Richard Lissack KC

Practice Areas

Richard is a recognised and renowned leading KC practising in the UK, New York, and across the Gulf, Caribbean and Europe. He is a pre-eminent commercial silk recognised both nationally and internationally across many disciplines. He is identified as a “Star of the Bar” listed across the directories as a leading practitioner in 13 areas with specialisms in all forms of litigation arising from complex international and cross-border commercial fraud (civil litigation, enforcement and regulation) and with particular experience in banking and finance; financial services; and high value white collar crime acting for both corporates and individuals which often involves anticorruption legislation and the UK Bribery Act 2010 (on which he has co-authored a leading textbook). Richard’s practice comprises mainly high-profile complex litigation and international ICSID and LCIA arbitration and is heavily weighted towards points at which commercial conduct straddles the line between civil, regulatory and enforcement – and cross border work involving financial markets including those concerning the major banks. He also maintains a significant practice in health and safety and also in inquests and public inquiries.

The following are prominent cases in which Richard has and is acting. For a full list please see https://www.fountaincourt.co.uk/people/richard-lissack-qc/

• 1MDB: advising one of the leading actors in what has been described that the largest fraud ever uncovered in connection with multiple international proceedings involving the US, much of Europe, Malaysia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

• Venezuelan Gold litigation: acting for Central Bank of Venezuela in proceedings of international significance in which control of 32 tons of gold bullion in the Bank of England is the central factual issue surrounded by numerous legal complexities of constitutional law – under further appeal to the Supreme Court.

• Barclays Bank Qatar capital raising litigation: acting as the lead KC in Barclays’ serial success in multiple proceedings arising out of the £11 billion investment by Qatar in the bank in 2008, including winning criminal proceedings instigated by the SFO and other international bodies, winning commercial court proceedings, and currently contesting proceedings brought by the FCA in related regulatory action.

• Oleg Derpiaska v Vladimir Chernukhin: acting for and advising Mr Chernukhin in various aspects of this multifaceted continuing litigation spanning the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Commercial Court and Administrative Court.

• Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and Credit Suisse: acting for Privinvest and its UBO Iskander Safa in a multi-billion-pound claim brought against it by Mozambique involving allegations of fraud across multiple jurisdictions including London, New York and Switzerland.

• Kuwait PIFSS v Man Group and other defendants: acting for UK financial entities in the Man Group being sued with over 30 other Defendants in a multi-billion pound Commercial Court action.

• HP and Autonomy: acting for the CFO of Autonomy in relation to several allegations of corporate fraud by both the SFO and FRC in the UK and the Department of Justice in the US, involving extensive related issues of regulation and enforcement worldwide.

• COVID Public Inquiry: acting for a major financial institution in connection with the £40billion of business loans made by the UK Government.

Of course, he has appeared in and advised in connection with almost every significant public inquiry of recent times and is consulting editor of Public Inquiries (OUP).

Richard’s record in health and safety and public inquiries work is unsurpassed including: Grenfell Tower, Didcot Power Station collapse, Hatfield, Potters Bar, Ladbroke Grove and Southall train crash cases; the Lyme Bay tragedy; the sinkings of the Maria Assumpta and the Pescado – the list goes on.

His clients say of him:

• ‘Richard is a standout silk in this area and there are very few others that are able to come close to the level of skill, attention and grace he brings to every instruction. Richard is able to offer advice quickly and precisely on even the most complex of matters and offers a degree of strategic oversight and commercial awareness that is difficult to find at the Bar. Richard is extremely impressive on his feet and is able to win over any tribunal with ease.’

• ‘Best in his field. Formidable advocate and KC. No equal in his field. Always adds value. Fantastic with instructing solicitors and clients alike.’

• ‘He delivers exceptionally clear advice in a confident manner that reassures clients. He also has the ear of the Court. His understanding of regulatory, fraud, criminal and civil issues means he has a unique practice.’

• ‘Extremely responsive, and highly attuned to client needs. Clients will take him as the last word on any nuanced issue – his judgement is impeccable. ’

• ‘A tenacious advocate who is superb with clients, and utterly charming.’

• ‘Richard is the smoothest and most user-friendly KCs. He delivers exceptionally clear advice in a confident manner that reassures clients. He also has the ear of the court. His understanding of regulatory, fraud, criminal and civil issues means he has a unique practice.’

• He is so charming and has an enormous brain. He's also good humoured and fun to work with.’

• ‘A leading advocate with good judgement.’

• ‘He goes from strength to strength and really works hard.’

• ‘He's a fantastically talented advocate and is very supportive of his team members and clients.’

• ‘Very impressive on his feet.’

• ‘He is very user-friendly, very hard-working, always makes himself available and is a very good advocate.’

• ‘He is excellent; he has very, very good judgement, years of experience, and his delivery is excellent. He is measured and judges trust him.’

• ‘One of those fantastically versatile KCs, he can cover all the issues in a multi-faceted matter - he brings you something not many KCs can. Richard is very user-friendly, incredibly responsive, and someone who always gives the service the client needs.’

Career

Called 1978, QC 1994 aged 37; QC Bar of the Eastern Caribbean 2002; Recorder 1993 onwards; New York Bar 2007; Northern Ireland Bar (QC) 2008; 2008 Dubai International Financial Centre Courts; 2008 Bencher of Inner Temple.

Professional Memberships

Bencher, Inner Temple; Member Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Financial Services Lawyers Association (Board Member); Human Rights Lawyers Association; Commercial Bar Association; International Bar Association; Employment Law Bar Association; Bar European Group; Health and Safety Lawyers Association; American Counsel Association; Federal Bar Council of New York.

Publications

Co-authors Lissack and Horlick on Bribery, LexisNexis (3rd Edition). Consulting editor, Public inquiries, Oxford University Press. Financial Services Law and Regulation, LexisNexis. Richard has written and contributed to numerous articles for legal/business publications and is regularly called upon to provide expert commentary for national newspapers and radio.

Personal

Richard is married with three daughters, one step daughter and two step sons and when not in court he walks, goes to the theatre (and far too many rock concerts!), sails off the coast of Cornwall and acts as an Ambassador for Action Aid and a Patron and Development Board member of RADA and was founder and chair of the National Bereavement Partnership.