"Providing each and every client with superior legal advice and representation while maintaining our reputation as a premier law firm."

Alan obtained his business and economics degree from Trent University in 1994 and commenced Law School at Osgoode Hall Law School the same year.  After transferring to the University of Ottawa in 1995 he graduated in 1997.  Alan’s studies at Law School focused extensively on Criminal Law courses as that was his primary focus.  After articling in Ottawa and working with a Criminal Law firm as an associate for a year he received an offer to work with the Crown Attorney’s office In Perth to assist on a complex double murder case involving three co-accused’s, all of who were having separate trials.  In 2000 Alan moved back to his home town near Port Hope and started working with Bernie O’Brien and Tom Balka.  After 12 years, Alan went out on his own and eventually started Richter Law in 2017 with his associate. Now with three associates at Richter Law, Alan is as dedicated as ever to the fundamental principles of justice and his professional obligation to his clients to raise fearlessly every issue, advance every argument and ask every question, however distasteful, that he thinks will help his client’s case and to endeavour to obtain for his clients, the benefit of every remedy and defence authorized by law.  Alan knows that this obligation has become more difficult in recent years as the criminal justice system becomes less about justice and more about politics, but he continues undeterred.

With over 20 years in practice, Alan is acutely aware of the vast disparity between the power of the Crown and police and the accused person’s who are brought before the Courts.  Alan knows that our criminal justice system often creates an ongoing injustice through elitism, racism and a general prejudice towards the marginalized and disenfranchised in our society by a huge bureaucracy that largely operates as a tool for the political party of the day.  Nonetheless, through hard work, determination, and a focus on the principles of justice, Alan continues to provide outstanding legal services for his client’s.  Alan has created RGD LLP with these principles in mind and that is why he and his associates take a “trial first” approach to every file, as opposed to “how can we plead this client out” approach.  With a trial first approach, Alan and his associates know the full extent of their client’s case, its strengths and weaknesses.  From this vantage point, Alan can see whether a resolution is truly in the client’s best interests, or whether a trial would advance the client’s interests more effectively.  With this approach, clients are better informed to make the decisions that will impact theirs and their families lives, often in profound ways.  Information is always the key to understanding a client’s case and for the client to make meaningful and informed decisions. At trial, Alan is vigorous in his pursuit of justice for his client’s and is not intimidated or threatened by Crowns or their witnesses.  It is often through aggressive cross-examination of police witnesses that success can be achieved and an informed and strategic approach to the trial is a mainstay of Alan’s approach.  Alan’s interest in Criminal Law and justice started at a young age after he diligently followed the 1978 murder of Bill Matiyek in his hometown of Port Hope.  The resulting travesty of justice at trial inspired Alan and the Mick Lowe novel “Conspiracy of Brothers”. Alan’s interest and commitment to the fundamental principles of justice continues today, particularly at a time where the injustice of the system seems more apparent and pervasive than ever.