Richard A. Smith

Professional career

• Elevated to the High Court on 20 February 2023, assigned to the Chancery Division, and is formally styled as The Honourable Mr Justice Richard Smith
• Appointed a Recorder for criminal matters in 2018 and became a Deputy High Court Judge in 2019, serving in both the Chancery and King’s Bench divisions
• In 2018, he pursued postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge while also working as an arbitrator and serving as a Crown Court Recorder
• He became a partner at the firm in 2001, specializing in commercial disputes and public inquiry work
• Richard Smith studied law at Manchester University and qualified as a solicitor in 1994, joining Allen & Overy as a commercial litigation solicitor
• Smith’s career reflects a blend of commercial law, arbitration, and public inquiry experience, bringing a solicitor’s perspective to the senior judiciary

Education

Additional information

• In addition to his High Court duties, Smith has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor as a chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, under section 12(2)(b) of the Enterprise Act 2002.
• representing witnesses in high-profile inquiries such as BSE, Bloody Sunday, and Hong Kong Airport.
• His appointment is part of a broader effort to include solicitors in senior judicial roles, highlighting the value of diverse legal backgrounds in the High Court