Princeton
609.987.6650 
610.371.7930 fax
rjp@stevenslee.com

Rick chairs the firm's Venture, Technology and Entrepreneurial Services Practices and is a member of its Corporate, Finance and Capital Markets Department. He represents public and private companies and non-profit entities in all phases of organization, financing and operations. He handles mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate governance issues, and negotiates complex commercial and licensing agreements for companies in the IT/software, Internet, pharmaceutical, medical device, health care, telecommunications, energy, real estate, manufacturing and a variety of other  industries.

Rick is an experienced intellectual property attorney and has assisted clients in planning and implementing commercial development, licensing and deployment of new technologies. He has negotiated some of the largest dollar value strategic alliances in the biotechnology field, and has assisted in the development of a unique worldwide licensing scheme for a new computer technology used in television broadcasting.

As part of his practice, Rick manages multi-million dollar financial transactions, including private placements, public offerings, bond issues and bank financings. He represents both U.S. and foreign-based private equity and venture capital funds, banks and investment banks in connection with investment related transactions. He is also recognized as a mentor and facilitator of entrepreneurship, whether for new companies or for new projects within larger organizations, and helps coordinate legal, business and financial services necessary for growth.

Rick also serves as a senior advisor for technology based deals for the firm's investment bank affiliate, Griffin Financial Group, LLC. Making use of resources from both the law firm and the investment bank, Rick recently founded and heads Griffin Technology Partners, a virtual innovation fund focused on funding and developing promising emerging technologies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Education:
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1978
Yale University, B.A., cum laude, 1975

Bar Admissions:
New Jersey

Court Admissions:
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Tax Court

Selected Publications:

• Pinto, Richard J., and Marsha E. Novick. "Using Industry Knowledge and Experience to Advise Life Sciences Companies." Life Sciences Client Strategies. Aspatore Books, 2008.

• Is Your Company Ready for Venture Capital?

• Business Plan Basics

• Assembling and Using an Advisory Board
• Protect Your Intellectual Property
• Employee Incentive Plans for Emerging Companies

 

Selected Speaking Engagements:

• “Avoiding 7 Deadly Sins for Growing and Selling Your Business” – New Jersey Technology Council – January 2008, NJEDA forum – April 2009

• “Cross Border Issues for Investment” – Licensing Executives Society of NY/ Canadian Consulate forum – January 2008

• “Capital Efficiency – Doing More with Less” – New Jersey Technology Council – January 2009

• “Raising Money via Corporate Partnerships versus Venture Capital” – MIT Enterprise Forum / Canadian Consulate forum - January 2008

• “The Top 10 Legal Mistakes Made by Entrepreneurs” – New Jersey Entrepreneurs Forum – January 2009

• “Financing Your IT Business” – New Jersey Technology Council – February 2009

• “Growing a Successful Green Business – Success Stories of Natural Capitalism” – New Jersey Entrepreneurs Network – April 2009

• "Planning for Your IPO." New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network, 2001.

• "How to Work with a Financial Advisor." New Jersey Business Forum, 2001.

• "How to Negotiate a Venture Capital Term Sheet." New Jersey Entrepreneurs Forum, 2002-2007.

• "How to Succeed in Winning Government Contracts." New Jersey Technology Council, 2002.

• "What Venture Capitalists Want – Today." New Jersey Business Forum, 2002.

• "How to Avoid Seven Deadly Deal Mistakes Made by Emerging Life Science Companies in Dealing with Large Partners." MedVestors 2003-2004; NJAngels.Net, 2005; BioStrategies Partners, 2006.

• "Finders and Brokers Agreements." New Jersey State Bar Association, 2003.

• "New Developments in Technology Transfer." New Jersey Technology Council, 2003.

• "IT/Software Business Models That Work." New Jersey Technology Council, 2003.

• "Service Level Agreements." New Jersey Technology Council, 2004.

• "Building a Team of Strategic Advisors." New Jersey Entrepreneurs Forum, 2005.

• "Going Public by Reverse Merger – Pros and Cons." New Jersey Technology Council, 2005.

• "Making Your Company Bankable." New Jersey Technology Council, 2005.

• "What's Next in IT." New Jersey Technology Council, 2005 -2006.

• "Investment Trends for Emerging Growth Technology Sector." New Jersey Technology Council, 2006.

• "Strategic Alliances – How to Make the Pharm Team." New Jersey Technology Council, 2006.

• "How to Avoid Seven Deadly Sins in Seeking Venture Capital." BioStrategies Partners, 2006.

• "What Life Science Companies Want from IT Companies." New Jersey Technology Council, 2006.

• "Consumer Payment Choices – Payment, Security and Compliance." New Jersey Technology Council, 2006.

• "How to Get Venture Capitalists to 'Show You the Money.'" New Jersey Technology Council, 2007.

• "Exit Strategies: What IT Buyers Want." New Jersey Technology Council, 2007.

• "What's Next in IT: Pharma, Finance, Automation, Logistics." New Jersey Technology Council, 2007.

• "Annual Survey of IT/Software Law and Finance." New Jersey Technology Council, 2007.

• "How to Avoid Seven Deadly Sins in Building a Software Business." New Jersey Technology Council, 2007.

• "Successes and Obstacles in BioEnergy." The Green Economy – BioEnergy Forum 2007.

• "Using Boards and Advisory Boards." The BioScience Collaborative, 2007.

Professional Associations/Civic Affiliations:
Griffin Financial Group, Senior Advisor, Life Sciences & Technology
Griffin Technology Partners, Founder
Einstein's Alley Collaborative
Canada's Top Technology Companies Program Advisor, 2008-present
New Jersey Technology Council, Board, 2002-present
NJTC IT/Software Advisory Board, 2002-present
NJTC Venture Conference Exhibitor Workshop, Organizer & Leader, 2007-present
New Jersey Entrepreneurs Forum, Board, 1996-present
JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network, Board, 2007-present
New Jersey State Bar Association, Board, Corporate and Business Law Section, 1999-present
NJSBA, Chair, Life Sciences Practice Committee, 2007-present
Co-Editor of NJSBA "Corporate and Business Law" newsletter, 2004-present
Assoc. for Corporate Growth, Charter member of NJ Chapter, 2004-present
TIE, Charter Member of New Jersey/Philadelphia Chapter, 2007-present
Computer Law Association
National Health Lawyers Association
American Bar Association, Business and Intellectual Property Law Sections
Eastern Technology Council
New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network, Advisor
Pennsylvania BIO
Biotechnology Council of New Jersey (BioNJ)
BioStrategies Partners, Advisor
Advisory Board member for several private companies
Institutional Review Board of the Medical Center at Princeton, 1983-2000
Princeton Tennis Program, Chairman of the Board, 1994-2004
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, Board Member, 1992-1998