Richard Cooper joined the firm in January 2015 as a consultant solicitor working within the Serious Crime Department. Prior to joining Sternberg Reed, Richard was a partner at both Taylor Haldane Barlex, BTMK Solicitors and Twitchen Musters & Kelly.

Richard’s is qualified as a Higher Court Advocate which allowed him to appear in the Southwark Crown Court where, he successfully defended a Company Director prosecuted by Serious Fraud Office in a 4 month, £5 million fraud.

Richard’s practise embraces the full spectrum of criminal cases although he specialises in serious and complex crime often involving substantial volumes of evidence and lengthy, multi-defendant conspiracies. In 2014 Richard represented the lead defendant in the longest fraud trial to be heard at Basildon Crown Court.

The experience Richard has obtained from defending the most serious and complex of matters means your case will be dealt with by a genuine expert. Richard’s tactical insight and forensic approach to case preparation is applicable to all his cases, no matter how big or small. Richard’s major case experience is utilised so that all his clients gain a distinct advantage over the prosecution.

Richard is currently instructed in matters including murder, historic rape, multi kilo drug supply, boiler room investment scams and HMRC frauds.

Richard’s expertise as a defence litigator is recognised by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to whom Richard has lectured on case strategy and trial preparation.

Richard is consistently recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK (Guide to the UK Legal Profession) as a leader in the fields of both fraud and general crime.

Legal 500 (2014)         “….does his utmost for clients and excels at fraud work”

Chambers (2013)        “…Richard Cooper is ‘down to earth’ and ‘highly experienced’  and specialises in serious crime and fraud work.”

Chambers (2014)        “…The “outstanding” Richard Cooper is viewed as being”exceptional. He’s honest and straightforward with his advice, but he’s also sympathetic and helpful throughout the process.”

Legal 500 (2015) 

Sternberg Reed’s recruitment of the ‘first-rate’ Richard Cooper added ‘outstanding experience of large-scale fraud prosecuted by the FSA and NHS Protect’

Areas of Expertise:

• Fraud
• Business Crimes including company and insolvency offences
• Money Laundering
• Trading standards offences & frauds
• Confiscation & Restraint
• Murder & Manslaughter
• Drug conspiracies
• Sexual Offences
• Death by dangerous / careless driving

Notable Cases

R v M

Richard’s commitment to delivering the best service to his clients was demonstrated in a terrorist case. Richard represented a defendant for 14 consecutive days of interviews in police custody. The defendant was subsequently acquitted of all charges.

R v DM

Richard defended the first boiler room fraud prosecuted by the the Financial Services Authority (the forerunner to the Financial Conduct Authority).

FSA v DB

Richard represented a defendant in both criminal investigations and regulatory proceedings brought by the Financial Services Authority following the discovery of a huge insurance premium fraud. The case also involved cross jurisdiction investigations by the FBI.

R v SM

Richard secured the acquittal of the lead defendant in the V2012 festival murder. The case involved complex medical evidence and pathology.

R v DL

Acquittal of one of four nightclub doormen charged with the manslaughter of a clubber who was thrown out of a club and then restrained pending the arrival of the police. The case raised complicated issues of causation.

R v TB

Representation of the lead defendant in 110kg cocaine importation from Costa Rica. The case involves interlocking issues pertaining to Public Interest Immunity disclosure and covert intelligence sources run by the National Crime Agency. The case remains listed for re-trial.

R v RB

Richard successfully defended confiscation proceedings brought against a ‘loan shark’ who was prosecuted for unlicensed money lending. Criminal benefit in excess of £500,000 was identified by Trading Standards investigators. In spite of the defendant’s guilty plea to the indictment, the prosecutor’s application for confiscation was successfully opposed.

R v Y

Richard secured an acquittal of a 13 year old charged with gang rape. The case involved toxicology and consent issues.