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Overview

Clients facing high-risk, high-stakes litigation turn to Rick to help develop winning strategies that preserve and enhance corporate value.

Rick is a member of the Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation group and has significant experience as lead counsel in all aspects of litigating through arbitration and federal and state courts. He has the leadership capabilities to successfully handle clients’ matters from the initial filing or defense of a lawsuit through trial and, when necessary, successfully preserving wins on appeal. 

Being the product of a NASA rocket scientist, Rick naturally enjoys technical subject matter and is deeply passionate about applying ingenuity to solve problems. He enjoys overseeing major cases and will dive deeply into a case to develop a winning strategy. In the courtroom, Rick is known for his enthusiasm as well as his ability to translate complex issues into simple solutions and arguments. Rick also brings his personal experience as having once been a client to his everyday practice, understanding how disruptive litigation can be all while looking for the most efficient and cost-effective resolution for his clients. Rick is often clients’ call of first resort when trouble or opportunity emerges.

Rick’s practice involves complex litigation, and he has success litigating matters involving class actions, shareholder disputes, investor disputes, director and officer liability, fiduciary liability, commercial contract disputes, consumer litigation, employment, product liability, premises liability, personal injury, regulatory and governmental investigations, catastrophic loss, life sciences, cyber law, construction and design litigation, as well as real estate litigation. Rick also represents regulated and licensed professionals in litigation as well as before licensing boards in matters relating to accountant malpractice, legal malpractice, insurance producers and brokerage firm liability, adjusting firm liability, real estate brokers, and financial service firms. He understands how to frame and situate litigation within the larger realm of business concerns and navigates clients through the complexities of how and when to resolve matters at all stages clients may find themselves in a dispute.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • President’s Award, Houston Bar Association, 2016-2017
  • President’s Award, Houston Bar Association, 2019-2020
  • President’s Award, Houston Bar Association, 2020-2021
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Thomson Reuters’ Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012-2021
  • Thomson Reuters' Texas Super Lawyers, 2022-2023
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100

Education

  • J.D., Baylor Law School
  • B.B.A., Baylor University
    • Hankamer School of Business

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Texas Bar Foundation, Nomination Committee
  • The College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association, Ambassador
  • Houston Bar Association Bench Bar Conference Committee, Co-Chair
  • Houston Bar Association CLE Committee, Co-Chair
  • Houston Bar Association, Fee Dispute Committee, Administration of Justice Committee, Membership Committee, Bench Bar Conference Committee, CLE Committee
  • American Bar Association
  • American Bar Association YLD Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee, Chair
  • ACA International, Members’ Attorney Program (MAP)
  • Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
  • ACA of Texas, Past Board President
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience
  • Litigated and resolved multi-million-dollar international arbitration dispute involving oil well commissions relating to production on Venezuelan oil wells involving CNPC.
  • Successfully defended at trial and appeal multi-million dollar suit against a Texas law firm relating to factoring agreements and mezzanine loans.
  • Obtained summary judgment on a suit exceeding $10,000,000.00 against a client involving a Galveston hotel sustaining catastrophic hurricane damage.
  • Successfully defended and resolved multi-million-dollar breach of fiduciary duty suit against Texas probate law firm relating to trust assets contained in a portfolio of terrestrial radio stations throughout Texas.
  • Obtained defense verdict at arbitration and on appeal relating to a suit lodging legal malpractice claims exceeding $80,000,000.00 against a Texas law firm originating from trust fund litigation for a prominent Dallas oil heir.
  • Successfully defeated federal class certification for a national debt servicing company.
  • Defended and resolved litigation relating to a multi-million dollar acquisition of a motorcoach manufacturer.
  • Obtained a defense verdict in a product liability suit relating to products manufactured by a recreational vehicle and camper manufacturer.
  • Obtained defense verdict in a multi-party personal injury suit in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
  • Successfully defended and resolved federal litigation against corporate directors and c-suite executives relating to foreign investor's attempted to take over a biotech company following approval of its Tissue Regenerating and Antimicrobial Polymers through convertible notes.
  • Successfully defended and resolved multi-million dollar investor suit claiming violations of the Texas Securities Act and Texas Stock Fraud Statute against corporate officers and directors relating to fundraising for company producing artificial heart device.
  • Obtained defense verdict against a $60,000,000.00 personal injury suit against GE Selmer relating to multiple plaintiffs claiming serious burn injuries caused by an electrical arc flash.
  • Obtained arbitration award for consulting firm client through the American Arbitration Association.
  • Defended and resolved multi-million dollar claim against management consulting firm brought by a distressed oil field services company in Odessa, Texas.
  • Obtained dispositive defense ruling and upheld the same on appeal relating to a $90,000,000.00 tax strategy suit against Tennessee based Financial Strategy group and BDO.
  • Successfully defended the reputations and licenses of numerous attorneys before the Texas State Bar.
  • Successfully defended the reputations and licenses of numerous certified public accountants before the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
  • Defended Texas Attorney General civil investigative demands against mortgage servicing company.
  • Obtained summary judgment for construction company relating to failed fire sprinkler system causing significant water damage to a Houston hospital.
  • Defended state court and arbitration claims relating to multiple millions of dollar of claimed damages relating to windows installed at the Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas.
  • Successfully defended and resolved multiple multi-million-dollar suits relating to construction and water penetration against client involved in the construction of multiple multi-family inner loop projects in Houston, Texas.
  • Successfully resolved multi-million-dollar suit in arbitration against construction project management company for commercial property in Houston, Texas.
  • Successfully resolved litigation and claims against CPA firm relating to services provided involving offshore captive insurance networks.
  • Obtained defense ruling on multiple Anti-Slaap motions in lawsuits lodged against non-profit board members.
  • Obtained defense rulings and attorney fee awards on multiple 91a motions to dismiss in lawsuits filed against non-profit board members.
  • Defended and resolved multiple suits exceeding $10,000,000.00 in claimed damages brought in state and federal court against client relating to San Antonio military base construction project and surety bonds issued.
  • Defended and quickly obtained dismissal of litigation against real estate investment company for claims relating to a real estate transaction exceeding $90,000,000.00.
  • Successfully defended and resolved multiple lawsuits involving multimillion-dollar Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act claims.
  • Successfully defended and resolved litigation exceeding $14,000,000.00 against CPA firm that prepared 10Q reports for a Dallas, Texas mortgage company.
Community Leadership
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – State Executive Board Chairman
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – State Executive Board President
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – Houston Executive Board President
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – Houston Executive Vice President
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – Houston Executive Secretary
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – Gala Chairman
  • Epilepsy Foundation of Texas – Stroll Committee Co-Chair
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association – Gala Silent Auction Committee