Richard joined Burges Salmon in 1998, having trained and practised with Linklaters in the City of London.
Richard specialises in the following areas:
- Real Estate development
- Real Estate investment
- Minerals
- Escheat
In relation to development matters, Richard acts mainly, although not exclusively, for landowners. Typically this involves the disposal of development land by way of option, promotion agreement, conditional contract or competitive tender. Many of his transactions involve acting for consortia of landowners in their dealings with one or more developers. He also regularly advises on a host of other landowner issues, including farm diversification schemes, landfill operations, alternative energy, environmental projects and mineral leases.
Richard is also the lead partner advising The Crown Estate in relation to its Traditional and Regional Portfolios, in addition to handling various acquisitions and disposals. He also manages the administration of land reverting to The Crown of common law, under the doctrine of Escheat.
Recent significant transactions include:
- acting as lead lawyer on behalf of a consortium of 13 landowners in relation to the creation of a major new settlement in South Devon on 1,000 acres of land
- advising various family trusts, and a farming company tenant, on the phased disposal of a large residential and employment scheme in Dorset
- acting for a landowner in the Midlands on the grant of a long lease of a mineral water spring to a multinational drinks corporation
- advising a major UK racecourse in the disposal of surplus land for residential development
- acting for The Crown Estate in the sale of almost an acre of property fronting Oxford Street in London
- acting for a Trust on the grant of a hybrid option and promotion agreement over approximately 100 acres of land for residential development in the South East to a consortium of developers