Rich Harper advises and litigates on behalf of some of the world's most sophisticated technology, media, and entertainment companies. With a proven track record of success managing complex risk issues, Rich is a trusted advisor to management teams and directors, aligning business and legal strategies to achieve success in high-stakes commercial litigation.
Rich leads litigation teams in business tort and breach of contract disputes, ranging from trade secret litigation to business defamation claims for clients such as PepsiCo and Formula 1 Racing. Within the business tort field, Rich has built a leading national practice in fiduciary duty and securities litigation, having represented the company and/or directors of Liberty Media, NASCAR, Starz, and Charter Communications.
His commercial dispute experience has also evolved into providing corporate governance and compliance counseling to boards of directors and corporate legal departments. Recently Rich's counseling practice has focused on corporate structuring and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
In addition to his client work, Rich dedicates his time to mentorship. He currently serves as the Partner-in-Charge of Baker Botts' New York office, and previously served as the New York office's Litigation Department Chair and Hiring Partner, as well as on the firm's Executive Committee. Coming from a family of teachers, Rich has spent the last decade teaching the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop at the University of Chicago Law School, a trial advocacy course for upper-level students. His lectures have ranged from expert witnesses to cross-examinations to closing arguments.