Richard McLean

Call 2011

mclean@exchangechambers.co.uk

"'Richard is very effective in cross-examining the claimant and highlighting the gaps and weakness in their evidence. He has an excellent manner with the client, as he is calm and composed."

The Legal 500 2025
Photo of Richard McLean

  • Recommendations

    “‘Richard is very effective in cross-examining the claimant and highlighting the gaps and weakness in their evidence. He has an excellent manner with the client, as he is calm and composed.”
    The Legal 500 2025

  • Beyond the Bar

    Outside work, Richard is a keen football fan and enjoys reading and live music. Richard spends the rest of his spare time with his partner and two sons.

  • Education

    • University of Liverpool – LLB Law (Hons), 2008
    • University College London – LLM Law and Economics, 2009
    • Bar Professional Training Course – BPP Law School London, 2011
    • Conkerton Memorial Prize – University of Liverpool, 2007
    • Levitt Scholarship – Lincoln’s Inn, 2013

  • Appointments

    • Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional B Panel) – March 2023 to present
    • FA Judicial Panel – September 2021 to present

  • Memberships

    • Employment Lawyers Association
    • Employment Law Bar Association

  • News

Practice Overview

Richard specialises in employment and discrimination law. He also has a growing sports law practice.

Richard acts for a wide range of clients in employment cases including businesses, individuals, trade unions, local authorities and government departments. He frequently acts for claimants and respondents in multi-day employment and discrimination cases, including at appellate level.

Richard has a busy sports law practice with experience of anti-doping cases, disciplinary and contractual disputes across a range of sports such as football, athletics and both codes of rugby. He is a member of the Football Association’s Judicial Panel, acting as chairperson in FA misconduct cases.

Richard also has advocacy and advisory experience in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals covering healthcare and financial services.

Additionally, Richard brings a wide range of experience since being called to the bar a decade ago, having worked in-house at HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, and Nursing and Midwifery Council in addition to self-employed practice.

Richard is a member of the Attorney General’s Regional B Panel. He is a member of the bar’s pro bono charity Advocate, the Sports Resolutions pro bono panel, and previously worked for a law firm in Texas representing death row prisoners.