Richard Beasley SC came to the Bar in 1997, and was appointed silk in 2011. He has conducted cases and advised on matters involving major administrative law, planning and environmental issues (such as Barangaroo, Allianz stadium and numerous mine approvals), and land acquisition matters. He has also appeared in a wide range of commercial, contract and valuation matters.
Richard has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Australia in the fields of Government Practice (2020, 2021, 2022), and Planning and Environmental Law (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
From April to August 2020, Richard was Senior Counsel Assisting the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess.
From January 2018 to February 2019, Richard was Senior Counsel Assisting the Murray Darling Basin Royal Commission. In June 2018 he was appointed by the NSW Minister for Local Government as Commissioner to the Blue Mountains Public Inquiry. In 2016 he was Commissioner for the Auburn City Council Public Inquiry.
From July 2020 to February 2021, Richard acted as Senior Counsel Assisting The Independent Planning Commission on The Santos Narrabri Gas Project, The Dendrobium Mine Extension Project and The Maxwell Underground Project.
In July 2016 Richard was appointed as the Principal Member of the Racing Appeal Panel by Racing NSW, and was reappointed for a further two year term in July 2018.
In August 2022 Richard was appointed by the South Australian Government as Commissioner for Murray River (SA). It is a part-time appointment from 2022 to 2025.
In December 2022 Richard was appointed as Environmental Counsel to the Board of the Environmental Protection Authority (NSW) for a 3-year term commencing on 1 January 2023.
Outside of the law, Richard is the author of five novels and one work of non-fiction: Hell Has Harbour Views (2001, Pan Macmillan). Hell was adapted as a telemovie on ABC TV in 2005. Hell was followed by The Ambulance Chaser (2004, Pan Macmillan); Me and Rory Macbeath (2013, Hachette); Cyanide Games (2016, Simon & Schuster and Audible), The Burden of Lies (2017, Simon & Schuster and Audible) and Allen and Unwin published "Dead in the water" in February 2021. His author website is richardbeasley.com.au.