Biography
Richik is a courtroom advocate, boardroom strategist, and collaborative leader with more than two decades of experience representing directors, executives, and management teams of middle-market and Fortune 1000 companies. His practice centers on high-stakes commercial and class action defense, data privacy and governance, and serving as outside general counsel to entrepreneurs and growth enterprises. Recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer®, one of The Best Lawyers in America®, and a 2025 Crain’s Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney, Richik combines courtroom advocacy with boardroom strategy to deliver results that protect companies and their leaders, Specifically, Richik provides:
Proven Success in Complex Litigation: Richik directs high-stakes commercial and consumer litigation across the country for Fortune 1000 companies, middle-market businesses, and their suppliers, leveraging deep industry knowledge and strong relationships within the legal and judicial communities.
Strategic Data Privacy & Governance Advisor: As a former Chief Privacy Officer, Richik helps organizations navigate evolving data privacy regulations, manage compliance, and strengthen governance frameworks. He counsels boards and executives on activist investor challenges, ESG obligations, risk management, and incident response. To do this, Richik leads cross-functional teams, uncovers the root causes of compliance problems, and connects clients with capital, partnerships, and growth opportunities. His practice reflects a commitment not only to winning cases but to strengthening long-term client resilience and success.
Broad Industry & Regulatory Knowledge Deployed to Tailored Solutions to Businesses: Licensed across multiple states and experienced in federal courts nationwide, Richik provides the geographic reach and regulatory fluency needed to support clients with national operations, particularly in consumer-facing markets and their supply chains, allowing him to deliver practical, business-oriented strategies aligned with client objectives.
Advocate • Strategist • Leader: At every stage—whether defending bet-the-company litigation, structuring governance frameworks, or guiding entrepreneurs—Richik serves as an advocate in the courtroom, a strategist in the boardroom, and a leader dedicated to client success.
In short, Richik leverages his experience and network to deliver bespoke commercial judgment, legal intelligence, and strategic solutions that safeguard client interests and create lasting business value.
Education
- Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1998)
- University of Michigan (M.S.W., 1994)
- University of Michigan (B.A., 1993)
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Affiliations/Memberships
- Law360 Privacy & Consumer Protection Editorial Advisory Board, 2017
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), fellow, 2017
- LCLD Fellows Alumni Executive Council, Outreach Committee vice-chair, 2018–2019; chair, 2019–2020, Advocacy Committee vice-chair, 2020-2021; chair, 2021-2022
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, member
- South Asian Bar Association of North America, member
- South Asian Bar Association of Ohio, President
- Asian American Bar Association of Ohio, Board member
- Eighth District Judicial Conference, lifetime member
- William K. Thomas Inn of Court
- Secretary/treasurer (2007 - 2008)
- Executive Committee, member at large (2005 - 2007)
- American Bar Association, member
- Fellow
- Business Law Section; administrative director, Cyberspace Law
- Business Law Section; administrative director, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, member
- Board of Trustees (2011 - 2014)
- Fellow
- Ohio State Bar Association, At-Large delegate to Council of Delegates (2007 - 2009)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee, Steering Committee
- Internal Investigations & Regulatory Litigation, Chair
- Greater Cleveland Partnership
- Government Affairs Council
- Middle Market Committee
- Equity & Inclusion Division - Board member
- 50 Club of Cleveland
- Leadership Cleveland 2015 Class vice president
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Cleveland prime member
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (2021)
Distinctions
- "Crain's Cleveland Business, "Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys 2025"
- Crain’s 2022 Notables in Law
- Lawyers of Color’s Nation's Best List (2019)
- "Who to Watch in Law," Crain's Cleveland Business (2016)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2021 - present)
- Ohio Super Lawyers (2012 - present)
- Business Litigation (2021)
- Consumer Law
- Appellate, Civil Litigation: Defense, Banking, and General Litigation
