Richard Ballard

Richard spent some 30 years as a corporate tax partner at Freshfields, the City-based international law firm.

He led the firm’s tax practice for a number of years, during a time of rapid overseas expansion, and served on various, UK and international, management committees. During his legal career he worked primarily on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions and financings but including on the tax aspects of various insurance acquisitions, reorganisations and disputes. He has non-executive roles on the boards of several other private companies, including in the property and renewable energy sectors.

Richard began underwriting though Alpha in 2012. He joined the Alpha Board as a non-executive director in September 2026.