Richard Ryan

Summary

Formerly a solicitor for ten years, Richard transferred to the bar in 2014. Recognised by the leading legal directories for a number of years, he "competes at a high level and has a good reputation" (Chambers & Partners) and has developed a busy nationwide practice commensurate with his previous experience and within Chambers’ areas of expertise, but with a particular emphasis on employment law (including regulatory proceedings) and personal injury litigation and the associated areas around these specialisms. Qualifying as a solicitor in 2004 at a large City law firm and then working at various highly rated national and international law firms provided Richard with the foundation to develop a broad civil and commercial practice whilst maintaining his established specialisms; he acts for a wide range of clients, including private individuals, financial institutions, charities, local authorities, NHS Trusts, major companies, SMEs and a number of large insurers. In the context of industrial relations he is highly regarded for his expertise in trade union related matters and collective actions, which is complemented by his civil/personal injury practice. Richard has a pragmatic and robust approach to all disputes but is also aware of the importance of fighting for a point of principle. Richard is qualified to accept instructions under the Bar Council Public Access scheme.

Specialist areas of law include

Profile description

Richard’s principal areas of specialism include employment and professional discipline and regulation. During his career he has advised clients on contentious and non-contentious employment law issues in all industry sectors, ranging from FTSE 100 and 250 companies, to SMEs, local authorities and charities. He is also experienced in working directly with in-house legal teams and HR/senior management, whether in the private or public sector, particularly where there are potential or actual heavyweight discrimination or collective claims. With a specialism in trade union law and collective consultation obligations, Richard has acted in some of the leading cases on protective awards, including UK Coal v NUM/BACM [2008] IRLR 4 and AMICUS v Nissan [2005].

Richard’s experience in the retail sector is particularly extensive. In 2015 he acted for Tesco plc at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Gondalia v Tesco, which has appeared in the recent edition of Tolley’s Employment Handbook as authority for a more flexible approach by tribunals when dealing with allegations of “dishonesty”. In 2016 he successfully acted for Greggs plc in a tribunal claim that received national press attention and appeared in the Tribunal Watch section of Personnel Today (“Greggs baker fairly dismissed for not washing hands”), provoking the well-trodden debate over dismissals of long serving employees based on zero-tolerance policies. He continues to be instructed by “market-leading companies”, as recognised by Chambers & Partners.

He is routinely conducting cases against more senior Counsel, including QCs. For example, in 2016 he again appeared in the EAT on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing on the reported TUPE case of Arch Initiatives v Greater Manchester West Health NHS Foundation Trust & Others [2016] IRLR 406, which is now one of the leading TUPE cases on the criteria for a service provision change where the activities are split along functional lines. Richard was also instructed in the original ET hearing which lasted 17 days.

He also has experience of professional disciplinary tribunals, including the General Medical Council.