It is with much sadness that we have to report the sudden and unexpected death of Richard Dinning.
Richard had a long and respected career working as a commercial banking and commercial property lawyer in a number of large institutions.
However, many conveyancers will know of him from his time developing volume conveyancing at Addleshaw Booth & Co and Enact, prior to becoming the Chair of DMH Stallard.
Richard initially worked with Addleshaw Booth & Co where he ultimately built up their volume conveyancing team in particular their remortgage business.
Subsequently in 2003 he lead one of the first management buy outs of a volume conveyancer to form Enact providing legal services to Barclays, Woolwich, Northern Rock and Direct Line.
He played an instrumental role in the formation of the Direct Conveyancing Association and was its Chair for a number of years before it later became the Conveyancing Association we know today.
His son Paul, a licensed conveyancer, described his career: “When Dad moved to Yorkshire, he moved to Booth & Co (as it was before becoming Addleshaw Booth & Co and subsequently Addleshaw Goddard).
“Dad was hugely successful with banks and building societies, obtaining a great amount of property finance work from these institutions.
“It was in this arena that be became one of the most reputable and skilled lawyers.
“During this period, Dad was lauded in Chambers and Legal 500 for the skills he possessed in commercial property and property finance.
“He was later asked to manage the residential conveyancing department at Addleshaws. It was at this time that he turned his focus to residential conveyancing, proceeding to build up the volume business and propose the management buy-out.”
Chris Harris, editor of Today’s Conveyancer commented: "For those that knew Richard he will be sadly missed as he was one of the real characters and leaders in the market.
“He gained the respect of many not only because of what he achieved but also the manner and the way in which he did it. “His charm and smile were always warm and disarming.
“I used to meet him regularly and discuss the conveyancing market with him and his intelligence and appetite for debate always came across strongly.
“He really did change the way in which the conveyancing market operated.
A former colleague described Richard as “a very talented and genuine guy that made Enact what it is today”.
