Richard is a recognised leader in commercial dispute resolution in the UAE and has practised contentious business law in the UAE and Middle East region for most of his career. His areas of specialisation are in the commercial litigation and arbitration fields, particularly with reference to commercial disputes, fraud and asset recovery, maritime, trade and insurance law in the United Arab Emirates and larger Middle East area.

Prior to working as Executive Partner at Hadef & Partners, Richard trained with Clifford Chance in London, worked with Clifford Chance in London and Dubai (1992 - 1996), later joining Al Tamimi & Co as partner (1996 - 2004). Richard is a member of the Law Society and a Practicing Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He is also a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), and ICC FraudNet Member for the UAE. Richard is the current past President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), and former Chairman of the Host Committee for the IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference held in Dubai from 7 to 10 março 2023.

Richard has recently been appointed Board Member of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), and was also the Chairman of the Host Committee of the International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA) Conference which came to Dubai for the first time from 5 to 10 novembro 2023. Richard was formerly the Chairman of the ICC FraudNet S&P Committee from 2017 - 2019 and member of the ICC FraudNet Advisory Board, and former Vice Chair of the IBA Maritime Committee from 2008 – 2014. Richard is also former Vice Chair and Board Member of the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC).