Sir Richard Aikens was educated at Norwich School and at St John's College, Cambridge, where he studied history and then law. He was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1973, and became a member of 1 Brick Court (now Brick Court Chambers). He specialised primarily in banking, energy, shipping, insurance, and inernational sale of goods. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1986, and was a Recorder from 1993 to 1996, when he became a Queen's Bench Judge, nominated to sit in the Commercial Court. He was a Presiding Judge on the South Eastern Circuit from 2001 to 2004, and Judge In Charge of the Commercial Court from 2005 to 2006. He was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008. After retiring from the Bench in 2015, he returned to practice as a commercial arbitrator. He also holds teaching positions in commercial law at the University of London.

Sir Richard is an editor of 'Bills of Lading'. He enjoys music, fine wine, and cycling.