Ph.D. in Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin
M.A. in Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin
B.A. in Chemistry, Macalester College
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Registered Patent Agent
American Chemical Society (ACS): Member
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA): Member
Atlanta Bar: Affiliate Member, IP Section Affiliate Member
Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM): Member
Ph.D. Dissertation: The Mechanism of Action of Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis Initiation Factors: I. Comparison of the Factors Required for Translation of α- and β-hemoglobin mRNAs; II. Determination of the Amounts of Factors Bound to 40 S Ribosomal Subunits.
M.A. Thesis: In Vitro Rat Liver Mitochondrial DNA Repair: Examination of the Product Inhibition of Uracil-DNA Glycosylase and Demonstration of an Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease.
Undergraduate Thesis: In Search of the Golden Fleece – A Quest for the Total Synthesis of Phyllodulcin.
Rick spent over ten years in practice with law firms in Atlanta (ranging from traditional “big” law to a mid-size regional law firm and then to an Atlanta-based intellectual property boutique) before joining Innovators Legal. Bringing a breadth of experience not only as a legal practitioner but also as an entrepreneur, biochemist, chemist, educator, and inventor, Rick was inspired by the firm’s founding values of high-quality, innovative service. He brings to bear his full range of experience in support of the firm’s dynamic practice.
Rick has experience managing and prosecuting company patent portfolios, diligence efforts, deal sourcing, and licensing negotiations, both from an in-house position working with outside counsel and from the perspective of a legal practitioner advising clients from within a law firm environment. He has experience leading research programs in both the academic and industry worlds, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at leading research universities, and leading investment rounds for early-stage biopharma companies. His clients have included prominent universities and research hospitals, as well as early-stage and multi-national companies, where he has advised and managed complex patent portfolios.
Rick has drafted patent applications related to inventions in chemistry, including materials science, polymer science, pharmaceutical formulations, novel and repurposed drugs, and synthetic organic chemistry; biotechnology, including inventions related to human and animal health, as well as plant biotechnology; medical devices; software; and consumer products. He drafts and prosecutes U.S. patent applications, corresponds with foreign associates to guide the prosecution of foreign applications, provides strategic portfolio management to both U.S. and foreign clients, and develops patentability/FTO opinions.
Rick’s scientific and technical experience includes projects in biochemistry, molecular biology, synthetic organic chemistry, and polymer science. Rick has worked on and managed research programs in academia, industry, and start-up companies including basic research, pre-clinical development, and early clinical development. His research has ranged from synthesis of natural products, to small molecule drugs, to polymers, to protein translation, to membrane protein structure and function.
Rick is an experienced educator, having taught classes to both undergraduates and graduate students, including organic chemistry, molecular biology, and advanced laboratory methods protein research. He has also mentored students on patent matters for the Emory/Georgia Tech TI:GER program. Rick also mentors for the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience at Georgia Tech and frequently engages with graduate students and post-doctoral students one-on-one and formal seminars on transitioning from the research world to a career in intellectual property. He also has presented at national meetings and in webinars on patent concerns and strategy around drug repurposing, pharmaceutical development, and CRISPR technologies. During his time in academia, Rick was a co-PI on numerous grants, including R01 and P01 grants, as well as being awarded an individual NIH Postdoctoral NRSA grant, as well as various university research awards as both an undergraduate and graduate student.
Rick has authored numerous technical publications, including publications in Journal of Biological Chemistry, Nucleic Acids Research, Biochemistry, American Journal of Physiology, and Journal of American Society for Nephrology. In addition to his publication list, Rick has presented at a variety of regional, national and international conferences and meetings, including national meetings of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics Society, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, American Society for Nephrology, American Physiological Society, Banff Winternational Symposium on Membrane Proteins and Disease, Conference of the Membrane Biophysics Subgroup of the Biophysical Society, and International Dictyostelium Meeting. He is also a co-inventor on 14 issued U.S. patents relating to inventions comprising small molecule therapeutic agents.
Rick works with many university and academic clients, and he understands the complex needs and demands of university technology transfer and licensing. Rick is active in the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and frequently presents to university technology-transfer groups and at regional and national AUTM meetings.
Senior Associate (retained) – Anzu Partners
Senior Patent Agent – Thomas Horstemeyer
Patent Agent – Morris, Manning, & Martin
Patent Agent – Ballard Spahr
Co-Founder – ChemoCore Therapeutics
CEO and President – AIM Therapeutics
CSO – BioQuest Innovations
Technical Advisor – Troutman Sanders
Adjunct Faculty – Emory University School of Medicine
Director of Business Development – Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Faculty – Emory University School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellow – Emory University School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellow – The University of Texas at Austin
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