Year called to bar: 1997 (QC); 2000 (New York); 2002 (ON)
Richard is a leading corporate and M&A lawyer who advises clients across industries, with particular expertise in the natural resources and energy sectors. In addition to advising clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional acquisitions and transactions, Richard is regularly consulted by public companies on the ever-changing corporate governance and regulatory landscape. His clients include leading mining and energy companies with assets that span the globe, and he has worked on transactions in North and South America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. Richard has vast experience assisting resource clients with joint ventures, complex shareholders’ agreements, earn-in arrangements, permitting, stability agreements with host governments, financing (including metals streaming transactions), royalties and off-take arrangements. Richard is trained in both common and civil law, is proficient in both English and French and is called to the bars of Ontario, Québec and New York. Before joining Davies, he served as a clerk to Justice Charles D. Gonthier of the Supreme Court of Canada. Richard is a member of Davies’ Management Committee. Select Recognition: Chambers Global; Chambers Canada; Legal 500 Canada; Best Lawyers in Canada.
On December 17, 2015, subsidiaries of Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP completed the acquisition of Barrick Gold Corporation's 70 per cent interest in the Spring Valley project and 100 per cent of the Ruby Hill mine for a total of $110 million in cash.
On August 31, 2015, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., one of China’s largest gold producers, completed the acquisition from Barrick Gold Corporation of a 50 per cent stake in Barrick (Niugini) Limited (the holder of a 95 per cent interest in the Porgera gold project in Papua New Guinea) for US$298 million in cash, through Gold Mountains (H.K.) International Mining Company Limited, its wholly owned subsidiary. The parties also entered into a shareholders agreement with respect to the newly formed joint venture and a separate strategic cooperation arrangement relating to future potential joint initiatives.
Fortis Inc. acquired all of the outstanding shares of UNS Energy Corporation for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US$4.5 billion, including the assumption of approximately US$2 billion of debt. The acquisition was financed by a US$2-billion non-revolving acquisition term credit facilities and a US$1.8 billion offering of convertible subordinated debentures represented by instalment receipts. The offering consisted of a bought deal public offering of approximately US$1.6 billion and a concurrent private placement of approximately US$200 million.
