Richard Dean

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT RICHARD DEAN

I am a consultant solicitor with Legal Studio Solicitors and became their first corporate solicitor to establish and grow a corporate team and the practice generally. I became a director of Legal Studio in July 2024 to assist in the day to day running of the business and bring my experience to strategic decisions and their implementation and then became a shareholder in July 2025. Previously I was a partner in Ramsdens Solicitors corporate department. I trained with the firm and re-joined in 2016 after spending the majority of my career with two Leeds commercial law firms, latterly as an equity partner. Whilst with Ramsdens I played a key role in the corporate team doubling in headcount and turnover in the three year period prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. At Milners Solicitors I was instrumental in changing the firm from a predominately litigation and conveyancing based practice into a niche commercial law firm, whilst increasing turnover and profitability. This included establishing a corporate team, strengthening the commercial property department and acquiring practices. Away from the law, I am the commercial director of a doctor lead occupational health provider to the private sector and own a property development and lettings business, with the current project being the conversion of residential flats into a health centre and office space. This experience gives me a real world commercial view of the business sector and its associated transactions, including the impact these have on a business and those involved. Often it is this business/commercial acumen that results in the best outcome for my clients rather than a strict interpretation of the law. It also enables to provide my clients with pragmatic corporate and commercial legal advice, including mergers and acquisitions; management buy-outs and buy-ins; business asset sales and purchases, private equity investments; joint ventures; share option schemes; partnership, LLP and shareholder agreements; loan and security documentation; and agency and distribution agreements and terms and conditions of business. Effective leadership and team work are also a personal interest. With an early career as a semi-professional rugby player I recognise the lessons learned in the dressing room and on the field give a powerful insight into leadership and the success of a team, which has also supported my career by providing me with the skills required to operate and manage departments and ultimately running a business.