Richard Lloyd’s practice includes civil litigation, class actions/mass torts, consumer law and legal fee disputes.
RICHARD LLOYD
Mr. Lloyd joined Cappello & Noël LLP in 2015 as a paralegal and became an associate attorney in 2020 after graduating as valedictorian from the Santa Barbara College of Law and passing the California Bar Exam.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Mr. Lloyd earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge. He began his legal career in London as a law costs draftsman, advising law firms and clients on billing practices, preparing detailed bills of costs and objections, and negotiating legal fees arising out of complex, high-stakes litigation. His work included evaluating fees incurred in connection with multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, high-profile defamation claims, and high-value clinical negligence cases. He regularly appeared before the Senior Courts Costs Office and County Courts across the U.K.
After relocating to Santa Barbara in 2010, Mr. Lloyd continued his consulting practice, advising litigation finance providers and legal fee experts in both the U.K. and U.S., before joining Cappello & Noël LLP.
As an associate, Mr. Lloyd handles a broad range of litigation matters, including commercial lease and landlord-tenant disputes, homeowners association conflicts, and neighboring property disputes. He has helped recover millions of dollars for property owners and businesses affected by environmental disasters and public utility negligence, including the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill and the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows.
Mr. Lloyd was selected as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for 2027.
Trial Experience and Notable Cases:
- Took expert depositions, drafted and argued motions in limine and examined key witness in three-week Los Angeles Superior Court trial with A. Barry Cappello, Leila J. Noel and G. Michael Brelje on behalf of cannabis business seeking lost profits and diminution in business value caused by the Thomas Fire. Mistrial declared based on jury misconduct before verdict, subsequently settled before re-trial.
- Judge removes cloud of one-story restriction from clients’ property (Max Liskin, et. al. vs. Hope Ranch Park Homes Association, Marc A. Lowe, Pauline Lowe, et. al., December 15, 2024, Case No.: 22CV02239).
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After a two-week bench trial with lead trial counsel, Leila Noël, the court affirmed a country club and golf course’s easement rights and granted a permanent injunction ordering a neighbor to remove encroachments installed without the club’s permission.The trial court’s judgment was affirmed in full by the Court of Appeal in a published opinion, Montecito Country Club, LLC v. Root (2026) 118 Cal.App.5th 1236, which clarified the standard of proof applicable to prescriptive easement cases in California.
- In a six-day bench trial with lead trial counsel, David Cousineau, Mr. Lloyd successfully defended a property owner in a deed restriction dispute, securing a Court ruling that the two-story height limitation asserted by a neighbor was unenforceable.
- In Passport 420 LLC v. Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, Mr. Lloyd served as second chair in prosecuting a bad faith insurance action arising out of denial of insurance coverage, following the seizure of an aircraft at Santa Barbara Airport. That case resulted in a $21 million verdict—ranked #34 among California’s top 50 verdicts in 2024.
- Mr. Lloyd took expert depositions, and drafted and argued key motions in limine in a wrongful death drowning case that was co-tried with Barry Cappello, Ms. Noël and Mr. Cousineau, and ultimately settled during jury selection.
Education:
- University of Cambridge, Master of Arts, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, 2003
- Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, J.D. 2020, class valedictorian
Admitted:
- California, 2020
Member:
- Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Board Member and President-Elect (2026); Chief Financial Officer (2025); Editor, Santa Barbara Lawyer (2024)