Richard is highly sought after to represent those facing criminal proceedings and for his non-contentious and advisory work, which sees him regularly advise companies and their individual directors and officers on financial crime and financial sanctions breaches and on compliance with related legal and regulatory obligations.
Richard’s advisory practice draws on his extensive experience of representing clients on contentious financial crime matters; many of which involve novel points of law or procedure. Richard is co-author of one of the leading practitioner texts on the UK’s proceeds of crime legislation, Blackstone’s Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Oxford University Press, 5th ed) and has given expert evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee.
On the contentious side of his practice Richard is regularly instructed in complex and high profile cases involving allegations of financial crime and related money laundering; particularly where criminal and civil asset recovery powers are engaged to detain, restrain, freeze, recover, forfeit or confiscate assets in the UK or overseas. Richard has a particular interest in and experience of advising on the emerging interface between asset recovery and financial sanctions enforcement. He is routinely instructed to represent the full range of persons affected by the exercise of asset recovery powers and by related judicial orders.
Richard also conducts linked litigation in the High Court.
Richard is listed in both legal Directories. In Chambers & Partners 2026 edition Richard is ranked in both Financial Crime (Band 2) and POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture (Band 2).
Recommendations include:
“Richard is meticulous in his approach and leaves no stone unturned.”
“Richard Fisher is fantastic with clients and works really hard. He's a good advocate who is trusted by judges. On POCA, he's very knowledgeable. He wrote the guide.”
"A no-nonsense, determined and courageous advocate."
“Richard has a really good advocacy style. He is able to just pitch it right and is very persuasive.”
“Richard Fisher KC knows POCA inside out. He is excellent on his feet and has a lovely manner with clients.”
"A very good and very smooth advocate."
"He is very experienced and just really a great silk. Very well respected in the courts, judges like him and he's very good at dealing with clients in stressful situations."
“Richard is charming, clever and someone who argues difficult points really well. He is dead straightforward in his approach and pretty destructive if faced with anybody who isn’t absolutely up to speed on their law.”
"He is strong in court and has a good presence in front of the judge." "An extremely talented barrister whose knowledge, particularly of POCA, is phenomenal."
"He really cares about clients and wants to do a good job for them. He is dedicated, hard- working and produces excellent written submissions."
In the Legal 500 2026 edition he is ranked as a Leading Silk in both Fraud: Crime (Band 2) and in POCA and Asset Forfeiture (Band 2):
“A brilliant strategist and a very safe pair of hands in the courtroom”
“Richard is a first rate barrister. He has vast experience in financial crime and is well trusted by clients. He is very commercial and a great team player.”
‘Erudite and effective advocacy. He is extremely knowledgeable in both the criminal and the civil POCA regimes. He is utterly professional, whilst being down to earth and friendly to work with at the same time.’
“He tells it like it is – always straightforward and watertight advice."
“He speaks with great authority and encyclopaedic knowledge and gives solid, practical advice.”
"A barrister of standout quality” as “Proceeds of Crime Act guru” with his “particular expertise in money laundering cases” being recognised.
Richard has presented seminars on a variety of topics including at the Law Society Risk and Compliance Annual Conference (Fiduciary relationships – corruption and criminal finances) and the Offshore Alert conference, London (corporate facilitation of tax evasion). He has written articles that have been published in Archbold News and the Solicitor’s Journal and he has contributed to LexisNexis UK Human Rights Updater service and the drafting of consultation papers on behalf of the Criminal Bar Association and Liberty. Richard is joint leader of Chambers’ Business Crime and Investigations Team.
