Richard Rowe

Richard advises insurers and corporate clients defending Employers and Public Liability claims.

He has over 20 years’ experience advising across a range of sectors including claims that arise within the sporting arena, in which he specialises. In this area he acts (and has acted) on behalf of sports governing bodies, sporting occupiers, motorsport teams, clubs and participants in a wide range of sports, although predominantly Motorsport (both two and four-wheeled), Football and Rugby. Richard also specialises in advising insurers on claims involving animals.

In addition to advising clients on all aspects of civil claims for personal injury, Richard is also experienced in advising on regulatory prosecutions and he regularly advises on issues relating to policy coverage.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Young v Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council & Merthyr & Rhondda Cynin Taff Ground Work Trust [2009]. Successfully defended at trial the second defendant. The case is reported and is notable in that it applies an example of the application of the McGeown principle. Applying the principle the defendants were not liable in negligence or under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 for the state of disrepair a bridge had fallen into as the bridge had formed part of the highway which had not been adopted so that no repair obligation arose.  
• Clifton v Riding for the Disabled Association [2011]. Successfully defended at trial a national charity against a claim for compensation from a horse rider following an accident at a riding centre.
• Skinner v Bedford Town FC [2015]. Successfully defended at trial a Football Club in a claim for compensation brought by a semi-professional footballer following a challenge during a match. The injury suffered by the claimant ended his football career. The case is notable for various reasons including the media coverage generated by the fact that had the Club lost the case it would have entered administration as it held inadequate insurance to cover the claim.
• Various motor racing circuit owners and event organisers on inquests, regulatory investigations and prosecutions brought by regulatory authorities following incidents at their circuits and/or events.
• Successfully defending a motor racing circuit owner in a civil claim for compensation brought by a participant in a motorcycle race. During the race the participant collided with trackside barriers and suffered serious personal injury. Insurers in the case held a reserve in the region of £7 million.
• Insurers on policy coverage issues concerning a claim brought by a former international Rugby player under a Personal Accident policy.
• Successfully resolved at mediation a claim for personal injury on behalf of a professional Rugby Club, which involved an opposition player losing the sight in his eye as a result of an incident at a ruck. Liability was disputed and the claim involved future earnings as a professional international player.