‘He dismantles the other side’s case before the judge in a merciless fashion leading to conclusive wins. His intellectual ability is first-rate and he has gravitas well beyond his years.’
Richard Blakeley KC is a commercial specialist with particular expertise in civil fraud and bribery, cross-border disputes, claims governed by foreign law, banking, and competition law. Richard was appointed King’s Counsel in 2024 and is described in the directories as a “mega star for the future”, noted for his excellent oral advocacy, for having “the ear of the court” , and for being “tenacious, robust and capable of producing performances that blow you away."
Richard is highly ranked across multiple categories of the legal directories where he is praised for his “razor sharp intellect” , his “grit and resilience” , his “user-friendliness” and for his ability to “dismantle the other side’s case before the judge in a merciless fashion leading to conclusive wins. His intellectual ability is first-rate and he has gravitas well beyond his years”. Alongside excellent and robust oral advocacy, Richard is “a brilliant drafter” and “an immensely impressive draftsman of written argument – highly focused, and effective and easy to work with."
Richard Blakeley KC is a commercial specialist with particular expertise in civil fraud and bribery, cross-border disputes, claims governed by foreign law, banking, and competition law. Richard was appointed King’s Counsel in 2024 and is described in the directories as a “mega star for the future”, noted for his excellent oral advocacy, for having “the ear of the court” , and for being “tenacious, robust and capable of producing performances that blow you away."
Richard is highly ranked across multiple categories of the legal directories where he is praised for his “razor sharp intellect” , his “grit and resilience” , his “user-friendliness” and for his ability to “dismantle the other side’s case before the judge in a merciless fashion leading to conclusive wins. His intellectual ability is first-rate and he has gravitas well beyond his years”. Alongside excellent and robust oral advocacy, Richard is “a brilliant drafter” and “an immensely impressive draftsman of written argument – highly focused, and effective and easy to work with."
Richard is routinely involved in the most high-profile and largest disputes before the English Courts. Recently, those include:
As well as appearing at all levels of the English Courts, Richard is an experienced commercial arbitration practitioner including under ICC and LCIA rules. Richard also accepts appointments as a sole arbitrator or member of a tribunal.
In addition to his commercial practice, Richard is also a leading international sanctions practitioner, having previously been named Global Young Practitioner of the Year by the World Export Controls Review. Richard has particular expertise in challenging and advising on EU and UK sanctions measures and has been instructed by dozens of banks, companies and individuals to challenge the sanctions imposed upon them both in the European Court of Justice and the Administrative Court and to seek damages for unlawful listings.
Richard has been a member of chambers since the completion of his pupillage in 2008. Prior to coming to the Bar, Richard received a double first in Law from the University of Cambridge, graduating from Fitzwilliam College with the prize for the best academic performance in the graduating class across all science and arts subjects. He then received his LL.M. from Harvard Law School having been awarded a full scholarship.
Before commencing his pupillage, Richard spent time working in investment banking for Goldman Sachs. Richard was based in GS’s Operations division, working with credit derivative and interest rate swaps. Whilst studying for the BVC, on which he was ranked outstanding, Richard was a supervisor in Constitutional law at Gonville and Caius College and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, an examiner in Applied Criminology at the University of Cambridge, and a tutor and examiner in public law at King's College, London.
Outside of his practice, Richard acts as a mentor for young people and students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, including via the charity Into:University and as part of the Commercial Bar’s mentoring scheme.
Richard practises in all aspects of commercial dispute resolution and is particularly experienced in large, high-value, multi-party claims in the High Court. Richard has expertise in civil fraud and bribery, cross-border disputes, claims governed by foreign law, and banking disputes.
Recent matters include:
Richard has a broad EU and competition law practice and is regularly instructed on EU and UK competition law litigation and matters.
Competition matters on which Richard has been instructed include:
Richard’s practice is profoundly international and the overwhelming majority of his cases have an international element. Richard has particular expertise in cross-border commercial disputes, fraud and corruption, jurisdiction challenges, claims governed by foreign law, and international sanctions matters.
Richard is similarly a leading EU law practitioner and has appeared led and unled in the High Court, the General Court and the Court of Justice on EU and international cases. Richard has also appeared in the European Court of Human Rights in interstate disputes.
Recent international and EU law matters in which Richard has been instructed include:
Richard is regularly engaged in commercial arbitrations including arbitrations under the ICC and LCIA rules. Richard also sits as an arbitrator and accepts appointments as a sole arbitrator or member of a tribunal.
Arbitration matters in which Richard has been instructed include:
Richard is an experienced sports law practitioner who is frequently instructed on commercial, competition and regulatory matters arising in the sporting context. These include advising on the rules of sporting bodies as well as acting in disputes as to sponsorship rights and commercial agreements in the sporting context. Richard has been instructed in matters relating to football, cricket, boxing and other sports.
As part of his sports law practice, Richard is a long-standing advisor to the FA Premier League. This includes: advising on the sale of its broadcasting rights, the drafting of the Premier League rules and their compatibility with competition law, the drafting of and disputes related to the FAPL’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and other aspects of ‘Financial Fair Play’, the operation of the PL’s commercial rights programme, and the FAPL’s response to the proposed European Superleague; as well as acting in BSKYB, Premier League and ors v Ofcom (CAT), the PL’s successful challenge to Ofcom's Pay TV decision that Sky must wholesale its Sky Sports channels to eligible competitors at a set price.
Sports law matters on which Richard is currently instructed include:
Education
BPP School of Law (2006-2007)
Harvard Law School (2005-2006)
Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge (2002-2005)
Qualifications
Bar Vocational Course (2007) (Outstanding)
LL.M. (2006)
MA Law (2005) (First Class)
Other
Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
Scholarships & Prizes
Lincoln's Inn
Buchanan Prize
Lord Denning Scholarship
Hardwicke Entrance Award
University of Cambridge
Baker & McKenzie Scholarship (full scholarship for LL.M. at Harvard Law School)
ECS Wade Prize for administrative law
Squire scholarship
Fitzwilliam College
Scholar of the Year (best academic performance across all subjects and years in Fitzwilliam College graduating class of 2005)
Reddaway Prize (for contribution to the prestige of the College)
Mary Luck Prize (for achievement across a Cambridge career)
Winner, the Weekly Law Reports mooting competition (2004)
Other
Winner, the Weekly Law Reports mooting competition (2004)