Mr Richard Leonard-Davies

Senior Lecturer

Law

+44 (0) 1792 602728

r.s.leonard-davies@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 131
First Floor
Richard Price Building
Singleton Campus

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0381-9877

About

Richard read Law at Cardiff University, achieving an LLB with First Class Honours in 2002. He was awarded a Post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice with Commendation from Cardiff University in 2003 and was admitted as a solicitor in 2005 following qualification with Geldards LLP. He joined Swansea University in August 2007.

He has a keen interest in business law, commercial law and property law having trained and qualified with Geldards LLP, one of the UK's leading regional commercial law firms. He specialised in Property Finance and Secured Lending following his qualification as a solicitor.

Having previously led the core module in Business Law and Practice for several years, Richard is now module leader for the core module of Property Law & Practice on the Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) and LLM in Professional Legal Practice. In addition, he is module leader for, and lectures on, the elective module of Employment Law on the LPC.

At undergraduate level, he delivers lectures and leads seminars in Company Law. Previously, he has been module leader for the Business Law I and Business Law II courses. These courses primarily involved delivering lectures for the School of Management, which focused on how the fundamental laws of England and Wales apply in a business context. Richard has designed and delivered both lectures and seminars in Competition Law and Comparative Company Law as part of the LLM Taught Masters programmes and has led seminars in the Equity & Trusts module on the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

In 2017, Richard achieved the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education.

In 2022, Richard was appointed as one of the management team responsible for Swansea University’s suite of professional legal practice courses.

Areas Of Expertise

Business Law
Company Law
Employment Law
Property Law
Competition Law
Professional Legal Practice

Career Highlights

Award Highlights

Nominee, Swansea University Distinguished Teaching Award, 2012.
Nominee, Excellence in Learning and Teaching Award (ELTA), 2014 and 2021.
Recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2017.

Publications

Research Highlights

Leonard-Davies, R. & Davies, K. (2015). From Dagenham to the West End - the Equal Pay Saga. Student Law Review, 75, 14-15.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21566
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2015). Pendulums, Politics and Predictions: Main Developments in Employment Law. Student Law Review, 76
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24704
Leonard-Davies, R. & Poole, A. (2016). Collateral Damage: Implications for Employment Law on the Vote to Leave the EU. Student Law Review, 79, 16-19.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30967
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2015). Working for the Devil: Internships and Employment Rights. Student Law Review, 74(Spring 2015), 12
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21539
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2016). TUPE or not TUPE? That is the question.. Student Law Review(77), 14-16.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34839

All Research

Journal Articles

Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2016). The hands that rock the cradle: a review of the right to SPL.. Student Law Review(78), 14-15.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34840
Leonard-Davies, R. & Poole, A. (2016). Collateral Damage: Implications for Employment Law on the Vote to Leave the EU. Student Law Review, 79, 16-19.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30967
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2016). TUPE or not TUPE? That is the question.. Student Law Review(77), 14-16.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34839
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2015). Working for the Devil: Internships and Employment Rights. Student Law Review, 74(Spring 2015), 12
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21539
Davies, K. & Leonard-Davies, R. (2015). Pendulums, Politics and Predictions: Main Developments in Employment Law. Student Law Review, 76
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24704
Leonard-Davies, R. & Davies, K. (2015). From Dagenham to the West End - the Equal Pay Saga. Student Law Review, 75, 14-15.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21566

Taught Modules

LAA336 Company Law: Incorporation, Constitution and Control

This module will introduce the registered company as a unique legal and business entity, distinguishing it from other forms of business organisation such as the sole trader and the partnership. It will consider the nature and implications of the company as a specific creature of statute and, therefore, a legal person separate from its members and officers. The module will also clarify the legal procedures necessary for the formation of the registered company, the fiduciary duties of those who take it upon themselves to form such companies and the contents and contractual nature of the company¿s constitution. It will round off by discussing the role and duties of those who have the primary responsibility for managing the company¿s affairs, the board of directors.
LAA337 Company Law: Governance, Rights and Liquidation

This module builds upon matters introduced in the first module ¿ Company Law 1 ¿ which is a pre-requisite for this one. The module will clarify the principles and structures of corporate governance, the concept of separation of ¿ownership¿ and ¿control¿ of the company and the rationale of the division of powers between the board of directors and the shareholders in general meeting. It will explain the distinction between the rights of members and the rights of the company as a separate legal person, as well as the rules governing the processes by which these may be protected. It will consider the consequences of disqualification for errant directors whose conduct may render them unfit to be engaged in the management of companies generally, and will also look at the role and responsibilities of other important officers of the company, such as the company secretary and auditors. Finally the module will deal with the process by which a company may be wound up and its existence brought to an end, paying particular attention to the role of the liquidator and the distribution of the assets of the company.
LALM01 Business Law and Practice

Business Law & Practice is designed to enable students to appreciate the nature of business media and business transactions, to be able to identify and deal with the steps in such transactions and gain experience through practical exercises from taking instructions through to completion of the advice. During the course students will deal with the legal and commercial issues raised by clients wishing to trade as sole traders, a traditional partnership, an LLP and as a private company limited by shares. Students will undertake authentic trainee solicitor tasks relating to establishing the correct business vehicle, personnel issues, raising finance, dealing with financial difficulties, taxation obligations, protection of the business vehicle, the regulation of commercial relationships and exit strategies.
LALM04 Property Practice

The aim of this module is to enable students to appreciate the nature of a Conveyancing transaction, to be able to identify and deal with the steps in that transaction and gain experience through practical exercises of conducting a property transaction through the appropriate stages from taking instructions to completion and post-completion matters and considering any relevant planning considerations. Students will also consider the grant of a business lease of a warehouse on a small industrial estate and of offices forming part of a larger building, and the remedies available in connection with a breach of covenant and security of tenure.
LANM01 Business Law and Practice

Business Law & Practice is designed to enable students to appreciate the nature of business media and business transactions, to be able to identify and deal with the steps in such transactions and gain experience through practical exercises from taking instructions through to completion of the advice. During the course students will deal with the legal and commercial issues raised by clients wishing to trade as sole traders, a traditional partnership, an LLP and as a private company limited by shares. Students will undertake authentic trainee solicitor tasks relating to establishing the correct business vehicle, personnel issues, raising finance, dealing with financial difficulties, taxation obligations, protection of the business vehicle, the regulation of commercial relationships and exit strategies.
LANM04 Property Practice

The aim of this module is to enable students to appreciate the nature of a Conveyancing transaction, to be able to identify and deal with the steps in that transaction and gain experience through practical exercises of conducting a property transaction through the appropriate stages from taking instructions to completion and post-completion matters and considering any relevant planning considerations. Students will also consider the grant of a business lease of a warehouse on a small industrial estate and of offices forming part of a larger building, and the remedies available in connection with a breach of covenant and security of tenure.
LAPM04 Property Law and Practice

The aim of this module is to enable students to appreciate the nature of a Conveyancing transaction, to be able to identify and deal with the steps in that transaction and gain experience through practical exercises of conducting a property transaction through the appropriate stages from taking instructions to completion and post-completion matters. In the context of a sale residential property and purchase of a property with development potential students will learn to undertake the tasks relating to the sale and purchase of freehold property (in both registered and unregistered land). The module will then move onto consider using case studies particular issues that arise from the sale of part of land in a freehold title and the grant and assignment of a leasehold estate in land with reference being made to Commonhold tenure. Students are introduced to the fundamental principles of Property Law & Practice (`PLP¿) in 3 large group sessions (LGS) on the Foundation Course and a further 15 large group and 18 small group sessions (SGS) 54 class contact hours (18 weeks x 3 hours) are devoted to PLP which is taught in one LGS of 1 hour duration and 1 SGS of 2 hours duration in its normal pattern outside of the Foundation Course. The overriding objective of the PLP module is to build up knowledge and confidence in respect of property transactions so that upon completion of the module a student can conduct straightforward property transactions with the minimum of supervision. PLP small group sessions will be conducted on a transactional basis. Students in each small group are allocated to a team and each team acts on a sale of residential property and a purchase of property with development potential, from taking initial instructions through to post completion of the transactions. Students will be required to maintain separate transaction files for the sale and purchase including client account ledgers.
LAPM15 Employment Law and Practice

Employment Law and Practice will enable students to appreciate the nature of employment issues, identify and deal with these issues and gain experience of handling instructions commonly dealt with by employment practitioners. The module will be taught on a transactional basis, using a number of clients, some who are employees and others who are employers, reflecting both high street and commercial practice. As Stage 1 of the LPC will have given students experience of handling contentious and non-contentious work (e.g. case analysis and advocacy learnt in litigation, drafting and business letter writing learnt in PLP and BLP), Employment Law and Practice will often expect students to work independently using these skills, with minimal tutor intervention. Students will have a number of main clients, whose matters they are expected to progress throughout the module, looking at relevant issues from the perspective of employers and employees. The module will start with students receiving instructions from an employer, which will require students to complete typical non-contentious work routinely undertaken by employment practitioners, such as such as drafting employment contracts, advising on employees¿ statutory rights and employment policies. Students will then receive new instructions from an employee wishing to pursue an unfair dismissal claim. During the course, students will progress this claim, from taking initial instructions and gathering evidence, through to drafting the ET1 claim for use at the tribunal hearing. Students will also have an opportunity to consider what is involved when drawing up a redundancy programme and defending a discrimination claim. Students will also have an opportunity to research and deliver a group PowerPoint presentation on a discrimination topic allocated to them. With each of their clients, students will be expected to maintain client files. A number of cameo clients will also be used during the module to ensure that students gain experience of advising on a particular topic from both the employer and employee perspective. By the end of the module students will have a sound grasp of both substantive employment law topics and procedure and will appreciate the role of the Employment Tribunal. Students are introduced to the fundamental principles in 3 large group sessions (LGS) in the introductory week. This will be followed by a further 6 large group and 6 small group sessions (SGS), followed by a virtual session in which students are asked to spend at least 2 hours independently researching the TUPE Regulations to gain a general overview of the topic. The final LGS is a review and revision session. This module has 21 class contact hours (9 hours of LGS and 12 hours of SGS). The notional learning hours for this module are in excess of 100 hours - student preparation for each LGS will take approx. 2 hours. Preparation for each SGS will take approx. 4 hours.
LAPM19 Course Skills

Skills are essential and integral to the course. Skills appear throughout the course and will be practised and developed in both the compulsory and elective sections of the LPC. Students are assessed throughout the course on a number of key skills. However, before they are assessed and have plenty of opportunity to learn and practise the skills required. This is through formal class contact (in the introductory block, or in the individual subjects), in their own practice time, their own reading and through supervised practice, where they informally practise skills with staff who give them feedback
LAPM19A Course Skills (A)

Skills are essential and integral to the course. Skills appear throughout the course and will be practised and developed in both the compulsory and elective sections of the LPC. Students are assessed throughout the course on a number of key skills. However, before they are assessed and have plenty of opportunity to learn and practise the skills required. This is through formal class contact (in the introductory block, or in the individual subjects), in their own practice time, their own reading and through supervised practice, where they informally practise skills with staff who give them feedback
LASM08 Introduction to Legal Skills

N/A

Mr Richard Leonard-Davies

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Taught Modules

LAA336 Company Law: Incorporation, Constitution and Control

LAA337 Company Law: Governance, Rights and Liquidation

LALM01 Business Law and Practice

LALM04 Property Practice

LANM01 Business Law and Practice

LANM04 Property Practice

LAPM04 Property Law and Practice

LAPM15 Employment Law and Practice

LAPM19 Course Skills

LAPM19A Course Skills (A)

LASM08 Introduction to Legal Skills