Overview
Richard "Rick" Harris, resident in the firm's Hartford office, chairs the firm's Technology, Telecommunications, and Outsourcing practice group. Rick concentrates on commercial transactions with special emphasis on intellectual property and technology issues. He is experienced in structuring, drafting documentation for, and negotiating a wide variety of contractual transactions, including licensing and transfer of technology and intellectual property, including copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks. Rick has advised software publishers, developers, integrators, distributors, computer and equipment manufacturers, service providers, biotechnology and life sciences companies, medical research organizations, joint ventures, authors, and inventors in the acquisition, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property and the negotiation of licenses and other transactions, including commercialization of university-developed technology and patents. He represents both licensors and licensees and others seeking rights to use and/or own third-party intellectual property rights. In addition, he regularly advises financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies, and other multinational companies in connection with their multiyear, multimillion-dollar IT and telecommunications services contracts, including outsourcing contracts.
Rick regularly lectures and writes on intellectual property and technology law topics relating to computer technology and technology outsourcing. Rick's presentations have included programs entitled "Technology Outsourcing in the Financial Services Industry: Contingency Planning a Contractual Approach to Managing Uncertainty" and "Negotiating Telecommunications Outsourcing Deals: Major Issues in Integrating Managed Services Agreements."
Rick is presently a director, secretary, and past chair, of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Connecticut, and is a director, secretary of the Connecticut Technology Council. Also, he is a past president of Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, CT.
Rick is a member of the Emerging Companies and Venture Finance group, which offers resources and a solution developed specifically for entrepreneurs and startups called Day Pitney Launch.
Experience
Negotiating, on behalf of a multibillion-dollar diversified industrial manufacturer with headquarters in Cleveland, OH, and advising senior management in connection with a range of multiyear, multimillion-dollar IT and telecommunications managed services arrangements covering locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim
Structuring and documenting a series of multiyear, multimillion-dollar off-shore IT and business process outsourcing arrangements on behalf of a Fortune 100 reinsurance company
Negotiation, on behalf of a multinational pharmaceutical company with headquarters in France, of the successful restructuring of a $100 million arrangement for managed data telecommunications services throughout the world
Negotiation, on behalf of a major research university, of the terms of acquisition for a custom-designed MRI system for use in its clinical research programs
Advising a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of instruments and related consumables and services used in the life sciences research on a series of development, patent license, and research collaboration agreements in the fields of drug discovery, genomics, and biochip analysis
Assisting a high-speed data communications and Internet access provider in developing its service level and privacy policies and in negotiating and documenting arrangements by which to market its services
Providing advice in connection with the structuring and negotiation of a joint venture and related agreements for the development and marketing of an educational information management software system to help school districts better utilize educational statistical information, including a wide range of software license, development, maintenance, and royalty agreements
Education and Credentials
Education
- University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., High Honors, 1990
- University of Pennsylvania, B.S.E., magna cum laude, 1983
Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- State of Connecticut
Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Computer Section
- Connecticut Bar Association, Committee on the Impact of AI on the Legal Practice
- International Technology Law Association
- University of Connecticut School of Law, Adjunct Professor, 1993-1994
- MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc., Chairman 1997-2003, Corporate Secretary 2005-Present, Director 1993-Present
- Connecticut Technology Council, Director 2006-Present, Corporate Secretary 2008-Present
- Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), IP Advisory Board, Member
- Better Business Bureau, Corporate Legal Counsel, 1999-Present
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Copyright Law, 2017-2025
Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Intellectual Property, 2007-2009, 2012-2021
Pricewaterhouse New York City, Management and Technology Consultant, 1983-1987
AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell (LexisNexis)
Community Involvement
Lawyers for Children America, Inc., volunteer, 1996-present; Regional Advisory Board, member, 2002-present
Congregation Kol Haverim, vice president and director, 2000-2004; president, 2004-2006; officer 2006-2008
Connecticut Audubon Society, director, 1994-1996
In The Media
Media Mention
- Connecticut Movers: Laterals to Two Top Firms, Connecticut Law Tribune, October 24, 2024
- Technology Partner Richard Harris Interviewed on AI on WTIC Radio, WTIC , November 10, 2023
- 7 Key Steps to Comply with California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Data Science Central, September 27, 2022
- Connecticut Entrepreneurs Forum? to Offer Community, Collaboration, and Connection for Connecticut's Entrepreneurs, Connecticut Entrepreneurs Forum?, November 15, 2021
- Are You Expecting PPP Loan Forgiveness? Don't Forget This Step, Forbes, May 28, 2020
- SBA PPP Loan Borrowers Be Warned: No Free Pass After SBA FAQ Issued, Forbes, May 27, 2020
- Does Your Business Need to Comply with the CALIFORNIA CONSUMER PRIVACY ACT (CCPA) effective January 1, 2020?, Day Pitney Press Release, January 2, 2020
- 3 Tips For Charging Up Your Firm's Social Media Practice, Law360, January 6, 2016
- Boutiques, Smaller Firms Set Pace For Social Media Law, Law360, December 2, 2015
- The Hard Lesson Everyone Should Learn from Peoria, Ill.'s Twittergate Scandal, Government Technology, September 11, 2015
Speaking Engagements
- Data Protection and Privacy, November 9, 2020
- IP in Corporate Transactions; Due Diligence; Licensing, July 27, 2020
Publications
- Hey, SPACs: Congress and the SEC Would Like a Word With You, Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Healthcare and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter, December 15, 2021