Our people

Appointed a partner in 1981, Richard was Head of the Real Estate Group for six years and then was a member of the Board at Richards Butler for three years. He specialises in all aspects of commercial property development, investment and corporate real estate. His practice and client base covers mainstream commercial property, specialist leisure/hotel property, and property outsourcing. Recognised for a number of years as a leader in the field of leisure and hotels, Richard was heavily involved in leading the RSRB team on the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station prior to its sale (see below). He also continues to act for clients including Showcase Cinemas (National Amusements), the Rank Group, LSTrillium, io Group/Teesland, Britannia Building Society, Ockwen Group, Gallileo/GTA Travel Group, Warner Holidays, Bourne Leisure, the Townhouse group of hotels, the Hospital Group, Thomas Miller, W Lucy, Glencore Grain and Millwall F.C.

Representative Matters

• Acting for Parkview International in relation to site acquisition, funding and leasing of the 38 acre Battersea Power Station Site involving leisure, retail, entertainment, hotels, offices, theatre and residential elements, prior to its sale for circa £400m. The proposed redevelopment comprised over 4m sq ft. The Power Station itself was to house 1.42m sq ft of restaurants, clubs, bars, retail and cinema. The project also included two hotels – a 400 bed ‘urban resort’ hotel (including top floor garden suites) with spectacular perforated ‘City Wall’ that protects and emphasises the boundary of the site and the edge of Metropolitan London. There was also to be a 725 bedroom banqueting and conference hotel connected to the Power Station by a glazed galleria. Work has included interim funding, the leasing and tax structure and concluding agreements with Dalkia, Berkeley Homes.

• Acting for the Rank Group on the £211m sale and leaseback of a portfolio of 43 bingo clubs and casinos. The transaction also involved the transfer by Rank to the buyer of liabilities relating to 44 surplus leasehold properties with a liability transfer price of £39m. The transaction involved innovative provisions to allow Rank operational and financial flexibility in relation to the leasebacks. The transfer of leasehold liabilities involved the use of virtual assignments/leasebacks and related documentation.

• Acting for National Amusements on pre-lets in mixed use developments at White City, Bristol, Leicester, Derby and other locations around the UK. National Amusements are intending to operate their innovative Cinema De Lux brand from these venues. This client has over 65 years of experience in the entertainment industry and has grown to own and operate more than 1,390 screens worldwide. As well as Cinema De Lux, National Amusements operates under the Showcase Cinemas and Multiplex Cinemas brands.

• Working with our Middle Eastern offices on a series of resort developments in the Middle East

• Acting for W. Lucy in a joint venture with Berkeley Homes involving the mixed use redevelopment of Lucy’s site in Oxford. The re-sale value of the residential units in the development is estimated at around £50 million. The transaction involved complex issues relating to tax, planning, construction and affordable housing issues.

Speeches / Presentations

• Participating in a number of in-house and external seminars and workshops including workshops tailored to particular client requirements

Experience

Legal Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• England and Wales