Richard is a trusted advisor who helps his clients navigate significant situations across a variety of sectors and circumstances.
He draws on more than 15 years of experience practicing tax and corporate law at BLG, and serving on a variety of Boards, to bring a unique perspective to complex situations, such as generational shift in private companies, mergers & acquisitions, cross-border investment, disputes and business growth strategies.
Richard is commonly retained in the context of the following:
- Private company restructuring and succession planning;
- Major purchase, sale and takeover transactions;
- General corporate and commercial matters;
- Shareholder agreements, partnership agreements and joint venture agreements;
- Optimizing transaction and financing structures, including investment funds, debt and equity financings, spin-outs, inbound and outbound structures, captive insurance and restructuring insolvent companies;
- Executive and employee compensation plans;
- Estate planning, including family trusts, Wills, life insurance and international planning;
- Charitable registration for charitable organizations;
- Tax advice, due diligence and opinions on a variety of matters;
- Dispute resolution on a broad range of matters.
Richard also acts as a director or trustee of several corporations and/or trusts.
Prior to working at BLG, Richard worked for an international sport and entertainment management firm, ran his own consulting business and worked in a variety of other industries (including technology, telecom, retail, pharmaceuticals, grocery, sales and restaurants) where he learned how businesses operate. This has been instrumental in his ability to provide practical legal advice, with the client’s interests in mind.
Richard has been involved with a variety of registered charities and non-profit organizations. Among other things, he has served as a director of Tails of Help (2016-2019) and the Canadian Petroleum Tax Society (2018-2020). Richard is currently a Trustee of The Campbell McLaurin Foundation for Hearing Deficiencies (2022-present) and a director of the Nathan Louis Healing Foundation (2023-present).
Richard is a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner and has completed Levels I to III of the CPA Canada, In-Depth Tax Course.
Richard is a member of BLG’s Partnership Board, the firm’s governing body (2023-present). He has also been a member of BLG’s Calgary regional compensation committee (2020-2023) and won a BLG Eminence Award for Mentorship in 2019.
Richard provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
Experience
- Acts for several high net worth and ultra high net worth families.
- Acted for HollyFrontier Corporation on its $1.25 billion acquisition of Petro-Canada Lubricants.
- Assisted Kelt Exploration Ltd. in its $510 million disposition of oil and gas assets in its Inga/Fireweed/Soddart Division (Inga Assets) located in British Columbia, to ConocoPhillips and assumption by the Purchaser of certain specific financial obligations related to the Inga Assets in the amount of approximately $41 million.
- Represented Matson Driscoll & Damico, a leading international forensic accounting firm, on its sale to Davies.
- Acted for White Water Management Ltd. and its majority shareholders on the sale of Whitewater and its subsidiary, Catalyst Production Systems, to Hillcore Group, a leading Canadian investment and advisory firm.
- Represented The Fastener Group, a leading distributor of fasteners, tools, safety gear and other related accessories, on its sale of 15 locations to TriWest Capital Partners.
- Acts for several high net worth and ultra high net worth families.
- Acted for HollyFrontier Corporation on its $1.25 billion acquisition of Petro-Canada Lubricants.
- Assisted Kelt Exploration Ltd. in its $510 million disposition of oil and gas assets in its Inga/Fireweed/Soddart Division (Inga Assets) located in British Columbia, to ConocoPhillips and assumption by the Purchaser of certain specific financial obligations related to the Inga Assets in the amount of approximately $41 million.
- Represented Matson Driscoll & Damico, a leading international forensic accounting firm, on its sale to Davies.
- Acted for White Water Management Ltd. and its majority shareholders on the sale of Whitewater and its subsidiary, Catalyst Production Systems, to Hillcore Group, a leading Canadian investment and advisory firm.
- Represented The Fastener Group, a leading distributor of fasteners, tools, safety gear and other related accessories, on its sale of 15 locations to TriWest Capital Partners.
