Honorary Legal Advisor
Richard is the Managing Partner at Meares Williams and has been with the firm since 1999.
With over 35 years experience in law, Richard holds degrees in Law from the University of Canterbury, Economics and Politics from the University of Sydney 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 commitment to philanthropic work in both an active and advisory role for numerous trusts and charities across Canterbury.
Richard is a trustee and chairman of the Pacific Leprosy Foundation with which he has been associated for over forty years. He is a past national president of the Cancer Society of New Zealand and past chairman and board member of the Cancer Society in Canterbury. In addition he is a former Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch. In addition to the Pacific Leprosy Foundation Richard is currently a board member of the JR McKenzie Youth Education Trust, the Blind Children’s Charitable Trust, the All Souls Merivale Trust Board and is the past President and current member of the Rotary Club of Christchurch.