Devin Ricci

• Intellectual Property

• Patent Litigation

Devin Ricci is a partner and registered patent attorney who advises companies on protecting, managing, and leveraging intellectual property in technology-driven markets. He guides clients through the full life cycle of innovation—from early-stage research and development through portfolio development, enforcement and defense of intellectual property rights, and strategic transactions involving intellectual property assets.

As part of Kean Miller’s multidisciplinary intellectual property team, Devin works closely with patent attorneys, trademark counsel, litigators, and technical professionals to coordinate litigation and portfolio strategy for companies whose success depends on innovation and brand protection. He works closely with executives, in-house counsel, engineers, and product teams on aligning intellectual property protection with broader business objectives, competitive positioning, and long-term growth. Devin’s practice spans a wide range of industries, including energy, manufacturing, industrial technologies, consumer products, and emerging technology sectors.

Intellectual Property Disputes and Enforcement

Devin serves as lead counsel in complex intellectual property disputes, representing clients in federal litigation involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and related technology rights. His litigation experience informs his broader portfolio counseling, allowing him to help companies anticipate enforcement risks, evaluate competitor activity, and develop strategies for protecting key technologies and brands.

He advises companies on enforcing intellectual property rights, defending against infringement allegations, and resolving disputes through negotiated licensing arrangements and other strategic solutions.

Intellectual Property Strategy and Portfolio Development

A central focus of Devin’s practice involves helping companies design and manage patent and trademark portfolios that support business strategy and product development. He counsels clients from the earliest stages of innovation through patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses that allow companies to evaluate risks and opportunities before investing significant resources in new technologies.

Devin also provides strategic opinions on non-infringement, validity, and strategic risk opinions, including targeted analyses that help companies evaluate competitor patent positions, assess potential infringement exposure, and determine whether to pursue enforcement, licensing, or design-around strategies.

Working with Kean Miller’s interdisciplinary patent team, Devin helps clients secure protection for their innovations through U.S. and international patent prosecution. He manages domestic filings, coordinates international protection through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, and assists companies in developing globally aligned patent portfolios that protect core technologies and support long-term growth.

Trademark and Brand Protection

Devin works with clients and colleagues across the firm’s intellectual property team on all aspects of trademark and brand protection, including clearance, registration, enforcement, and licensing. He helps companies develop and manage strong trademark portfolios and safeguard brand assets across domestic and international markets.

Intellectual Property Transactions and Commercialization

Beyond protection and enforcement, Devin advises companies on commercializing and maximizing the value of their intellectual property assets. His work includes structuring and negotiating licensing arrangements, advising on technology transfers, and assisting with intellectual property issues arising in acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions. He works closely with business leaders and transactional attorneys to ensure intellectual property assets are properly protected and leveraged in corporate transactions to support business objectives.

• Member, Baton Rouge Bar Association

• Member, Louisiana State Bar Association

• Member, American Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division, Past Chair; Intellectual Property Division; Committee on Science and Technology)

• Member, American Chemical Society

• Member, SoLa (Chair, Super Region Committee), 2019-Present

• Representation of an e-commerce platform and affiliated BBQ grill manufacturing entity in all matters of intellectual property as well as in a joint sale of businesses to a private equity group.

• Representation of an international oilfield operator in the defense of trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract claims related to software.

• Representation of an online marketing company in litigation alleging trade secret misappropriation, unfair trade practices, and breach of contract related to software.

• Representation of an artist in lawsuit asserting claims of copyright infringement against professional wrestler and international professional wrestling promotion entity.

• Representation of a major oilfield services provider in defense of allegations of patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and various business torts.

• Representation of a software development company in claims of trade secret misappropriation and unfair trade practices.

• Representation of a product manufacturer in trademark infringement litigation.

• Representation of publication companies in claims of copyright infringement related to advertisements.

• Representation of an engineering company in claims of copyright infringement.

• Representation of a national engineering company in response to allegations of trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement related to the use of schematics.

• Representation of numerous clients in the prosecution of patent rights in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including a national oil and gas company, chemical companies, nanotechnology companies, three Louisiana universities, a national oceanographic institute and research facility, a major hunting industry manufacturer, companies providing services to the oilfield and energy sector, a manufacturer of BBQ and grilling equipment, an off-shore rig company, start-up companies, and independent inventors.

• Representation of energy services company in asserting claims of patent infringement.

• Representation of numerous companies in trademark opposition work (both asserting and in defense) in front of the Trademark Trials and Appeals Board.

• Representations of toy manufacturer and separately an apparel company in claims of trade dress infringement.

• Representation of non-profit in claims of trademark infringement.

• Representation of collegiate test preparatory company in claims of copyright infringement and trade dress misappropriation.

• Representation of clients in the successful prosecution and maintenance of trademark applications in Louisiana, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and internationally through the Madrid Protocol and Madrid Agreement.

• Representation of clients in the successful prosecution and maintenance of patent applications in Louisiana, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and internationally through the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

• Representation of clients in the enforcement and defense of infringement actions by and against clients in the banking industry, oil and gas industry, recreational outdoors industry, and the hunting and outdoor recreation industry, for claims of patent infringement, trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement, among others.

• Conducted due diligence and drafted and negotiated IP contracts, including license agreements and contracts of sale or assignment, for clients of all sizes ranging from independent inventors to national corporations.

• Provided design around analysis and freedom to operate opinions on third-party patent rights for clients in numerous industries.

• Representation of startup companies in assessing and formulating strategies for addressing their IP needs, including the representation of an educational startup in trademark and copyright matters and the representation of a video game creator in copyright, trademark, and licensing matters.

• Representation of authors, artists, graphic designers, and poets in securing copyright registration.

• Representation of independent inventors in obtaining patent rights and the eventual sale and license of these rights to companies.

• Representation of a major oilfield company in litigation alleging trade secretion misappropriation, breach of contract, and various business torts.

• Represented clients in pipeline matters, including a global oil and gas company in negotiations and expropriation matters to obtain rights of way for large-scale pipeline project, a multi-national oil and gas company in negotiation of rights of way and construction agreements for installation and management of pipelines around its facility, and the conduction of a due diligence review for a multi-national oil and gas company’s pipeline assets to aid in creation of a commitment letter to obtain financing for a proposed project.

• Registered, monitors, and maintains international trademark portfolios in over 50 countries.

• Intellectual property due diligence in mergers and acquisitions.