Richard Leedham

Practice Areas

Richard is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department and head of Mishcon de Reya's Commercial Litigation practice. He advises on commercial disputes, often with international and fraud elements, with a particular specialisation in insurance and increasingly group actions, as a renowned expert in both fields.

Richard advises individual and institutional funds clients on claims arising from investments in rights issues and other corporate investments under FSMA s90 and s 90A. He is also involved in some of the leading cases in this developing area, most recently for Wirral Borough Council and others vs Indivior plc and Reckitt Benckiser plc in groundbreaking representative claims, and in the past, successfully resolved claims against RBS, and Cattles, amongst others.

On the insurance side, he acts predominantly for corporate policy holders on coverage issues across a wide range of industries, and has expertise in most lines of business. Most recently he has acted for various group of SMEs with claims for business interruption losses caused by Covid related lockdowns and restrictions, notably for the Hiscox Action Group, including intervening in the FCA Supreme Court test case.

Connected to this is his involvement at the forefront of the litigation funding market, advising on and working with clients on DBAs and conditional fee arrangements, and maintaining deep links with the main players in the funding and ATE community.

Richard has been ranked as an expert in both Chambers and Legal 500 since 2007.

Richard is an accredited (CEDR) mediator.

Career

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP 2015-

Partner, Addleshaw Goddard 2000-2014

Associate/Partner, Paisner & Co (now BCLP) 1994- 2000 (partner 1999)

Trainee/Associate, Simmons & Simmons 1990-1994

Work Highlights

Defending a large offshore law firm in relation to allegations of professional negligence brought by their former client a wealthy middle eastern businessman against his entire legal team (in Dubai, England and the Cayman Islands). At a preliminary hearing, the team successfully obtained judgment that the claim was time-barred and reverse summary judgment (Al-Sadik v Clyde & Co (and Ors).

Leading the claim for the Hiscox Action Group both in the FCA test case on Covid related BI claims, and also in parallel arbitration proceedings versus Hiscox.

Acting for multinational energy company seeking to recover E500m under its political risk insurance programme as regards expropriation of its assets in Colombia.

Acting for a group of over 100 investors in various Ingenious film partnerships in complex Commercial Court Group proceedings and acting for a similar group in claims vs an IFA based in Jersey in proceedings before the Jersey Court.

Acting for a group of institutional investors in an early settlement of a claim under FSMA s90 vs a multinational listed entity.

Acting for Standard Life vs certain directors of Cattles PLC as regards claims under FSMA s90A.

Acting for a number of institutional investors in the Group Litigation Claim vs RBS. This was part of the £4 billion claim that RBS misled its shareholders when it carried out a rights issue in 2008 to fund the purchase of ABN Amro. Richard's clients settled their claim shortly before trial.

Successfully recovering £100m for a FTSE 100 life insurance company against its professional indemnity insurers in relation to liabilities arising to customers from alleged mis-selling of a pension fund; Standard Life Assurance Ltd v Ace European Group & Ors [2012] EWHC 104 (Comm); Ace European Group & Ors v Standard Life Assurance Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1713.

Advising the insolvency committee of a failed Icelandic bank on the recoverability of Euro 5m under its D&O programme.

Advising a multinational life sciences company on coverage under D&O and Fidelity policies in respect of regulatory investigations in various jurisdictions.

Acting for a Swedish manufacturer of motor cycle components seeking recovery under a product recall policy.

Advising a sports governing body in respect of insurance arrangements for their international representative teams.

Advising a number of different UK and international banks on separate claims involving frauds on the banks and recoveries under BBB/Corporate Crime policies.

Acting for a price comparison website in connection with claims under a privacy policy in respect of claims paid out to customers for inadvertent data protection breaches.