Overview

Rick has counseled clients for patent prosecution, patentability analysis, and freedom to operate investigations in the areas of end user software (including user interface, improved user experience, and digital mapping technology), mobile/internet technologies (including data communication, data security, and wireless access protocols), business development software, medical devices, medical information storage and communications systems, computer hardware, network communication systems, consumer products, internal combustion engines, electrical component manufacturing, and business methods. In addition, Rick frequently practices in patent reexamination/post-grant proceedings. He has represented both challengers/third party requesters and patent owners in proceedings for patents related to circuit design, end-user software, medical devices, mobile/internet technologies, and consumer products. This experience includes advising clients on patent reexamination strategies/post-grant proceedings during concurrent patent litigation.

Prior to attending law school, Rick worked as a technology specialist and patent agent for the firm, assisting with domestic and foreign litigation cases; preparing ex parte reexamination requests; conducting both ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings; and drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Rick previously held engineering positions at Booz Allen Hamilton’s network design and analysis center (providing telecommunications and telephony system analysis and design services for the National Communications System, the Navy, and the Pentagon) and IBM (including work in hardware design, database programming, and object-oriented language programming).