Property Damage
Richard has a strong and established practice in the field of property damage and general commercial litigation. Richard’s practice has a particular focus on recovery actions arising out of defective construction or engineering works, particularly fire-related claims involving technical expert evidence, but he also has significant experience in claims arising out of flood, subsidence and tree root damage. Richard is recommended in Chambers and Partners for his property damage work.
Selected Cases
- Acting for contractors in fire in large stately home alleging failure of fire compartmentation caused by negligently designed and constructed lift shaft. Damages claimed in excess of £110m (TCC).
- Acting for contractors in claim arising out of fire at a care home due to alleged errors in construction of fire stopping and partitioning (TCC).
- Acted in a multi-party TCC dispute in claim arising out of defects in the construction of a major distribution centre. Claimed in excess of £30m (TCC) (settled).
- Acted for contractors in property damage dispute following damage caused by a £10m basement excavation in Chelsea (TCC) (settled).
- Acted (led by Andrew Rigney KC) in a substantial claim (exceeding £10m) following a major fire in a west London hospital.
- Acted for main contractors in a claim brought by sub-contractors following the overturning of a piling rig on a building site.
- Acting for building contractors in a c.£400,000 claim following a fire at a listed residential property, involving allegations of negligent construction work and / or breach of contract.
- Acted for defendant in dispute arising out of damage caused to property as a result of building works, and effect of Party Wall Act.
- Clapham v Peacock (t/a Allflames) [2018] EWHC 518 (TCC)
- Balls Pond Securities Ltd v Express Water Tank & Mechanical Services Ltd [2016] EWHC 181 (TCC) – Acted for successful defendants in TCC claim arising out of a fire in a block of flats.
- Hicks v Coal Authority [2013] UKUT 388 (LC) – Acted for claimants in compensation claim against the Coal Authority following subsidence damage caused by long-wall mining in the vicinity.
- Milton Keynes Borough Council v Nulty & NIG [2013] EWCA Civ 15; [2013] 1 WLR 1183; [2013] BLR 134; [2013] Lloyd’s Rep. I.R. 243 – Acted (led by Andrew Rigney KC) in a claim arising out of a substantial fire at a recycling centre in Milton Keynes. Appeared for the successful respondent on appeal on issues of causation.
Awards
- Arbitration Club Phillip Ranner Prize
- Kings College Construction Law Association Prize
- Lord Mansfield Scholar (BVC), Lincoln’s Inn
- Lord Haldane Scholar (CPE), Lincoln’s Inn
News
- Crown Office Chambers recognised by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for construction expertise in the Middle East
- Members of Chambers recognised by the Legal 500 EMEA 2023 for their construction expertise in the Middle East
Events
- Richard Sage and Andy Flanagan to attend Riyadh International Disputes Week, 3-7 March 2024
- Dubai Arbitration Week 2023
Articles
- King v Stiefel: a useful guide to making and responding to wasted costs applications
- New Guidance Published on Responsible Contractual Behaviour
Qualifications
- BA History (First Class), Oxford University
- CPE (Distinction), City University
- BVC (Very Competent), BPP University
- MSc Construction Law & Dispute Resolution (Distinction)
Memberships
- Technology and Construction Court Bar Association (TECBAR)
- Society of Construction Law
- Adjudication Society
- Young International Arbitration Group
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
- London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association (LCLCBA)
Recommendations
“Richard is excellent. The work product he produces is second to none.”… “He’s very accessible, very responsive, very thorough and provides well-thought-out arguments.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Richard is very easy to work with – friendly for both instructing solicitors and clients. Richard is pragmatic and able to cut through complicated legal concepts to the crux of issues and prepare persuasive pleadings.”
Legal 500, 2024
“An extremely intelligent junior who distils complex information quickly, and is very calm and collected at all times.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Richard is outstanding. He is extremely bright, fantastic with clients, and immensely hard-working.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Richard has provided comprehensive advice at all stages and has been particularly strong in conference, in complex and changing areas of law, coupled with strong drafting skills and advocacy.”
Legal 500, 2023
“Richard is great on detail, and on working with technical experts to ensure sometimes extremely complex technical issues are presented in the most effective and comprehensible way. He is very easy to get on with, user-friendly, and good with clients and experts.” “Tactically astute; very user friendly. No obvious weaknesses.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He is a pleasure to work with, extremely responsive and produces tightly written well considered pleadings and advice.” “”Richard is very good on the detail as well as the analysis of the law and expert issues.” “”He is a pleasure to work with, extremely responsive and produces tightly written well considered pleadings and advice.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“He advises his clients with great skill and sensitivity and he’s an excellent team player and a brilliant advocate.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Richard is a class act and very knowledgeable. His key strengths from an international perspective are his ability to work as part of a team and his excellent tactical acumen. His advice is clear, concise, and commercially-minded.”
Legal 500, 2022
“His attention to detail is very good and he always thinks through to the end game. He is thoroughly easy to deal with, very approachable and very good with clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Richard’s technical expertise is first rate, but his true strength is his ability to communicate complex technical legal issues in a manner which is readily understandable by the lay clients.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Very hardworking and will dedicate himself to a case. He is always available to provide a guiding hand and his advice is invaluable.” “His quiet confidence belies a sharp, keen mind and a steady, measured determination and focus that make him an incredibly reassuring and competent advocate to work with.” “He is tactically astute, responds quickly and has excellent drafting skills.”
Legal 500, 2021
