Biography
Rick serves as Fox Rothschild’s General Counsel.
Rick leads Fox Rothschild’s Office of General Counsel, which provides legal guidance to lawyers and business professionals. It also oversees risk management, compliance and loss prevention efforts.
Prior to becoming General Counsel, Rick served as the firm’s Deputy General Counsel and Managing Partner of its Greensboro office. For more than 30 years, Rick had an active litigation practice representing businesses and individuals in a wide variety of matters.
His primary practice area was commercial litigation, focused on business and intellectual property disputes. Rick has also advised lawyers and law firms on professional responsibility and ethics issues. He served as General Counsel of Smith Moore Leatherwood before it combined its practice with Fox Rothschild in 2018.
Prior Representative Experience
- Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. v. Tietex International, Ltd. (MDNC, Judge Thomas D. Schroeder) (Prosecution of patent infringement claims relating to thermally protective fabric technology) (2013–2020)
- Syngenta Crop Protection LLC v. Willowood USA LLC (MDNC, Judge Catherine Eagles) (Prosecution of patent infringement and copyright claims relating to fungicide molecule patent and process patents) (2015-2020)
- MedCost LLC v. Medcost Solutions LLC (MDNC, Judge William Osteen) (Prosecution of trademark infringement suit)(2017-2018)
- Kayser-Roth Corporation v. Goodhew, LLC (MDNC, Judge Loretta Biggs) (prosecution of trademark infringement claims in the apparel industry) (2015-2016)
- Kingsdown, Incorporated v. W. Eric Hinshaw, Rebecca Hinshaw, and Anne Ray (NC Business Court) (Judge Louis A. Bledsoe, III) (2014-2017) (dispute relating to stock purchase agreement)
- Schwarz v. Schwarz (NC Business Court)(Judge Adam Conrad) (2016-2018)(dispute relating to buy-sell agreements governing LLC ownership)
- Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, Inc. v. Crown Verity, Inc. (MDNC, Judge Thomas D. Schroeder) (Defense of patent infringement claim by owner of patent relating to outdoor heaters) (2013-2014)
- Celgard, LLC v. LG Chem, Ltd. et al. (WDNC, Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr.) (Prosecution of patent infringement claims relating to lithium battery technology) (2014-2016)
- Celgard, LLC v. SK Innovation Co., Ltd. (WDNC, Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr.) (Prosecution of patent infringement claims relating to lithium battery technology) (2013-2017)
- Empowered Benefits, LLC v. MetLife, Inc. (WDNC, Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr.) (Defense of trademark infringement suit) (2012-2013)
- Robert Paul Morris v. Scenera Research LLC and Ryan C. Fry (NC Supreme Court, Judge James L. Gale) (Prepare and file amicus brief related to hired-to-invent doctrine) (2013)
- Pan-American Products & Holdings, LLC v. R.T.G. Furniture Corp., et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge Thomas D. Schroeder) (prosecution of copyright infringement claims relating to furniture designs) (2010-2012)
- Pittsburgh Corning Corporation v. McCormick Insulation Supply, Inc., et al. (NC Court of Appeals) (Prosecution of trademark infringement action) (working in association with Reed Smith LLP) (2010-2011)
- Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, Inc. v. Well Traveled Imports, Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge Thomas D. Schroeder) (Defense of patent infringement claim by owner of patent relating to outdoor heaters) (2010-2013)
- Asics America Corporation v. Akeva, LLC v. New Balance et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge James A. Beaty, Jr.) (Defend New Balance in patent infringement action by owner of patent relating to shoe design) (working in association with Goodwin Procter LLP) (2009-2015)
- Evonik Stockhausen, Inc. v. Tyco Healthcare Group, LP (D.E., Judge Gregory M. Sleet) (Prosecution of breach of contract claims relating to supply agreement relating to supply of superabsorbent polymers) (2008-2010)
- Evonik Stockhausen, Inc. v. Attends Healthcare Products, Inc. (N.C. Superior Court) (Prosecution of breach of contract claims relating to supply agreement for supply of superabsorbent polymers) (2007-2009)
- Robert E. Houchin v. VS2 Worldwide Communications, LLC, et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.) (Prosecution of patent infringement action by owner of patent relating to sweepstakes methods and devices) (2008-2011)
- Lexington Furniture Industries, Inc. v. The Bob Timberlake Collection, Inc. (N.C. Business Court) (Prosecution of declaratory judgment action arising from alleged breach of license agreement covering furniture designs) (2008-2009)
- AARP v. America's Recommended Mailers, Inc., et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen, Jr.) (Defense of alleged trademark infringement and related claims) (2006-2009)
- Volumetrics Medical Imaging v. Medison America, Inc., et al .(M.D.N.C., Judge N.C. Tilley, Jr.) (Defense of patent infringement action and prosecution of invalidity and non-infringement counterclaims in connection with ultrasound equipment with 3D capabilities) (working in association with Bingham McCutchen LLP) (2006-2009)
- Jan Arps and Jan Arps' Traders' Toolbox, LLC v. Sheldon E. Stunkel and BSG Traders LLC (M.D.N.C., Judge Thomas D. Schroeder) (Prosecution of declaratory judgment suit and liable action relating to alleged misappropriation of trade secrets associated with computer programming of market indicators) (2007-2008)
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. v. Synthon Holding BV, Synthon BV, Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Synthon Laboratories, Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge N.C. Tilley, Jr.) (2007)
- Motion Picture Association of America (North Carolina counsel with regard to copyright infringement actions relating to downloading of movies and other copyright and protected materials from the Internet) (mid-2000s)
- Specialty Manufacturing Company Co. v. Transpec, Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge N.C. Tilley, Jr.) (Defense of patent infringement suit and prosecution of related counterclaim associated with mechanical device involved in school bus safety equipment) (2002-2007)
- Nochar, Inc. v. Stockhausen GmbH & Co. (S.D. In.) (Judge Larry J. Mckinney) (Defense of declaratory judgment action against owner of patent relating to use of superabsorber polymers and firefighting application) (2005-2006)
- Barry Thomas v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (W.D.N.C., Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr.) (Defense of patent infringement claim in connection with patent asserting regulation of utility devices) (working in association with Heller Ehrman LLP) (2005-2008)
- Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. v. Chem-Tick Coated Fabrics, Inc. and Chem-Tick Sales, Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen) (Prosecution of trademark infringement action registered mark) (2006-2007)
- Duke University, et al. v. Elan Corporation, et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen) (Defense of suit seeking to obtain ownership of patent application associated with use of pharmaceutical for weight loss purposes) (2004-2006)
- Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc. v. Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen) (Defense of action in alleged infringement of design patents and trade dress rights associated with furniture collection) (2002-2004)
- Blue Rhino Corporation, Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, LLC and CPD Associates, Inc. v. Sunjoy Industries, Inc. and Dandy Arambulo (M.D.N.C., Judge Frank W. Bullock, Jr.) (Defense of patent infringement claim by owner of patent relating to outdoor heaters) (2003-2005)
- Endura Products, Inc. v. Macklanburg-Duncan Co. d/b/a M-D Building Products (M.D.N.C., Judge James E. Beaty, Jr.) (Defense of patent infringement claim by owner of patent relating to thresholds) (2004-2005)
- Barricade International, Inc. v. Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG(So. District of Florida and M.D.N.C. following transfer, Judge Frank W. Bullock, Jr.) (Defense of state law claims relating to ownership claim to patent issued to Stockhausen, Inc. associated with use of superabsorbent polymers in firefighting applications) (2004)
- LaneVenture, a division of Lane Furniture Industries, Inc. v. D&F Wicker Rattan Imports, et al. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen) (Defense of patent infringement claim relating to design patents associated with outdoor furniture collection) (2002-2003)
- Chambers Fabrics, Inc. v. Hoffman Mills Inc. (M.D.N.C., Judge William L. Osteen) (Defense of copyright suit relating to design of upholstery fabric) (2001-2002)
Before Fox Rothschild
Rick was a partner and General Counsel and Risk Manager at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, which combined with Fox Rothschild in 2018.
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)
- Furman University (B.A., 1990)
Memberships
- Middle District of North Carolina, Local Rules Committee
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- American Bar Association, Litigation, Intellectual Property and Center for Professional Responsibility
- North Carolina Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- Selected to the “Managing Partners to Watch” list by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2024)
- Recognized in Business North Carolina's Legal Elite for Litigation (2015, 2019, 2022-2024) and Intellectual Property (2010, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021)
- Selected to the “Power List for Business Defense” list by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2023)
- Named to the list of "Future Stars" in North Carolina by Benchmark Litigation (2022-2026)
- Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Civil Litigation Defense (2008) and Intellectual Property Litigation (2012-2025) in North Carolina by Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Business Edition, Intellectual Property Litigation (2013-2015)
- Named to the "Lawyer of the Year" list for Intellectual Property - Litigation in North Carolina by Best Lawyers (2018, 2022, 2024)
- Selected to the "Best Lawyers in America" list for Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2013-2026) and Intellectual Property Litigation (2017-2026) in Greensboro, NC by Best Lawyers
- Benchmark Litigation, North Carolina Future Star (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2024)
- Martindale-Hubbell's top (AV) Peer Review Rating
