Richard was a consultant who conducted general commercial litigation. He also advised on and assisted with commercial documentation and business structures. Richard was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1973; as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1985; and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong in 1985.

Richard worked in Hong Kong for a total of 10 years and London for a total of 4 years. In London, he worked with two leading West End entertainment law firms for 3 years and later returned to work for a year with one of these firms as a locum.

In Hong Kong, Richard worked for 6 years as legal counsel with the Hong Kong government. After completing his locum contract in London, he returned to Hong Kong to work as a commercial litigation solicitor with a locally based expatriate firm for 6 months, and then for 3.5 years with Deacons, a large international firm. He advised on and conducted litigation on air cargo/passenger Warsaw Convention claims, disputed letters of credit and bills of exchange, international licensing and distribution agreements, and building construction issues.

Richard returned to Adelaide and joined Johnsons (pre cursor to Johnson Winter and Slattery) for one year, then Finlaysons for 2 years and, finally, Rossi Legal (formerly Moody Rossi). With these firms he conducted commercial litigation and advised on documentation in the fields of entertainment, intellectual property, insolvency, construction, business acquisitions, commercial structures, and planning law.