Introduction

Rich is an international biofuels lawyer in Fredrikson & Byron’s Renewable Energy Group and is Chair of the Firm’s International Group. Rich assists clients with biofuels projects in the United States and overseas. His clients have relied on his expertise to successfully complete biofuels projects in over fifteen countries. Rich focuses specifically on contract matters, joint ventures, partnerships, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, technology licensing, and dispute resolution in the biofuels industry.

Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, Rich practiced in Puerto Rico, at an Italian firm in New York City and an American firm in Brussels.

Education

• University of Virginia, J.D., 1982
• Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Research for Doctoral Dissertation in Linguistics, 1978-1979
• University of Michigan, M.A., Linguistics, 1977
• Cornell University, B.A., Linguistics, 1976, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1986
• New York, 1985
• California, 1983

Practice Areas

• International, Chair
• Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Corporate
• Franchise
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Latin America Practice
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act & Anti-Corruption

Languages

• French
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Moderator, “Come Together: Successfully Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions,” 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop, Indianapolis, IN, June 28, 2011
• “Establishing Business Operations in Japan,” Biorefining Magazine, May, 2011
• Moderator, International BIOMASS Conference & Expo, May 2-5, 2011
• “Four Steps to a Successful Joint Venture in China,” FredNEWS: International, February 2011 (also published in the March 2011 issue of Biorefining Magazine)
• Moderator and Speaker, “Legal Issues in Exporting Clean Technologies,” Green Goes Global- International Opportunities for Minnesota Companies, April 13, 2010
• Speaker, Preparation of Present and Future Biofuel Feedstocks Webinar, March 17, 2010
• Speaker, World Services Group 8th Annual Meeting, Costa Rica, November 12-13, 2009
• Speaker, Resilient Brazil: Economic and Political Insight on Business Opportunities, November 3, 2009
• “Protecting Your Technology Overseas,” co-authored with Adonis Neblett, FredNEWS: International, September 2009
• “Risks and Challenges for Ethanol Projects Overseas,” 2009 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), Denver, Colorado, June 15-18, 2009
• “Getting Paid: Repatriating Funds from Your Foreign Biodiesel Customer,” Biodiesel Magazine, June 2009

  Speaker, The Advantage of Doing Business in Saskatchewan, May 21, 2009
• “Embarking on Manufacturing Projects Overseas,” FredNEWS: International, April 2009
• “Protecting Biodiesel Trade Secrets Overseas,” co-authored with Adonis Neblett, Biodiesel Magazine, June 2008
• “Resolving Disputes with Foreign Biodiesel Customers and Suppliers,” Biodiesel Magazine, February 2008
• “Risks and Challenges for Overseas Biodiesel Projects,” Biodiesel Magazine, December 2007
• “New Distribution Rules in the EU: Boiling Down the New Block Exemption,” International Business Law News, Spring 2000
• “Getting Your Money Home: Repatriating Funds From Your Foreign Franchisee,” Franchise Update 1, 1995
• “Worldwide Franchising of Restaurant Concepts: No Longer The New Frontier,” Restaurant Franchise Monitor, 1995
• “International Franchising,” Minnesota Business Opportunities, February, 1995

Professional Activities

• National Biodiesel Board
• International Franchise Association
• American Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• California State Bar Association
• American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Director
• Minnesota International Center, Director