Richard Hugill

Richard Hugill is a Solicitor and Partner in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. Richard practises in the Business and Property Courts and acts on behalf of clients in relation to partnership and company shareholder disputes, claims arising from business acquisitions/disposals as well as trading contracts and professional negligence claims. He has considerable experience in making and opposing court applications for asset freezing orders and other types of injunction. Richard also advises and acts in land, property and leasehold disputes (rent reviews, opposed lease renewals, tenant insolvency and restructuring, claims for breaches of covenant, dilapidations, forfeiture and possession, break options, permission to assign/sub-let, etc), contentious aspects of the Electronic Communications Code, valuation disputes relating to land acquisitions/options, adverse possession, trespass, boundary, easement and nuisance disputes as well as freehold covenant issues. In addition to his litigation practice, Richard accepts appointments as an accredited Mediator. He is also the Firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and a Director of Harrowells Limited. The Legal 500 (2025 edition):“ 'excellent tactician' Richard Hugill… "; “ ‘Richard Hugill continues to provide a pragmatic approach to a number of scenarios provided over the many years we have worked together.’ ” The Legal 500 (2024 edition): ‘Richard Hugill is a serious litigator and very good tactician who sees the kernel of the dispute and is an excellent judge of litigation tactics and moves.’ The Legal 500 (2023 edition): 'Richard Hugill is a terrific solicitor, very commercial and pragmatic.’ The Legal 500 (2022 edition): 'Richard Hugill - thorough, tenacious, good communication’ Chambers and Partners UK (2022 edition): "Richard Hugill is thorough, communicative and helpful, in terms of talking through and explaining issues." The Legal 500 (2021 edition): "’superb litigator’, 'Richard Hugill is an excellent lawyer and experienced in complex dispute resolution. He is very hard working and client focused. His team’s ability to provide skilled legal services is very high'." Chambers and Partners UK (2021 edition): “‘I find Richard to be a proactive, considered and measured presence,’ a client reports.” Chambers and Partners UK (2020 edition): "Clients describe Richard Hugill as 'completely on the ball, astute and always very well prepared'." The Legal 500 (2019 edition): "Richard Hugill is 'extremely astute and a joy to deal with' ." Chambers and Partners UK (2019 edition): "Clients describe him as 'experienced, professional and efficient'." The Legal 500 UK (2018 edition): "Richard Hugill 'provide(s) an excellent service' and [has] 'a great deal of knowledge'." Chambers and Partners UK (2018 edition): "Richard Hugill of Harrowells Limited is appreciated for his 'very clear grasp of the issues and technical knowledge of the law'...and is described as 'utterly on the ball, always professional and very well prepared'." Chambers and Partners UK (2017 edition): "Highly regarded litigator Richard Hugill of Harrowells Limited works regularly for clients on shareholder and partnership disputes, warranty claims and a range of other corporate and commercial disputes. One client comments: 'He knew what we were trying to achieve and acted for us promptly'." Chambers and Partners UK (2016 edition): "Richard Hugill of Harrowells Limited regularly advises in commercial litigation including contractual and shareholder claims. 'He took all this complex information and dealt with it very well, so that we got the conclusion we wanted.' say clients." Chambers and Partners UK (2015 edition): "Richard Hugill of Harrowells represented a foreign company in a significant claim against Lloyds Banking Group. He is known to handle complex matters with professionalism, and is identified as a 'legal brain with a human face'." The Legal 500 (2014 edition): "[A] significant figure in the team is Richard Hugill, who recently represented Easi Recycling Solutions in successfully defending a High Court interim injunction application, made by a Danish claimant, for trade mark infringement." The Legal 500 (2012 edition): Richard Hugill has "vast experience" and is "always available" The Legal 500 (2011 edition): "recommended" Mediation Endorsements "A brief note to thank you for your assistance in mediating this matter to a successful conclusion on Friday. I appreciate that you are already aware of the level of my client's satisfaction at the outcome that was reached and I am very grateful to you for the manner in which the mediation was conducted and the efficiency with which a resolution was achieved." Litigation Partner, representing company claimant in relation to a tax professional negligence claim, 2019 "Richard approached the mediation in a calm and open manner, putting all parties at ease immediately. His communication throughout the day was very impressive and ensured that the parties were always informed of the position and what the next stage of the mediation would entail. His willingness to listen to each party's views but to also challenge those same views in order to facilitate a settlement being reached made the whole process run very smoothly. I will definitely recommend Richard to my colleagues in future." Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell (Sheffield office) representing insolvency practitioners in connection with a s339 Insolvency Act 1986 dispute, 2018 "I would certainly recommend Richard's services to others. His style was assured and he displayed patience and good humour throughout the day. He was perceptive and, I believe, he gained the trust of my client early in the day which certainly aided the parties reaching a settlement in a smooth manner." Commercial Litigation Solicitor, McCormicks 2018 "Richard is a first-rate mediator providing a fair, efficient and extremely effective service. That the difficult dispute in question settled owed a considerable amount to his ability, diplomacy, good humour and perception. I recommend his services to others without hesitation" Barrister, Enterprise Chambers, 2017 "Richard was a calm and measured presence who helped the parties achieve settlement from an extremely unpromising start. His willingness to challenge the parties' positions whilst remaining objective and neutral without doubt made the crucial difference in terms of getting the mediation to a successful outcome. I would have no hesitation in recommending him." Barrister, St Johns Buildings Chambers, representing two parties in connection with a construction dispute, 2017 "Thank you for your very able mediating yesterday and I will most certainly nominate you on other matters in the future. My clients are also very grateful." Litigation Partner representing a party in a Commercial Property dispute, 2016 "Very pleased with Mr Hugill's mediation technique and skills. Mr Hugill was at all times neutral and fair, affording parties and their legal representatives the necessary time to ultimately achieve resolution on terms both parties could live with." Litigation Partner representing a party in a Commercial Landlord and Tenant dispute, 2016 "I...enjoyed the mediation - which is not something which can always be said. Thanks for your assistance and input." Barrister, St Philips Chambers, representing two parties in mediated Court proceedings, 2016 Richard Hugill is supervised by the Managing Director, Robert Onyett.