Rick’s representative matters since joining Axinn include the following:

• Serving as antitrust counsel for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), including successfully defending against Sherman Act claims in the Western District of Pennsylvania, and affirmed in the Third Circuit, as well as counseling regarding numerous hospital acquisitions since 2016. Most recently, Rick steered UPMC through investigations by the FTC and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in connection with the integration of Washington Hospital System.
• Played a principal role in getting Section 1 claims dismissed against Stanley Black & Decker in a matter involving collusion and standard setting activities.
• Representing a caustic soda manufacturer in class action cases brought by direct and indirect purchasers alleging price fixing and output reductions.
• Represented a biotech company in an action by a competitor and a class action involving standard setting conspiracy claims.
• Represented the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC) in the D.C. district court and D.C. Court of Appeals.
• Advocated on behalf of the Association of Dental Service Organizations before state boards and legislatures relating to potential anticompetitive rules, regulations, and enforcement actions.

While at the FTC, Rick's managerial responsibilities included advising the Bureau and the Commission on case merits, litigation risks and remedies. He has reviewed business conduct and proposed mergers in a broad range of industries, including technology, energy, food, entertainment, consumer goods, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and health care. Rick has been particularly active in matters involving the intersection of intellectual property and antitrust, including the FTC’s first forays into the non-disclosure of patents in standard setting (e.g., Dell, Rambus, Unocal), Hatch-Waxman/reverse payment cases (Hoechst-Andrx) and analysis of patent assertion entities.

Prior to joining the FTC, Rick served as counsel to the chairman and vice chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission and was a litigation associate in administrative law, antitrust and general litigation at Sidley & Austin in Washington, DC.