Richard Stanford

Richard joined the Medical Negligence Department in 2010 following a career at The Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority. He became a partner at BTTJ in 2021. In October 2025, Richard took over the reins of Head of Department for the team. He is based in our Coventry office and spends 90% of his time working on Medical Negligence matters and 10% of his time overseeing the Private Client team.

Richard is a Claimant Clinical Negligence specialist with a particular interest in complex and unusual cases, taking them from start to finish, including trial where necessary. He is passionate about supporting his clients through the legal process and obtaining the best results possible.

He has experience of a very wide range of Clinical Negligence cases including Orthopaedic, Oncological, Urological, Infection, injury during surgery and the management of long-term conditions such as diabetes and Crohn’s Disease.  He handles cases from inception to completion, including trial where necessary.  He enjoys broadening his medical knowledge with complex and unusual cases.

His first degree was in Sports Science; the Anatomy and Physiology elements of which gives him a head start in the world of Clinical Negligence.  He retrained during his time with the Law Society, achieving a commendation in the Graduate Diploma in Law and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a distinction in a Master of Laws Degree in 2009.

Richard is a member of Action against Medical Accidents (AVMA), the recognised mark of expertise for specialist Clinical Negligence lawyers.

The Legal 500 has also recognised Richard, stating that he is ‘excellent‘, ‘clever‘, ‘hard working‘ and ‘canny‘.

Richard also became an Affiliate Member of the Society of Estate Practitioners in 2012 and can advise upon, and create, Personal Injury Trusts to protect any settlement monies from being means tested by the state.

Notable successes

• Successfully pursued what is believed to be the first claim concerning a hospital failing to adhere to a living will, keeping the patient alive against her will for nearly 2 years.  Widely reported internationally at the time (for example: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-42240148).  It was also discussed in the House of Lords as part of the assisted dying bill. see https://hansard.parliament.uk/pdf/lords/2019-06-14

• Successful 3-day High Court Trial concerning negligent bowel damage caused at abdominal surgery and delay in recognising the same.

• Successfully agreed a settlement in excess of £1m following negligent hip surgery.  The original hip replacement was revised, which then became infected and led to multiple further operations, effectively leaving the client housebound.

• Active Memberships: Panel Member of AvMA from February 2018. Affiliate Member of STEP from circa June 2012. Member of The Law Society and The Warwickshire Law Society

• Professional Admissions: Solicitor of the High Court of England and Wales (SRA ID 442442)

• Awards and Recognitions: Legal 500 circa 2019

• Postnominals: LLM

• Academic History: 2001 - BA (hons) Sports, Health and Physical Education, University of Wales, Bangor. 2007 - Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), De Montfort University (Leicester institute of Law). 2008 - Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), De Montfort University (Leicester institute of Law). 2009 - Masters in Law (LLM), De Montfort University (Leicester institute of Law)

About Richard

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling. 

I am a keen tennis player and avid rugby supporter, being a season ticket holder at Birmingham Moseley RFC for almost 30 years.

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