Rick draws on his experience as a patent examiner to help clients obtain patents for their technologies.
An electrical engineer by training, Rick knew he wanted to work with math and technology, but not necessarily in engineering. He’d grown up mentored by the patent attorneys at his mother’s firm, making intellectual property law a natural fit, and he joined the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) after earning his law degree.
Rick spent the first three years of his legal career as a USPTO examiner—an experience that was truly foundational to his later work in patent prosecution. His time with the USPTO was an opportunity to see behind the curtain and understand how patent examiners think and operate, giving him an inside perspective on the application process and its challenges and timelines. Rick’s examiner experience prepared him to draft patent applications and office action responses that give clients the best chance possible of the results they need.
After his time at the USPTO, Rick joined an intellectual property boutique firm that later joined with Husch Blackwell. Today, he focuses his practice on patent prosecution, drafting applications and responding to rejections. While he has assisted solo inventors and smaller companies, Rick works primarily with major companies and household-name brands. He has represented clients in a wide variety of industries, including household appliances, plumbing, and various electronics, with a recent emphasis on medical devices and their electrical components.
Rick thrives on the excitement of working with inventors and representing companies on the forefront of the latest technology. He’s determined to help clients achieve the patent protection they need for their innovations.