Background

Richard is an investor and advisor, specializing in business services focused on transformation for sustainable, profitable growth. In addition to his legal practice, he manages Vine Street Partners which helps business owners build exit-ready businesses and Valenta which increases efficiencies through tools such as automation.  He has helped businesses—from start-ups to Global 100 firms—manage their risks and create value. 

A recognized thought leader in his industry, the Legal500 named him the 2015 Individual of the Year, stating that he is known for “his ability to understand and deal with issues before most people are aware of them”.   

Richard served as General Counsel for BT in the Americas, sitting on BT’s main company board of directors for the region, as well as on the board of BT Federal. He was also with MFN/Abovenet, serving as VP Global Real Estate and, before that, VP International & Managing Director Europe. While at NTT Richard acted as VP Law & Strategy, as well as General Manager Washington, DC office. 

The Brookings Institution granted Richard a Congressional Fellowship through which he worked as a professional staff member on the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee during the 104th Congress. He has also worked at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business as a post-graduate researcher and sat on the Advisory Board of the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information.

While an undergraduate, Richard started his career in the television industry, ultimately working as Director of Evening Newscasts for the CBS affiliate in Augusta, Georgia. He worked on the CBS production crew of The Masters golf tournament four times.

Richard has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Augusta University, a Master’s Degree in Telecommunications from NYU, a JD from New York Law School, and an Executive Certification in Organizational Design for Digital Transformation from MIT Sloan School of Management. He is admitted to practice law in New York and Texas.