Patricia R. Rich practices in the area of civil litigation, including complex commercial, business, intellectual property and healthcare litigations. Admitted to practice in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, Ms. Rich litigates multimillion-dollar business disputes, tort cases, intellectual property disputes and healthcare matters, including class actions. As a trial attorney, Ms. Rich represents a diverse range of clients in a wide variety of matters, including breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practice cases, trademark and patent and copyright infringement matters in both the state and federal courts. When appropriate, Ms. Rich assists clients in avoiding costly and protracted litigations by negotiating settlements, both directly and through alternative dispute resolution, and through strategic use of dispositive motions.

Ms. Rich is a member of the American, Massachusetts and Boston bar associations and the Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts. Ms. Rich is a 1998 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Master of Social Work) and a cum laude graduate of the University of Connecticut.

Representative Matters

Wyeth v. Apotex Inc., and Apotex Corp., Case No. 08-022308 (S.D. FL). Patent infringement action regarding Apotex's ANDA to make a generic version of Wyeth's anti-depressant product EFFEXOR® XR, the active ingredient of which is venlafaxine hydrochloride.
Part of trial team that contributed to Fortune 250 biotech company's success after a six-week jury trial wherein the client's valuable anemia drug related patents were found valid and infringed.
Represented a sales company in obtaining a favorable buyout resulting from a dispute over an exclusive distributor agreement.
Represented a national event organizing company in obtaining resolution of its breach of contract claim for failure to pay for services rendered and in avoiding multimillion-dollar fraud counterclaims.
Obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement for a network of healthcare providers during arbitration with third-party payor in dispute over claims.
Represent physicians, therapists, emergency room doctors, pathologists and other healthcare professionals in obtaining resolution of claims against commercial payors or health insurance providers related to the proper payment for health care services rendered.
Achieved dismissal of an action alleging breach of environmental cleanup provisions in a purchase and sale agreement for a commercial property for a national company.
Represented both minority and majority shareholders in connection with disputes over partnership dissolution and valuation.
Represented numerous clients as plaintiffs and defendants in Chapter 93A litigation involving allegations of unfair competition and deceptive trade practices.
Represented various financial institutions in litigation involving commercial loans, defaults and restructuring of debt.
Successfully obtained prejudgment attachment for financial institutions in commercial lending litigations.
Obtained injunction for major construction company in complex dispute related to large public works project involving millions of dollars, which was then used as leverage to negotiate resolution of the case.
Successfully defended clients in prejudgment attachment actions in cases involving breach of contract.
Obtained summary judgment for insurance company in coverage case involving misrepresentations in a life insurance policy.
Obtained dismissal for insurance company of claim for breach of contract regarding a disability insurance policy and used favorable ruling with respect to unfair and deceptive practices claim to obtain settlement which client found very favorable.
Represented several large public companies in patent infringement litigations.
Represented business development consulting company in copyright infringement matters, successfully and consistently shutting down infringing uses through effective advocacy without the necessity or expense of trial.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
Women's Bar Association
- Member of the Business Development Committee and Appointments, Awards & Endorsement Committee

Admissions

Connecticut
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Education

Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 1998
University of Hawaii, M.S.W., 1995
University of Connecticut, B.A., cum laude, 1991

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2007-present
- Associate, 2002-2006
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts
- Associate, 1998-2002

Civic and Charitable Activities

Participated in the Pan Mass Challenge, a two day, two hundred mile bicycle ride to raise money for cancer research, 2008 and 2009
Big Sister, 2000-present
Member of the Oversight Committee for the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, 2008-present
Member of Duane Morris LLP's pro bono committee

Selected Publications

Author, "Rising Above Marketing & Business Development Hurdles," Women's Bar Review, August 2008
Co-Author, "Automatic Disclosure Requirements in Federal Court -- Avoiding the Bite Behind the Bark," Boston Bar Journal, May/June 2004
Co-Author, "Beyond Materiality and Scienter: Strategies for Successfully Defending Securities Class Actions by Attacking Plaintiffs' Loss Causation and Damages Theories," Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Practicing Law Institute, New York, New York, Fall 2001
Co-Author, "High Technology Crimes," Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Seminar Manual, Boston, Massachusetts, Fall 1998

Selected Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Tips to Gain the Client's Confidence," Massachusetts Bar Association CLE seminar, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2, 2006
Panelist and Co-Organizer, "Wrongful Convictions: A Call to Action," Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 19-20, 2002