Overview

Richard is a highly experienced transactional real estate lawyer. In 2003 Richard became a partner in the firm's investment, development and asset management unit, becoming head of the unit in 2007 with more than £5 billion of office, retail, industrial and rural property assets under management and heading major development schemes with typical GDVs in excess of £150 million. Richard is now head of our 125+ lawyer multi-disciplinary Real Estate Sector Group.

Richard has advised clients in both the public and private sectors including Transport for London, The Crown Estate, Greater London Authority, St Modwen Developments, RWE nPower, Waterstones Booksellers, Waitrose and Partners, John Lewis Partnership, Historic England, East Hampshire District Council, Local Pensions Partnership Investments, the Department for Communities and Local Government, Aerium Finance and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Richard is a committee member of the British Council for Offices and has worked with the BCO on a number of office related published research projects including “The Future of Corporate Headquarters” (2017) and “Future Transport: the implications for office demand and design” (2018). In 2018 he was shortlisted at the BCO Next Gen awards in the Inspirational Leader of the Year category. He is also an active member of Real Estate Balance, Investment Property Forum and the Westminster Property Association.

Experience
  • Advising St Modwen Developments in connection with the development of a 150,000 sq ft Customer Fulfilment Centre at Avonmouth Bristol for Ocado Retail.
  • Investment acquisitions in the office and retail sectors including Westgate (Oxford), Rams Walk (Petersfield), One Central Square (Cardiff), Severnvale Shopping Centre (Gloucester), Jubilee House (Derby), Ricoh House (Northampton), iQ (Aberdeen), Sovereign Shopping Centre (WSM).
  • Advising numerous clients on their HQ relocations in London and corporate office portfolio requirements, including recently acting for a global law firm, a global brand design agency, an IT security management company and a financial services company.
  • Advising on the disposal of the 300 acre decommissioned Fawley Power Station, Southampton and the disposal of Willington Power Station and DCO consented gas pipeline, a CCGT 2000 MW Power Station.
  • Re-gearing the Canadian Government’s occupational arrangements at Canada House, Trafalgar Square.
  • Advising The Crown Estate on over £1 billion of major retail park and shopping centre investment acquisitions and disposals.
  • Advising a consortium of commercial and residential developer landowners in relation to the mixed use development of a c300 acre site at Coton Park, Rugby, comprising c850 homes, a hotel, 200,000 sqm of commercial and industrial space and 15,000 sqm of leisure.
  • Advising Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the Buildings Safety Programme.
  • Advising Historic England in relation to its office portfolio and the £95 million High Streets Historic Action Zones Project.

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Legal 500 2021