Richard is a Senior Associate in the Commercial Litigation team in Wellington. He appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Richard specialises in energy litigation, especially on behalf of the upstream oil and gas industry.  He regularly advises and appears in Court in respect of permitting and regulatory matters and commercial and joint venture disputes.

Richard has further expertise in respect of property matters, in particular advising commercial landlords in respect of leasehold disputes including enforcement, forfeiture, repairing covenants and sublettings.

Before his admission in New Zealand and joining Simpson Grierson in 2005, Richard read law at Brasenose College, Oxford and practised as a chancery-commercial barrister in London.  He appeared in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, specialising landlord and tenant, mortgagee actions and other property related disputes.

• Counsel for OMV New Zealand Limited, Austral Pacific Energy Limited and Tap (New Zealand) Limited in respect of petroleum joint venture and subcontractor disputes
• Counsel for Tap (New Zealand) Pty Ltd in judicial review of Crown Minerals' regime for priority in time allocation of exploration permits
• Counsel for Fugro-Geoteam AS in dispute regarding application of Crown Minerals reporting regulations to seismic subcontractor engaged in New Zealand acreage under contract governed by Norwegian law
• Acted for BP New Zealand Limited in relation to arrest of ships following non-payment for fuel
• Acted for BP New Zealand Limited in relation to landlord and tenant and other property disputes including competition and restraint of user
• Advised Transpower in relation to dispute over titles on subdivision of land acquired and occupied to build substation
• Counsel for CB Richard Ellis in disputes regarding repairing covenants in contract for sale and purchase of land
• Advised Wellington City Council in respect of commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including recovery of rent
• Counsel for Kapiti Coast District Council in claims for judicial review, negligence, misfeasance in public office, breach of the Fair Trading Act 1986, and personal injury
• Advised American sporting firearms manufacturer on effect of North Carolina arbitration clause in New Zealand licensing agreement
• Advised the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in relation to counterfeit goods infringing trade marks and copyright

• Called as a Barrister (England and Wales) in 1996
• New Zealand Herald - Contributor to Prime Assets question and answer series