Polly Richard

Polly is a partner in the Dispute Resolution Department.

Polly has a broad range of commercial litigation experience including disputes arising out of corporate transactions, complex contractual disputes and multi-jurisdictional insolvency litigation. Her practice also includes acting on complex investigations (both regulatory and internal).

Polly was one of the partners on the Travers Smith team that advised Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the Claimants, in relation to the high profile, highly publicised and complex dispute amounting to US$5 billion arising out of the US$11 billion acquisition of Autonomy Corporation plc in late 2011. The trial was one of the longest (ten months, starting in March 2019) and most complex ever heard by the English courts. In January 2022, Mr Justice Hildyard delivered his conclusions, finding that the Claimants had "substantially succeeded" in their fraud claims, whilst citing that the legal representation and assistance provided during the case had "been of the very highest standard".

Polly co-led the Travers Smith team which acted for the joint nominees in relation to the high-profile challenge to Caffe Nero's company voluntary arrangement (CVA). In September 2021, Mr Justice Green dismissed the challenge application and rejected all allegations of material irregularity and unfair prejudice. This case has had important ramifications for landlords, CVAs, insolvency practitioners, high-street retailers and the hospitality industry.

Polly co-led a team in relation to a very high-profile internal investigation for a large Bank.

Polly was recognised in The Lawyer’s 2022 Hot 100 list, which lists the profession's brightest and most innovative lawyers. Polly is also recognised in the 2024 and 2025 edition of "Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom“ and ranked as an “Up & Coming” Partner for Commercial and Corporate Litigation in the 2024 and 2025 edition of Chambers & Partners.

Acting for the joint nominees in relation to Caffè Nero's company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which was challenged by a disgruntled landlord on the basis of material irregularity and unfair prejudice. The High Court firmly rejected all allegations of material irregularity and unfair prejudice and dismissed the challenge application.
Acting for Hewlett Packard in the largest fraud claim ever levelled at individuals in the English Court. The fraud claims totalling US$5 billion arose out of Hewlett Packard's US$11 billion acquisition of Autonomy Corporation plc in late 2011. Polly saw the case from start to finish, culminating in a nine-month trial referred to as the "tech trial of the century."

Acting for a LIBOR submitter subject to regulatory investigation and in related High Court civil proceedings.
Acting for The Joint Administrators of LBIE in relation to a number of matters involving issues of banking and insolvency law across a range of counterparties and jurisdictions.
Acting for a number of individuals and firms subject to investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Polly Richard – very hard working and on the ball.

Polly is a determined advocate who really sees the case through....She's a force to be reckoned with.

She’s a superstar. Her command of the facts is incredible, but her gifts truly lie with her ability to work with witnesses. She has incredible poise, even in the face of difficult witnesses or witnesses who are not saying what she’s looking for. She never gets ruffled and works in a way that is almost invisible to the witness to bring them back on track. Polly is top-notch.

Work highlights