Rick L. Leitner

Rick Leitner is a partner in the firm’s Technology Transactions Group. His work focuses on intellectual property and technology transactions, including acquisitions, licensing, distribution, development and transfer, and commercial transactions involving software, hardware, Internet technologies and services, and associated intellectual property. He counsels on a wide range of areas related to the acquisition and use of technology and information, from international, regulatory and e-commerce matters to structural issues in corporate mergers and venture capital investments, including complex IP due diligence issues. Further, Rick’s experience handling and advising on intellectual property litigation for several years helps Rick to provide his clients with both foresight and well-rounded advice in transactional matters.

Rick's primary drive is to help his clients achieve their goals. By applying his understanding of legal and business issues, he works closely and efficiently with his clients to achieve success. Rick is a frequent speaker on intellectual property and licensing issues and has also served as an Adjunct Law Professor at Seattle University School of Law where he developed and, for several years, taught a course in International Intellectual Property. His clients cross many business sectors. Rick’s clients include technology companies as well as companies using IT to advance their businesses. He represents startups and established companies, including those in the Fortune 50. His clients include Microsoft and Clearwire.

Practice Highlights

• Act as lead or key counsel on a wide variety of high value, strategic deals, product development and commercialization initiatives, and IP licensing programs.
• Provide advice on distribution models and agreements to commercialize software, hardware, and related services, including cloud-based and Software as a Service (SaaS) models.
• Draft, negotiate, and help close hardware and software development, integration, and services agreements, including DAS systems and satellite and terrestrial mobile interactive media systems.
• Advise on open source software , including impacts to proprietary models and in merger and acquisition transactions.
• Develop and advise on inbound and outbound software licenses, including EULA and contractual privity issues and risk mitigation.
• Draft, negotiate, and advise on exclusive and non-exclusive patent licenses and covenants not to assert.
• Lead or provide key legal support for commercial transactions involving computer technologies, Internet and mobile applications, biomedical devices, patent, copyright, trademark trade secret rights, and e-commerce and outsourcing issues.