Patent attorneys are hired in the first 12-18 months of a company’s life when there is typically no intellectual property plan or patent roadmap. From being hired as a company’s legal counsel to formulate a patent strategy, to maintaining that relationship as a business partner to execute that patent plan, I have prided myself for over 25 years from my holistic vantage point as a business owner, scientist and engineer.
Rick Gregory has a global intellectual property practice with more than 25 years of experience in patent law, both in Texas and Silicon Valley, applying his education and working background as a former engineer, scientist, and business owner to create and execute patent portfolio strategies.
Representing start-ups, early-stage technology companies, emerging growth firms, multinational corporations, and companies involved in IPOs and mergers and acquisitions, Rick designs patent roadmaps from the ground-up stage of a formation strategy to the continuation of the company’s patent portfolio to be successful in the commercial marketplace.
His practice emphasizes all aspects of strategic development and management of worldwide patent portfolios, domestic and international patent preparation and prosecution, patent analysis, and IP counseling. He also provides litigation support to companies, such as patent analysis and competitive landscape analysis.
Rick assists clients in all industries, with significant experience in the electrical arts, mechanical, medical devices, and life sciences arenas. After working with companies to formulate a patent strategy – a major component of a company’s valuation - Rick’s clients typically need assistance in the areas of patent prosecution, licensing, processing, negotiating agreements, settlement agreements and term sheets, among other needs.
Before joining Adams and Reese, Rick ran his own IP boutique law firm, IPR Law Group, with offices in Austin, Houston, and Silicon Valley. His career in intellectual property law includes practice at the following Silicon Valley firms: Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati; Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman; and Perkins Coie.
Prior to practicing law, Rick held research and development positions with the United States Air Force and U.S. Navy as both a military officer and civil servant. Rick’s technical expertise includes research and development positions with early-stage medical device companies.
Rick is an accomplished pilot holding Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor certificates for Airplanes and Helicopters as well as numerous other FAA licenses. Rick also has extensive experience as a flight test engineer and flight test pilot.
In 1996, Rick earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law.
Rick has Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and systems management from the University of Southern California. He has Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia and in chemistry and biology from Florida State University.
