Richard is a Registered Patent Attorney who focuses his practice on Intellectual Property Protection, Licensing and Commercialization; Technology Transfer for Universities and Research Centers; Formation and Growth of Technology Companies; and Debt and Equity Financing. He is Chair of the Intellectual Property & Emerging Technologies Practice and the Managing Shareholder of the firm's Northern Virginia office, which is strategically located near the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Innovation and entrepreneurship come naturally to Richard. In addition to over 30 years of experience as a patent and trademark attorney, Richard has been a director of two banks that were acquired, and is currently the Chairman of Freedom Bank of Virginia. Prior to joining Becker & Poliakoff, he was the founding shareholder of Litman Law, a boutique international intellectual property and technology law firm he founded 30 years ago near the USPTO in Northern Virginia. Over the years Richard grew the practice from a sole practice to 20 attorneys and patent practitioners and a staff of 60: Litman Law conducted more than 30,000 patent searches and obtained 5000 U.S. and foreign patents, as well as more than 500 trademark registrations. Combining his interest in business and finance, the practice evolved in recent years to an international practice representing research institutions, technology innovators and entrepreneurial companies.
Richard’s focus is on strategic intellectual property, business and regulatory representation relating to multinational development and commercialization of emerging technologies, particularly for regulated products such as medical devices, biotechnology, and agricultural products, innovations involving information, communications, financial and business processing, and energy, water and environmental technologies.
Activities and Memberships
Among other professional and business activities, Richard is a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Licensing Executives Society. He was Chair of the Patent Committee and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the DC Bar (Washington, DC) and Chair of the Economic Development Commission in Arlington, VA. Richard is the founder of the Global Academic Innovation Network, comprised of technology transfer and economic development experts worldwide.
Publications and Presentations
Richard lectures frequently on topics such as using global patent information and the international patent system to accelerate innovation, and models for multinational collaborative relationships. He has spoken at many universities in the Arabian Gulf including King Abdul Aziz University, King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals, King Faisal University, King Saud Abdul Aziz University for the Health Sciences, Imam Mohammad University, Kuwait University and the University of Bahrain. He was on the jury for the International Invention Fair for the Middle East, and spoke at the Licensing Executives Society (LES)-Arab Countries Licensing Opportunities Forum held in cooperation with the Bahrain World Economic Summit. He has authored many articles over the years on intellectual property topics.
Recognition
Richard is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of distinction. He is recognized for his achievements in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and in Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. The Pennsylvania State Senate recognized Richard for his "tireless efforts to benefit the community at large". He was also commended by President Clinton for his "deep concern about our future" and his "exemplary commitment to improving our world".