Expertise

Richard advises clients on a broad range of complex commercial transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder, partnership and consortium arrangements, private equity, venture capital and early stage investments and corporate restructures.

Advising both public and private companies, Richard works closely with business owners, boards, CEOs, senior management, general counsel and in-house legal teams to deliver practical, commercial advice in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Working with a first class team of experienced lawyers, Richard delivers timely and innovative solutions in complex matters, cutting through to the most important issues, and leading negotiations to achieve outstanding results for his clients.

Richard’s experience in private M&A transactions over 30 years and across numerous industries gives him a level of expertise, experience and insight that makes him a highly regarded M&A and transactional lawyer and trusted strategic adviser.

Prior to joining SBA Law, Richard spent more than 20 years at DLA Piper, a leading national then international law firm, including 14 years as a partner in the corporate team and 5 years as a member of the firm’s Australian board.

Education

Richard holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) from Monash University.

Experience

Richard’s recent corporate and commercial transactions include:

• Advising Hussey Seating Company in its acquisition of assets of Camatic Seating, a leader in the design, manufacture and installation of seating for stadiums and arenas.
• Advising Payapps Limited and IFM Investors on the sale of global construction payment management solutions business Payapps to Nasdaq-listed Autodesk, Inc.
• Advising Roller Networks on its US$50m funding round led by global software investor, Insight Partners.
  
• Advising MaxCap Group and its shareholders in connection with the investment into the group by Apollo Global Management, Inc (NYSE: APO).
  
• Advising the shareholders of Australian Air-conditioning Distributors and HVAC Consolidated on the sale of a controlling interest to Beijer Ref AB of Sweden.
• Advising SEEK Investments on its investment in Hireup Limited, an online platform for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.
• Advising the shareholders of Premier Technologies on the divestment of their payments platform to Linkly, backed by Potentia Capital.
• Advising the shareholders of Open Cities on the sale of the company to Granicus, backed by Vista Equity Partners and Harvest Partners.
• Advising Payapps Limited in connection with investments by IFM Investors’ private equity group and Leigh Jasper.
• Advising Soulfresh Global in connection with an investment by True Capital Private Equity into the group.
• Advising TIC Group on the sale of TIC Retail Accessories to PACT Group Limited.
• Advising Vue Group and its shareholders in connection with the investment into the group by Singapore’s Far East Organisation.
• Advising the shareholders of CMG Engineering Group on the sale of the company to Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC).

Awards and recognition

Richard is included in the 2014 to 2024 editions of ‘Best Lawyers in Australia’ in the practice areas of Commercial Law, Corporate Governance and Mergers and Acquisitions, and in Doyle’s Guide as a leading Corporate Lawyer and one of Victoria’s preeminent Business and Commercial Lawyers.