SILK PROFILE
Richard Chapman KC

Richard Chapman KC

UK Bar 2026

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Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 9 practice areas

About

Provided by 18 St John Street

UK Bar

Practice Areas

Richard Chapman KC was called in 1998 and took silk in 2019. He also became Head of Chambers in 2019.

Richard specialises in all areas of Business and Property litigation including disputes relating to commercial law, chancery, contracts, company, insolvency, directors’ duties, insurance, professional negligence, banking, partnership, landlord and tenant, trusts, succession and probate. He also specialises in tax and VAT litigation and sits as a Fee Paid Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber).

Richard has appeared in the European Court of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. He is consistently highly praised in legal directories.

Richard was the only Business and Property specialist outside London to take silk in 2019.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Commercial Dispute Resolution - Northern (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC is a leading barrister with a busy commercial practice that covers contract disputes between service providers and their business clients, company or partnership cases, and claims concerning the terms of loan agreements.

Chancery - Northern (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC advises clients on a wide range of complex matters, including commercial, company and insolvency matters as well as trusts and probate disputes. He also handles tax litigation.

Tax - The Regions (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC of 18 St John Street is a leading Northern barrister who is instructed by businesses and individuals on a broad range of contentious taxation matters.

Partnership - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC of 18 St John Street is a well-regarded commercial silk with an established partnership practice. He is particularly adept at handling a range of partnership matters involving tax issues and is a judge of the First-tier Tribunal of the Tax Chamber.

Real Estate Litigation - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC is well known for handling property disputes. He has acted in tenant and landlord disputes and adverse possession claims. He is also well placed to work on financial matters regarding the sale or acquisition of properties.

Banking & Finance - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC is a highly respected silk with a broad commercial practice. He is particularly adept at handling disputes concerning banks and other financial institutions and tax issues.

Professional Negligence - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC of 18 St John Street is held in high regard for the strength of his professional negligence practice, which typically focuses on the representation of claimants in claims against solicitors.

Restructuring/Insolvency - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC has a broad commercial chancery practice and offers expertise in insolvency, banking, chancery and commercial disputes. He has experience appearing before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Company - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Richard Chapman KC is the head of 18 St John Street and a well-experienced silk who has a focus on business and property litigation. He advises clients on a range of commercial law matters.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • A barrister who revels in the precision of the detail, Richard has a calmness in tense situations and a strategic astucity that makes him respected by judges, clients and the opposition.

    Commercial Dispute ResolutionUK Bar
  • Richard is very easy to work with. He is very competent in a broad range of workloads. He is very experienced and has a good client manner. I give him kudos for being able to adapt to scenarios.

    ChanceryUK Bar
  • Richard is ultra calm, cool and collected. He's super bright and you just feel confident going into anything with him.

    ChanceryUK Bar
  • Richard takes everything in his stride. He has a combination of an old-fashioned and modern approach. He has that very good blend which makes him a very natural barrister. He is a real star.

    ChanceryUK Bar
  • Richard is really impressive in court. He is very methodical and very persuasive. Despite the fact he is a senior KC, he is extremely accessible and very responsive.

    ChanceryUK Bar
  • Richard Chapman is very knowledgeable. He is an elegant advocate, effective and well liked, which is a winning combination.

    TaxUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 18 St John Street (43)

All Circuits

Northern (Bar)

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