Rick McDermott is a partner in the Intellectual Property – Litigation Group. Rick concentrates his practice on complex intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark, copyright and other technology disputes. In addition, Rick counsels clients regarding obtaining, protecting, licensing, and enforcing intellectual property. He also is experienced in the preparation and prosecution of patents in the electrical and electromechanical fields.

Rick has litigated a wide variety of patent, trademark, and copyright cases through discovery, trial and appeal in numerous courts through the United States. He has litigated patent, trademark and copyright infringement actions in the United States District Courts in California, Texas, Virginia, New York, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. His patent infringement cases have covered such subjects as ultrasound imaging equipment, cellular products and systems, digital imaging technology, direct broadcast satellite systems, electronic maintenance data collectors, plasma arc torches and electrodes, turbulence detection systems, gyratory compactor equipment for the asphalt industry, space dyeing machines, conveyor roller equipment, yarn dyeing equipment, and food purification processes. He also has experience in the fields of carbon nanotubes, wireless transmission of digital information, system authentication and security, and electronic payment and pre-pay systems.

Rick is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. He is a frequent author and speaker regarding developments in Intellectual Property Law. He is co-author of the “Selected Intellectual Property Law Developments” column appearing monthly in the Electronic Banking Law and Commerce Report. Rick is a regular lecturer on Intellectual Property Law at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.

Rick has served as president of the National Board of Directors of the Marquette University Alumni Association and currently is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Marquette University College of Engineering and also a member of the Marquette University Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors. The Marquette University Law School Alumni Association honored Rick in 2003 with the Howard B. Eisenberg Award (formerly the recent Alumnus of the Year Award). Rick is a member of the Young Leaders Council and the Youth Education Council of the United Way of the Carolinas, and is a regular volunteer with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National MS Society named Rick the 2004 Volunteer of the Year. In 2005 and 2006, Rick chaired the Alston & Bird Charlotte office campaigns for the United Way of the Carolinas and the Arts & Science Council. He is also is the chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee for the North Carolina offices.  Rick was selected by the Charlotte Business Journal as a "40 Under 40" winner for 2007.

Rick received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Marquette University in 1991 and his J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 1994. He is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and many United States District Courts.