Richard Baxter

Partner

Richard is a corporate and commercial partner who is passionate about working closely with his clients to generate more value to their businesses and ultimately add to their bottom line profit.

Richard joined Withy King from a London practice in 2010 and heads up the Oxford corporate and commercial team.  He divides his time between our Oxford and London offices.

“For me the job is all about the client’s long term interests. Whether helping a start-up business structure for future growth, giving operational advice to a mature business or assisting a buyer or seller of a business to get a deal done, the client must remain the focus at all times. The best deal is where all the parties’ expectations are met, and without costly and time consuming re-negotiation or litigation. I get a kick out of knowing a deal has closed or a contract is settled in that way. Clients instinctively know that the most commercially-minded lawyers can ‘make a call’ because they have mastered the legal and commercial detail. That means being available 24/7 to get under the skin of the client’s business".

Richard’s corporate experience is far-reaching and he’s advised a wide range of clients including PLCs, SMEs and owner-managed businesses across a variety of business sectors including professional services, manufacturing and engineering, financial services, retail, healthcare, media, natural resources and technology. 

His wide experience includes;

• dealing with reverse takeovers, mergers, acquisitions and disposals
• assisting his clients on a re-financing or restructuring (both solvent and distressed)
• creating and advising on investment agreements, subscription agreements, shareholders agreements and bespoke articles of association
• advising on all areas of commercial contracts, from basic terms and conditions to complex long-term contracts.

Richard is also a member of the Technology and Media sector team and regularly advises companies on the exploitation and protection of intellectual property and sophisticated licensing arrangements.

Clients have said of Richard that he “adopts a truly pragmatic approach to problem solving” and “understands how clients need their lawyers to act in a changing world”.  Richard is described in the 2012 edition of Legal 500 as ‘very approachable and understandable’ and his team is praised for its ‘focused and practical advice’.