MCP Solicitors News
Richard Carlson
Richard retires as an Equity Partner of MCP with effect from the close of business today the 30th June 2010. In retiring Richard brings to a conclusion a long and I believe happy very distinguished legal career with MCP.
After Articles with Kenneth Bush in Kings Lynn Richard joined MCP in Kings Street. He moved to Wisbech and became the leading fenland advocate in the Magistrates Courts of Wisbech March and surrounds. He always fondly remembers the annual Sutton Bridge "Affray trials"! Richard dealt with criminal matters in the morning and matrimonial in the afternoon. In those days this was a very normal pattern – gangsters in the morning and their molls in the afternoon! Shortly after the firm became involved in the Sunday Trading issues in the late 1970's Richard identified and took on the role of "gunslinger" in the campaign in fighting the cause in the Magistrates Court.
He was soon defending Retailers prosecuted for "illegal" opening on Sundays throughout England and Wales. Initially there were clever procedural points of law – the authority to prosecute point involving Wickes. Later there was the famous "Motor Accessory" defence first deployed at Scunthorpe with momentous effect – in that Richard proved that a wheelbarrow and a brick could be Motor Accessories! Latterly he helped deploy the cerebral Article 30 Treaty of Rome (Freedom of Trade) point which even to this day I really do not understand. Just as the law was about to change in Parliament (in 1994) we were about to deploy a Sex Discrimination argument in relation to the employment of staff on Sundays (more ladies work in shops on Sundays than men!) During this period MCP accumulated a client list including Texas, Homebase, Sainsbury, Boots, W H Smith, DO-IT-ALL, Focus, Payless, Childrens World, Wyevale and many many others.
During this part of his career Richard must have visited more Magistrates Court than any other advocate in the land. From Berwick-on-Tweed to Plymouth, from Swansea to Great Yarmouth and most points in between. Richard was the leading light in several reported cases that went to the Divisional Court (involving Peterborough City Council) to the Court of Appeal (involving our old friends at Kirklees in Yorkshire) and the House of Lords involving the same mob. In this campaign most of the References to the European Court came from Magistrates Courts. Those we had in Woodbridge, in Torfaen and from Reading and elsewhere. Richard participated in those being particularly busy in 1992 when MCP had more cases in the European Court than any other law firm in the European Union.
After the passage of the Sunday Trading Act (and legalization of shopping for everybody on Sundays) Richard turned his hand to Health and Safety, Trading Standards and other aspects of Regulatory Law. He has worked with MCP clients ranging from W H Smith to the Co-op, from Somerfields to Halfords, from Wyevale to Game. His record of success in this field is unrivalled. In the last year alone he has recovered over £100,000 in legal costs from Councils when he has succeeded in defending proceedings in the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
With just over 40 years now spent with MCP including 14 as our Senior Partner Richard can look back with much pride satisfaction on a distinguished and (I suspect quite interesting) career in the law. His contribution to the development of the firm is immense and we all owe a debt to him for his wisdom in guiding us to our current secure position. He will be greatly missed by clients and colleagues alike but I am delighted that he retains his connection with MCP as a Consultant.
