Background

Rick represents his clients in nearly every aspect of intellectual property law, including prosecution, litigation, licensing, and post-grant proceedings.

Prosecution

Patents: Rick leverages his training as an electrical engineering, his background in Navy cryptology, and his litigation expertise to prepare and prosecute patent applications in a wide range of technology fields, including: cryptocurrency, blockchain, machine learning, augmented reality, VTOL aircraft, drones, computer architecture, railroad technology, and control systems, among others. He also counsels his clients regarding their international intellectual property portfolios and serves as “outside” in-house IP counsel. His clients rely on him to draft Freedom-to-Operate and Non-Infringement opinions, as well as conduct and analyze patentability searches.

Trademarks: Rick leverages his creativity, as a former musician, and litigation experience to prepare and prosecute trademark applications before the USPTO. His trademark clients rely on him to conduct and analyze trademark and knock-out searches.

Copyright: Rick’s real-world work experience as a software coder and his musical background inform his filing of copyright registration applications and responding to copyright registration refusals from the U.S. Copyright Office.

Litigation

Bolstered by his prosecution expertise, Rick also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in the litigation of patents and trademarks in Federal Court.  While in-house, he managed concurrent international patent litigation in several countries, including Germany, China, France, and Italy.

Licensing
Rick drafts and negotiates licenses and other agreements, such as patent license agreements, trademark license agreements, acquisition agreements, non-disclosure agreements, joint-development agreements, and common-interest agreements. He also represents clients in the entertainment industry, by drafting copyright assignment agreements and copyright license agreements, among others. Additionally, Rick applies his copyright knowledge to help clients legally and technically analyze Open Source Software (OSS) requirements and ensure compliance with various licenses, as well as establish OSS policies and procedures.

Post-Grant Procedures

Rick represents clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in Inter Partes Review, Reexamination, and Appeal proceedings. He also represents clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in Cancellation and Opposition proceedings.

Technical Background
As an electrical engineer, Rick designed and commercialized signal processing and communication systems at companies such as Raytheon and SAIC. He has served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a cryptologic officer, after having been selected for Direct Commission as an enlisted cryptologic petty officer – prior to which he was enlisted Army.

Awards & Recognitions

Recognized as “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers rating service for 2023.

Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers rating service for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Named by IAM Magazine as IAM Strategy 300 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists for 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022.

Named by IAM Magazine as an IAM Strategy 300 Global Leader for 2022.

Voted as one of the Top Attorneys in Fort Worth by Fort Worth Magazine every year since 2017.

Voted as one of the Top Attorneys by 360 West Magazine every year since 2020.

Award for Outstanding Leadership Contribution, American Bar Association – Section of Intellectual Property Law.

Recipient of the Raytheon Achievement Award.

Recipient of the Klipsch Electrical and Computer Engineering Scholarship.

 

Areas of Practice

Intellectual Property
-Litigation
-Patents
-Trademarks
-Copyrights

Associations & Memberships

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Fellow

State Bar of Texas, IP Law Section, Member, 2013-Present, Membership Committee Chair, Present

TechFW, MCrew, Mentor, 2021-Present

Texas Bar College, Member, 2020

Leadership ISD, Fellow, 2017-2018

Eldon G. Mahon American Inn of Court, Barrister, 2017-2020

Tarrant County Bar Association, IP Section, Vice-Chair, 2012-2013, Treasurer, 2011-2012, Member, Present

The Honorable Barbara M. G. Lynn American Inn of Court, Associate, 2013-2015, Pupil, 2012

Child Care Associates, Board Member – 2018, Board Vice Chair – 2019

The Order of Barristers

Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity

Kappa Sigma Fraternity

 

Publications & Presentations

Survey of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies and their legal implications and considerations, differentiating between the two, Speaker, Fort Worth City Club “Lunch and Learn” meeting, 2022

Intellectual property concepts important to be aware in various contexts involving agricultural law. Discussion on the differences in these three protections, when each are used, and what must be done to qualify., Speaker, IP Protection for the Agricultural Industry, Ag Law in the Field Podcast, Episode #76, Law, Agriculture, 2020

A discussion of developments, tactics, challenges, and considerations lawyers and clients should consider when initiating or defending foreign enforcement campaigns., Speaker, Global Trends in Enforcement, University of Texas School of Law 24th Annual Advanced Patent Law Institute, Intellectual Property, 2019

Interactive panel exploring the different ways to secure legal protection for your creativity and innovation., Speaker, Protecting Creativity and Innovation, Global Entrepreneurship Week * FW TX, Entrepreneurs, 2019

 


Ones To Watch - Lawyer Logo

 

Education

Juris Doctor, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law

Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Minor in Mathematics, New Mexico State University

Bar/Court Admissions

Texas Bar

Registered Patent Attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

 

8/15/24

Enrique (Rick) Sanchez named to 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Best Lawyers announced that Enrique (Rick) Sanchez, Jr. has been chosen by his peers to be recognized again in the...
3/23/23

Enrique “Rick” Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2023 TEXAS RISING STAR

Enrique “Rick” Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2023 TEXAS RISING STAR The selection process for the Rising Stars...
8/19/22

Enrique (Rick) Sanchez named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

Best Lawyers announced on August 18, 2022, that Enrique (Rick) Sanchez, Jr. has been chosen by his peers to be...
3/22/22

Enrique “Rick” Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2022 TEXAS RISING STAR

Enrique "Rick" Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2022 TEXAS RISING STAR The selection process for the Rising Stars...
9/2/21

Rick Sanchez was named to the IAM Strategy 300

Rick Sanchez was named to the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, which identifies the individuals who are...
1/11/21

Rick Sanchez named to inaugural IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders guide for 2021

Rick Sanchez named to the inaugural IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders guide for 2021. The IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders...
3/6/20

Enrique “Rick” Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2020 TEXAS RISING STAR

Enrique "Rick" Sanchez recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2020 TEXAS RISING STAR The selection process for the Rising Stars...
11/25/19

Rick Sanchez – Global Entrepreneurship Week featured panelist

Rick Sanchez was a featured panelist at the Global Entrepreneurship Week discussion on intellectual property, hosted by Texas A&M University...
8/30/19

Whitaker Chalk represented a privately held animal pharmaceutical company

Vernon Rew, Tom Brandon, Clark Cowley, Tim Harvard, Rick Sanchez, Jessica Lavely, and Tave Parker Doty represented a privately held...
3/29/18

Rick Sanchez Delivers Keynote to Leadership ISD

On March 28, 2018, Rick Sanchez provided the keynote address at an invitation-only event for Leadership ISD. The purpose of...