Clifford Chance
Richard Gordon specialises in financing transactions, including leveraged acquisitions, project and infrastructure transactions, corporate lending and restructurings, acting for both lenders and borrowers.
Before joining Clifford Chance, Richard was a Partner and the head of the banking & financial services sector at a leading Australian firm.
- the financing of Global Infrastructure Partners' bid to acquire a minority stake in the Shell-operated QCLNG infrastructure business
- the financing of IOOF's A$1.4 billion acquisition of National Australia Bank's MLC wealth management and financial advice business
- the financing aspects of Permira-sponsored I-MED Radiology's acquisition of Alfred Medical Imaging business
- the financing of Anchorage Capital's acquisition of CF Asia Pacific's rail haulage business
- the multi-layered financing in connection with the successful Transurban and international sponsor consortium’s A$9.3 billion acquisition of a majority interest in the WestConnex tollroad business
- the A$1.7 billion financing of EG Group’s acquisition of Woolworths’ petrol stations business in Australia
- the financing of Nippon Paint’s A$3.8 billion offer to acquire Dulux Group’s Australian business
- the financing to the successful MIRA-led consortium on the A$1.6 billion privatisation of the South Australian land titles registry and the subsequent multi-sourced refinancing
- the financing to the successful MIRA-led consortium on the A$1.4 billion acquisition of the WA Landgate registry business
- the financing of Five V Capital’s acquisition of Zenith Investment Partners
- the refinancing of Anchorage Capital’s Affinity Education childcare business
- financing to the successful MIRA-led consortium on the part-privatisation of the Endeavour Energy electricity distribution business in New South Wales and the subsequent multi-sourced refinancing
- the unitranche financing of Anchorage Capital’s acquisition of Southern Cross Laundries
- Tamar and JIC on their leveraged financing to acquire the Nature’s Care health business
- the financing of Palisade’s successful bid for the Sunshine Coast Airport existing and expansion runway business in Queensland
- the lenders and USPP investors on the refinancing of EastLink by ConnectEast
- the financing of the acquisition of Glencore’s GRail rail haulage business in Australia
- the lead arrangers of a Term Loan B financing for Iron Mountain Australia, Australia’s first all Australian dollar Term Loan B, governed by Australian law (Shortlisted for Debt Market Deal of Year / International Deal of Year – Australasian Law Awards 2017)
- Health & Happiness (formerly Biostime International) (listed in Hong Kong) on its bridge to bond financing for the acquisition of the Swisse minority and bank/bond combination refinancing
- numerous other lenders, corporates and sponsors over the years (including Wesfarmers on the $10bn financing of its acquisition of Coles)
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Sydney
- +61 2 8922 8077
- Email me
- Practice area Global Financial Markets, Restructuring
Career and qualifications
- Brunel University (LLB) 1994
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 1997
- Admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales, Australia 2012
- Joined Clifford Chance as a Partner 2015
Awards and citations
- Leading Individual
Legal 500 – Project Finance - A client noted "He has a wealth of experience. He is well regarded by lenders and by sponsors so he has a very high degree of credibility, which makes him very flexible in regards to which side of the fence he's operating on."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2020 - ‘Richard Gordon is a solid negotiator and is great at focusing attention on important matters and reaching compromises on lower order issues.‘
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 - Band 2 Individual
"He has a wealth of experience. He is well regarded by lenders and by sponsors so he has a very high degree of credibility, which makes him very flexible in regards to which side of the fence he's operating on." The client goes on to add: "He sees both sides – he's not a point-scorer, he's there to find a result that's best for everyone."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2020, Project Finance – Australia
- Band 2 Individual
He is recognised for his acquisition finance expertise and is described by one admiring source as an "extremely seasoned operator" who has "been around a long time and is well connected locally."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2020, Banking & Finance: Acquisition Finance – Australia
- Richard Gordon's practice encompasses acquisition finance, project finance and general banking work. He is described as "a trusted advisor" and is "well-respected in the market"
Chambers Global