Helene Pines Richman has been called "a role model for women at the English Bar" and is a specialist and recognised expert in the fields of banking, mortgages and commercial law. She is recommended in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in commercial/banking law and an expert in banking law in the 2004 Legal Experts. Her practice extends to all areas of commercial, property and private client litigation.

She began practising law in New York City in 1983 having gained a first degree in bioengineering and anthropology (double degree) from the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League) and thereafter earning a Juris Doctor degree from the National Law Centre of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. For many years she was with a large international law firm in New York City specialising in intellectual property law. Thereafter she branched out into commercial law and built a reputation as a trial and appellate lawyer appearing regularly in the state and federal courts of the U.S. During her time in New York City she authored six well-known books on intellectual property law.

In 1990, after marrying an Englishman, she relocated to London and now maintains a practice with domestic as well as international focus. She continues to be a member of the New York Bar, is able to appear in the federal courts of the U.S. and takes on cases with a cross-border element particularly involving U.S. interests. She has also completed the examinations for admission to the Bar of Israel.

In England, she appeared in the House of Lords in the well-known Etridge mortgage cases, having successfully argued the petition for leave to their Lordships. In the past year she appeared before the Vice-Chancellor's Court in Clegg v Andersson t/a Nordic Marine, a widely commented and seminal case on the Sale of Goods Acts and an expensive defective yacht, Buggs v Buggs, an important case on constructive trusts and co-ownership and Vidyarthi v Clifford, on trustees in bankruptcy and the valuation of jointly held property . She routinely acts in large-scale group litigation, including BCCI (was Lead Counsel in the mortgage cases) and high value claims often involving complex technology as well as commercial law issues.

She is a well-known figure having served as Chairwoman of the Association of Women Barristers for two years and as current Vice-President (the President is Baroness Hale of Richmond QC of the House of Lords). She has also been a panel member of the Lord Chancellor's Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk, and sits on the Council of the Inns of Court Disciplinary Tribunal, Bar Council Barrister's Advisory Committee and Bar Pro Bono Unit. She is a member of the Chancery Bar Association and the Society of English and American Lawyers.

Principal areas of practice
Banking, mortgages and securities; property law, including co-ownership, landlord and tenant, planning and environmental law; individual and corporate insolvency; companies, joint ventures and partnerships; trusts, wills, administration of estates, family provision and inheritance tax; intellectual property, technology and professional negligence. Particular specialism in U.S. and international matters undertaking work involving conflict of laws and cross-border disputes.

Interesting cases

• Clegg v Andersson t/a Nordic Marine [2003] 1 Comm All ER 721, CA
• Buggs v Buggs [2003] 147 S.J.L.B. and in Supreme Court News
• Vidyarthi v Clifford (Chancery Division - June 19th 2004)
• Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Etridge (No 2) [2001] 4 All ER 449, HL
• Barclays Bank v Coleman and Coleman v Dixon Emberton v David Spring [2000] 1 All ER 3850, CA
• National Westminster Bank plc v Sher [1998] BPIR 224
• Re a Debtor (No 574 of 1995) [1998] 2 BCLC 124

Recent Publications:

• Atkins Court Forms, Practice and Forms, MORTGAGES (2003)
• Atkins Court Forms, Practice and Forms, PARTNERSHIPS (1999)
• Chancery Practice and Procedure (Jordans) (2000)
• Butterworths Older Client Law Service (contributing editor)

Numerous articles on mortgages, bankruptcy, trusts and other areas of commercial and private client law.

Helene Pines Richman is also a frequent lecturer in commercial, property and private client law.

Helene spends her spare time raising her three children now aged 12, 10 and 5 years.

Other chambers
Helene predominantly practices from 9 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn

To make an appointment please contact the following clerk:

Paul Cooke - Direct line 023 8020 6201
or
Jenna Belbin - Direct line 023 8020 6203

clerks@18carltoncrescent.co.uk