As one of the founders and the current Chairman of McCarthy Denning, Richard is a commercially-minded corporate lawyer specialising in M&A and public company work. Over 25 years’ experience at major UK and US firms. His practice has always been diverse, covering mergers and acquisitions, banking finance, restructuring, equity capital markets (primarily, but not exclusively, AIM and the Official List) and early stage ventures and private equity.
Throughout his career of over 25 years in the City, Richard has shown a willingness to get involved in the business side of things, whether it’s helping build a business case for start-ups, introducing investors, finding targets for acquisitions, bringing together management teams or structuring public company transactions. That interest helps Richard marry a keen understanding of the “technical” aspects of the law with a clear understanding of clients’ aims. Recently he has been at the forefront of the growth of the use of Standard Listings and has won acceptance from the UKLA for a number of novel deal structures.
With extensive international and cross-border experience, Richard has worked across a number of sectors including aviation, financial services, green and clean, mining, oil and gas (upstream and downstream) and construction materials.
The 2013 edition of the Legal 500 recommended Richard in both M&A and small and mid-cap flotations categories, saying he is “easy to deal with and can focus on key areas quickly” as well as bringing an international dimension.
After gaining first class honours in his Law Society Finals in 1991, Richard qualified into the corporate department at leading mid-sized City firm Gouldens (now Jones Day). Subsequently he became a partner in the major US firm McDermott Will & Emery and more latterly in the London office of 1,000-lawyer US firm, McGuireWoods.
Career highlights include advising BAE Systems on its ground-breaking joint ventures with Xchanging, and the resolution committee and winding-up board of Glitnir Bank on issues arising out of the 2008 financial crisis.
Richard has advised on a large number of listings, fundraisings and reverse takeovers on AIM and the Official List, acting for both investment banks and issuers.