.uk from which he offers full human resources support for businesses. 

Richard has presented cases in a number of jurisdictions up to and including the Court of Appeal, and has frequently appeared in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal both for employers and employees. He has developed a reputation for straightforward and practical advice, as well as robust advocacy in Court.

Richard has a particular interest in discrimination law, including sex, race, age and disability related discrimination. Richard lectures on the effects of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (now repealed by the Equality Act 2010). He also takes a keen interest in the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

He also has extensive experience dealing with problems that can arise surrounding the drafting of contracts, as well as restrictive covenants dealing with the conduct of employees both before and after termination of their employment. It can sometimes be necessary to seek injunctive relief to prevent ongoing breaches of contract in order to protect clients, other employees, or the employer’s confidential business information.

Richard himself has management experience and so has an understanding of the daily problems facing Human Resources Teams and Employers generally. He provides advice on employment law issues whilst appreciating that he is dealing with real people who react in all sorts of different way. These issues must be dealt with sympathetically and diplomatically.

Personal Injury

• Richard has a particular interest in cases involving allegations of vicarious liability for tortious acts; one such claim was against the Ministry of Defence in respect of alleged sexual abuse by one of its employees whilst at work; Richard was able to apply the principles in a line of cases including Lister v Hesley Hall Ltd.
• He also has expertise in ‘Stress at Work’ claims.

Clinical Negligence

Richard is now regularly instructed in clinical negligence cases, including those relating to care of the unborn baby.

Sports Law

• Richard successfully acted for a cricketer in a nationally renowned case in which he had been disqualified from all cricketing activities as a consequence of allegations of inciting the distribution of child pornography. Regrettably he had been ‘named and shamed’ in the national press. Richard represented him at a hearing before the England and Wales Cricket Board (“ECB”) Child Protection Appeals Panel, and advised him in relation to proposed libel proceedings.
• Has appeared at a number of other sporting disciplinary panels including the Amateur Swimming Association.

Regulatory work

In relation to Richard’s regulatory work he prosecutes for a number of local authorities in the following areas:

• Health and Safety
• Food Safety
• Environmental Protection
• Copyright and Trade Mark Protection
• Town and Country Planning. 

Richard, along with Paul Strelitz, has also set up a Public Access website which can be viewed at www.easlaw.co.uk

Richard is also one of chambers Pupil Supervisors.

Interests