Alice Richey’s practice is focused on litigating and resolving business matters for her clients. She has tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict in state and federal courts, represented clients in arbitration proceedings, and participated as an attorney and mediator in state and federal court mediations. Alice has extensive appellate experience representing clients before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is certified as a mediator by the Dispute Resolution Commission for the State of North Carolina and is a member of the American Arbitration Panel of Commercial Arbitrators.
Alice regularly represents clients in claims involving business torts, including fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, commercial disparagement, false advertising, privacy, right of publicity, and unfair and deceptive trade practices; contractual claims arising from a variety of business relationships and transactions, including disputes among members of closely-held corporations, partnerships, and franchise systems; and employment claims involving covenants not to compete, trade secrets, and non-solicitation agreements.
Alice has extensive experience in all aspects of trademark and copyright law, having represented numerous parties in trademark and copyright litigation in North Carolina and in federal courts nationwide, as well as regularly representing clients in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Education
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, JD with honors, 1986
- Note and Comment Editor, North Carolina Law Review
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA with highest honors, 1982
- Amherst College, 1977-1979
Admissions
- All North Carolina state courts
- United States District Courts for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Recognition
- Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
- Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyers List (2021, 2023)
- Top 50 Women North Carolina Super Lawyers List (2006 - 2023)
- Top North Carolina Solo Law Firm Super Lawyers List (2013, 2014)
- Top 25 North Carolina Super Lawyers List (2019)
- Top 25 Charlotte Super Lawyers List (2019, 2020, 2023)
- North Carolina Super Lawyers List, Business Litigation (multiple years)
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation (multiple years)
- Named Charlotte Litigation - Intellectual Property "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America (2018)
- Listed in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" for Litigation (multiple years)
- Included in Benchmark Litigation Top 250 Women in U.S. Litigation (multiple years)
- Listed as "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation (multiple years)
- Charlotte Business Journal, Women in Business Achievement Award, 1999
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Legal Services for the Elderly, 2005
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society (multiple years)
Professional Organizations
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law Alumni Association Advancement Committee
- International Trademark Association, Member of Amicus Committee, 2005-2006
- Mecklenburg County Bar, Executive Committee, 1991-1994; Law & Society Committee, 2012-2014; Ayscue Professionalism Award Committee (2015 – 2018)
Alice is a Charlotte native and has deep ties to the community. Prior to joining Alexander Ricks PLLC in May 2016, Alice was a partner at Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP (now K&LGates) and Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP. She also had a solo litigation practice for over four years.
Community Involvement
- Legal Aid of North Carolina, Volunteer, 1986-present
- United Way of Central Carolinas, Board of Directors, 2010-2015
- Family Support Center, Board of Directors, 1992-1995
Representative Experience
- Representation of franchisor in multi-state proceedings involving claims of fraud, violations of federal and state franchise laws, and breach of franchise agreement
- Representation of international tool manufacturer in connection with multiple actions nationwide to enforce a trademark color registration
- Representation of telecommunications company regarding breach of fleet leasing agreement
- Representation of national sales company in action against former employee for violation of covenant not to compete, interference with contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets
- Representation of limited liability company in action against member for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of confidentiality agreement, and breach of non-solicitation agreement
- Representation of national entertainment production company in multiple actions to enforce trademark registrations
- Representation of industrial machine parts manufacturer with respect to infringement of copyrights protected under the Berne Convention and misappropriation of trade secrets
- Representation of foreign banking company in claims of fraud and violations of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act arising out of equipment financing agreements
- Representation of automobile parts supplier in claims for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of exclusive license agreement, and unfair and deceptive trade practices
- Representation of national manufacturer regarding claims for false advertising and defamation