Best brains in ...

Large and complex private equity deals, public takeovers and international M&A deals. I have been told by my peers that I am an "all rounder" and I enjoy turning my hand to new challenges. In addition to M&A work, I specialise in fund creation and management, assisting US corporates on setting up in the UK (and other forms of inward investment), IPOs and technology investment work.

Highlight of your career so far?

Advising Wragge & Co's long-standing client QinetiQ plc on the largest-ever deal the firm has completed for the client: the creation of a new technology venture fund with initial assets of £40 million. The complex deal involved advising on the fund formation and transfer of investee companies into that fund.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Advising Automatic Data Processing (ADP) on its cross-border, multi-national acquisition of the Kerridge Group and the subsequent reorganisation of ADP's pan-European dealer services business to integrate the acquired businesses. The complex deal involved coordinating due diligence activities and legal advice in relation to the transaction documents and working with our best friend network of lawyers across several jurisdictions including Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Japan, Singapore and Australia.

What about outside the UK?

Many of my clients are international, so I am experienced in advising on cross-border transactions. I also head up the firm's US Sales team alongside senior partner Quentin Poole. It's a fantastic role which involves building relationships with US-based organisations, promoting the firm and winning high-profile new clients.

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

I spend a lot of time getting to know the people and culture within the client's organisations. The EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) head of legal at one of America's largest software businesses said that in addition to being a good lawyer, a huge bonus is that: "Richard has sought to truly understand our business both culturally and the way in which we operate day-to-day. This is invaluable to me and I am sure this applies equally to other in-house counsel."

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

I took a leading role in advising one of the most high-profile technology companies in the UK on a £200 million complex share disposal. The general counsel highly commended me for my work saying that he rated as me as a "9/10, and I never give 10/10".  He also commented that as a direct result of that excellent work, he would look to instruct Wragge & Co first on any future transactional projects.