Richard is the Managing Partner at Meares Williams who has been with the firm for 13 years.
Richard established our Darfield office some years ago and, responding to a need for legal services in Rolleston, he opened an office in Rolleston Square in 2009.
Richard manages the Rolleston and Darfield offices of the firm.
With over 30 years experience in law, Richard holds degrees in law from the University of Canterbury, economics from Sydney University and a Diploma in business studies from Massey University. While Richard has a broad range of legal knowledge, his two main areas of interest and expertise lie in business and asset planning, which includes organisation of financial affairs, trust and estate planning, and ownership structures in the rural, medical, financial and architectural sectors.
Richard’s other great passion is his admirable commitment to philanthropic work for numerous trusts and charities across Canterbury.
Richard is a trustee and chairman of the Pacific Leprosy Foundation with whom he has been associated for over 25 years, is a past national president of the Cancer Society of New Zealand and past chairman and board member of the Cancer Society in Canterbury, a former Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch and is currently a board member of the JR McKenzie Youth Education Trust, the Blind Children's Charitable Trust, the St Mary's Merivale Trust Board and is a member of the Rotary Club of Christchurch.
Richard specialises in:
-
Property transactions and development
-
Business structures
-
Business restructuring
-
Asset protection
-
Trusts
-
Succession planning
-
Property – commercial, residential and rural
-
Not-for-profit sector