He has been representing technology companies in Silicon Valley, and globally, as an active participant in the Silicon Valley eco-system. He currently practices law as a member of the Emerging Growth / Venture Capital Group in the Silicon Valley office of Reed Smith LLP, a global law firm. Honored by his peers as a Northern California "IP Super Lawyer" and recognized in the International Who's Who of Internet and E-Commerce Lawyers 2009 as the "most highly nominated lawyer in the US", Richard has worked with a wide spectrum of domestic and international clients, from the classic "garage-based" start-up to Fortune 500 multi-nationals. He was a member of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to the Technology Transfer Office of the University of California, San Francisco, QB3 Project, and has participated in discussion groups and workshops advising non-US governmental agencies on best practices in establishing vibrant innovation eco-systems. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences in the US, Europe, India and Asia on the subject of the innovation economy and the development of entrepreneurial eco-systems. Several of these presentations can be seen on YouTube.
He mentors entrepreneurs through the E2I Academy (formerly Keiretsu Forum Academy), Draper University, US Market Access, Virtual Accelerator, and the Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative.
He is the founding co-chair of the annual Latitude59 Conference in Tallinn.
His practice includes counseling high technology companies in all stages of development on domestic and international issues, including venture capital financing, venture fund formation, corporate governance, international growth and development, securing, protecting and licensing intellectual property rights, supply and distribution relationships including antitrust and unfair competition considerations, and dispute resolution affecting technology driven industries. De Facto, a Finnish publication covering the Nordic legal community, labeled him "Mr. Consigliere" in recognition of his work as a close adviser to venture backed start-ups. He serves on the Advisor Board of a Berlin based venture fund, has assisted in the formation of several international venture funds, and works with international venture funds on investment transactions and special projects including M&A exits.
He has been a guest lecturer at Universities of Lausanne, Modena, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), University of San Francisco Graduate School of Management, Fuqua Graduate School of Business at Duke University, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Chalmers University Center for Intellectual Property (Goteborg), Webster University (Geneva), Swedish Institute of Management Executive Program (Stanford), Uppsala Executive MBA Program (Stanford), Catholic University of Argentina (Buenos Aires), International Institute for Innovation Journalism (Stanford), Center for American Legal Studies (Seoul) and the Center for International Legal Studies (Salzberg). He has also spoken at and chaired programs at a wide variety of industry conferences, such as the RSA Data Security Conference, SD Forum, SVASE, Tech Coast Angels Forum, Central Coast Angel Network, IP Society, Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development, Swedish Venture Capital Association, Danish Venture Capital Society, Silicon Valley Association Switzerland, Chalmers University Innovation Centre, Danish Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Innovation Centre, Innovationsbron, Finnpro, Wireless Alliance, Seoul National University Technology Innovation Network, Instituto de Tecnologia de Software (Sao Paolo), Handong Law School International Conference, California State Bar Association, Computers Freedom and Privacy Forum, ABDI, IFCLA, AIPLA, AEA, WIPO, ICC, IBA, ABA and the International Technology Law Association.
He has spoken at and chaired programs at a wide variety of industry conferences, such as the RSA Data Security Conference, SD Forum, SVASE, Tech Coast Angels Forum, Central Coast Angel Network, IP Society, Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development, Swedish Venture Capital Association, Danish Venture Capital Society, Silicon Valley Association Switzerland, Chalmers University Innovation Centre, Danish Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Innovation Centre, Innovationsbron, Finnpro, Wireless Alliance, Seoul National University Technology Innovation Network, Instituto de Tecnologia de Software (Sao Paolo), Handong Law School International Conference, California State Bar Association, Computers Freedom and Privacy Forum, ABDI, IFCLA, AIPLA, AEA, WIPO, ICC, IBA, ABA and the International Technology Law Association.
He is a Past President of the International Technology Law Association, served on the Executive Committee of the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of California, and has served on the Advisory Boards of Chalmers University Center for Intellectual Property, BNA Electronic Information & Policy Law Reporter, Vinnova-Stanford Center for Research in Innovation Journalism, International Institute for Innovation Journalism, I4J, MentoNet, the Technology Innovation Network at Seoul National University, H5 Technologies, Africa Technology Foundation, Applied Innovation Foundation and JOIN Capital.
He serves as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Estonia in Silicon Valley.
