Richard McMeeken
UK Guide 2025
Band 3 : Litigation
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
0131 247 1035Share profile
Band 3
About
Provided by Richard McMeeken
Practice Areas
Richard is one of Scotland's best known commercial litigators, with over 18 years' experience advising UK business. He is a solicitor advocate and dual qualified in Scotland, England & Wales. The focus of his practice is on commercial contract disputes, corporate and shareholder litigation, insolvency and professional liability. He has particular expertise in the pharmaceutical sector, transport sector and acts for a number of high-profile individuals in the private client sector.
Richard is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers' Association and is instructed as an expert in such claims. He is the editor of Greens Civil Practice Bulletin in Scotland. He sits on the Lexis Nexis panel of commercial litigation experts in Scotland and the Lexis Nexis panel for contentious trusts and executries experts. He has significant experience in regulatory work and is a non-executive board member of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. He has an interest in legal education and for 10 years was the lead tutor for commercial litigation on the Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh.
Richard is a ranked lawyer for commercial litigation in Chambers 2023 with clients commenting that "Richard combines excellent legal knowledge with a practical approach to litigation" and "He is a very experienced commercial litigator with a deep knowledge and understanding of the law".
Career
Richard has always had a broad civil and commercial litigation practice in which he practices in the private and public sector. His focus in recent years have been on complex commercial contract disputes, company law and corporate litigation including disputes between shareholders, directors, warranty claims, unfair prejudice petitions and derivative proceedings.
He is, in addition, an experienced professional liability practitioner, a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers' Association and is instructed as an expert in professional liability cases. He also regularly acts for the firm's private clients in cases involving wills, trusts and succession matters. His team are ranked Band 1 in Legal 500 for contentious trusts and probate work.
Richard is qualified in England & Wales and is a solicitor-advocate which allows him to represent the firm's clients in any disputes arising within the jurisdiction and to advise on cross-border disputes. He has regularly acted for foreign law firms in Scottish proceedings and for foreign governments seeking to register judgments for enforcement in Scotland.
Professional Memberships
Law Society of Scotland
Professional Negligence Lawyers Association
Publications
PLC Magazine - "Contractual rectification: black and white?" - December 1 2022
The Lawyer - '"Class actions are gathering pace in international markets - will Scotland follow suit?" - November 1 2022
Scottish Financial News - "The Law of Bribery in Scotland - Oil States Industries (UK) Limited v "S" Limited and others" - September 2 2022
Scottish Legal News / Irish Legal News – “Richard McMeeken: Reforming contract law to cope with COVID-19” – June 2020
Richard McMeeken: Reforming contract law to cope with COVID-19 | Scottish Legal News
The Herald – “Agenda: Get ready for a new type of class action coming to Scotland” – May 2020
Agenda: Get ready for a new type of class action coming to Scotland | HeraldScotland
LexisNexis –“Innovation for innovation’s sake, or will new technology make a real impact on litigation?” - November 2020
Innovation for innovation’s sake, or will new technology make a real impact on litigation? | LexisNexis Blogs
The Times – “Embrace a legal future” – November 2020
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/embrace-a-future-of-great -lawtech-innovation-jvqdnnzfc
Chambers Review
UK
Richard McMeeken is a dual-qualified solicitor advocate with a great deal of litigation expertise. Based in Edinburgh, he assists clients on a range of matters, including shareholder and insolvency-related disputes.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Richard was excellent throughout our case. I felt confident with his advice and direction, which was wonderful. He was quick to understand, absolutely clear in his advice and his analysis of risk."
"He's commercially minded, pragmatic, sensible and gives good advice. Richard is a resolution-focused individual whom I'm more than happy to recommend and cheerfully choose myself if I was a client."
"He combines strong legal knowledge with a practicality and commercial awareness which leads to good results for his clients."
"He's very sensible and personable to deal with. He's my standout."
"Richard was excellent throughout our case. I felt confident with his advice and direction, which was wonderful. He was quick to understand, absolutely clear in his advice and his analysis of risk."
"He's commercially minded, pragmatic, sensible and gives good advice. Richard is a resolution-focused individual whom I'm more than happy to recommend and cheerfully choose myself if I was a client."
"He combines strong legal knowledge with a practicality and commercial awareness which leads to good results for his clients."
"He's very sensible and personable to deal with. He's my standout."