Richard is an energy and resources specialist based in Tokyo with extensive experience across a broad range of projects and M&A transactions within the sector, including in LNG, carbon capture and storage, new energy and mining. His skillset includes acting on acquisitions and divestments, project structuring, joint venture arrangements, and tolling, marketing and offtake arrangements.
He is a key member of Mallesons' Japan Practice Group and has more than a decade of experience working with Japanese companies, including on cross-border investments into Australia, and having previously completed a secondment within Mitsubishi Corporation’s Legal Department.
Richard’s experience includes:
- Woodside Energy: on the sale of a minority interest in the US$16 billion Scarborough LNG project to each of LNG Japan and JERA.
- Woodside Energy: on the US$12 billion Pluto Train 2 LNG Project and Scarborough tie-in, including project structuring, integration and documentation for the expansion, including the establishment and development of the Pluto Train 2 LNG Project and on long-term processing arrangements for LNG and domestic gas, and the sale of a 49% participating interest in the Pluto Train 2 LNG Project to Global Infrastructure Partners.
- Chevron: on its Carbon Capture and Storage projects, including two proposed Carbon Capture and Storage development projects in the northern Carnarvon basin offshore Western Australia, with respect to the Australian and international regulatory framework, joint venture governance arrangements
- BHP: on a range of matters concerning the development and operation of its WA Iron Ore Joint Ventures in the Pilbara, including its bulk iron export facilities at the Port of Port Hedland and State Agreement matters, as well as BHP’s full portfolio of sales and marketing arrangements, including iron ore, LNG, coal, nickel and copper commodity sale contracts.
- *BHP on the US$1.5Bn sale, via share subscription, of a 15% interest in the Jimblebar mine and rail infrastructure to Mitsui and ITOCHU, including on the associated governance arrangements.
- *Northern Star Resources: in relation to its US$800 million acquisition of the Superpit Gold Mine from Newmont.
- Beach Energy: advising on LNG sales and marketing arrangements in relation to its stake in the Waitsia Project in Western Australia and associated interface with the gas processing, transportation and LNG lifting arrangements, including on its major LNG offtake agreement with BP.
- Woodside: on green hydrogen and ammonia marketing and associated governance arrangements for the proposed Southern Green Hydrogen project, a large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia facility proposed in Southland, New Zealand.
- Sojitz Corporation: advising on its joint venture arrangements in respect of the Southdown Magnetite Project.
- Hancock Prospecting: advising on all aspects of its A$1.7 billion strategic acquisition of Azure Minerals Limited via scheme of arrangement
Certification
Admitted in Western Australia. Not admitted to practice law in Japan.
