In 1997, Richard began an involvement in dispute resolution. Following completion of courses in Mediation offered under the auspices of the University of Windsor's Faculty of Law, Rick began mediating commercial and workplace based disputes. In 1998, he became a part-time instructor in the U of W's mediation courses, a role he continued for several years.

Richard has taught courses in Business Law and Employment Law in the Continuing Education programs at Sheridan and Niagara Colleges. He has spoken to business audiences on such topics as customer service, human resources, motivating employees and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Richard holds a B.A. (Honours) in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario and a LL. B. from the University of Toronto.

In 1999, Richard began providing a community pro bono mediation service to the City of Burlington, dealing with neighbourhood-related conflict.

Rick has since returned to the practice of business law, establishing an office in downtown Burlington.

Community service is important to Richard. He is currently Vice Chair of the Halton Regional Police Services Board, and Vice President of the Board of Performing Arts Burlington. He has also served on the Mayor’s Post Secondary Task Force and the McMaster-Burlington Transition Team.  Rick is also a Past Chair of the Board of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Board of the Burlington Art Centre, a former member of the Board of the Burlington Art Centre Foundation, a former member of the Board of Management of Tansley Woods Community Centre, and has served on the Burlington Downtown Symposia and the Downtown Waterfront Advisory Committee. He has served on the Board of Summit House, which provides assisted housing to intellectually challenged individuals, and was for 4 years the Chair of the School Council of John T. Tuck Public School in Burlington.