Richard Stead
Call 1979 (Middle Temple)
Head of Chambers
Qualifications MA (Cantab), ACI Arb
Professional Memberships Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Society of Construction Law, and Technology and Construction Bar Association
Judicial Office Recorder 1996
Mediation Richard is also a trained mediator and has mediated, particularly, in construction disputes.
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Areas of Practice
Construction & Engineering
Richard has experience and expertise in a large variety of construction and engineering matters. Examples of his experience in specialist issues and subject matter are as follows:
- Commercial property and residential developments
- Condensation and thermal insulation
- Curtain walling
- Defective works and other contractual disputes
- Final account, extension of time and defect claims
- Mundic Block and pre-fabricated concrete construction in residential buildings
- Product liability with particular reference to building materials
- Roads, bridges, drains and waterways
- Sports stadia and leisure facilities
Reported Cases
- Freemans v Railtrack [2002] EWHC 477 (TCC)
- Benaim UK Ltd v DMD [2005] EWHC 1370 (TCC) (representing DMD in the arbitration at first instance)
Commercial Litigation
Commercial contractual disputes, with particular expertise in :-
- Arbitration
- Commercial Agency
- Damage to property by tree roots, flooding, landslip, subsidence, impact and vibration
- Insurance
- Product Liability
- Sale of Goods
Court of Appeal cases
- Bacchiocchi v Academic Agency Ltd [1998] 1 WLR 1313
- AMB Imballagi Plastici SRL v Pacflex Ltd [1999] Times Law Reports 510 (Commercial agency)
Professional Negligence
Acting for claimants, defendants and their insurers, Richard has strong expertise in negligence claims against:
- Architects
- Engineers
- Quantity and Building Surveyors
- Project Mangers
- Solicitors (in respect of claims arising out of litigation involving construction / personal injury disputes)
Recommendations
- Chambers UK 2009 – Richard Stead has been involved in some large and complex cases over the past year. ‘Strong, robust and fantastic with clients,’ he regularly acts on behalf of defendants, particularly insurers. The depth of his knowledge on construction is widely recognised amongst market observers.
- Chambers UK 2008 – Richard Stead is described by sources as a ‘regional stalwart’, who adopts a pragmatic approach. He is particularly well recognised for his construction expertise.
- Chambers UK 2007 – ‘user friendly’ and has a ‘very practical approach’.
- Chambers UK 2006 – ‘very down-to-earth and without a trace of pomposity in him’.
- Legal 500 2006 – ‘pragmatic and commercial’
- Legal Experts 2007 – recommended in Property, Planning and Construction
Articles
- Stead & Lavers – Damage to buildings by tree roots – Construction Law, March 1999.
