Rick Bold handles complex, high-stakes trial and appellate business litigation, specializing in contract, fraud and business tort matters.  He has represented a wide range of clients, from Fortune 50 corporations to individuals, as plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts.

Rick was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers from 2017-2021.

He holds numerous leadership roles outside of his legal practice. Currently, Rick serves as the Vice President of the Federalist Society’s Atlanta Lawyers Chapter and as an Elder and the Clerk of the Session at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. He recently completed service as the Chairperson of the $13+ billion Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Before joining the firm, Rick served as a law clerk to Judge J.L. Edmondson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. 

He received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he won the school’s most prestigious moot court competition and where he served as an editor of the Law Review, President of the Federalist Society and was a member of Penn’s United States Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. 

Rick received his Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and economics, magna cum laude, from Davidson College.  He also received a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated near the top of his class.

Representative Work

Regularly represent Atlanta-based Fortune 50 retailer in business tort and contract disputes involving the Company’s many supplier relationships.

Obtained federal court dismissal and transfer of insurance company’s tactical attempt to litigate a coverage dispute in the Northern District of Georgia instead of in the defendant entities’ and individuals’ home state. After MTD briefing and a Zoom hearing, the Court granted dismissal both because the Court lacked personal jurisdiction and because the insurer filed the case in the “wrong” venue.

Obtained federal court dismissal of activists’ claims of an alleged nationwide RICO scheme against a Georgia retailer in the Northern District of Georgia. Rick then argued the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and expanded the victory to a complete dismissal with prejudice of all claims.

Successfully defended California-based food distributor in the Northern District of Georgia against claim for breach of a supply agreement and attorneys’ fees. After our client filed its Motion to Dismiss, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case without any payment from our client, and the parties entered into a new mutually beneficial contract.

Regularly represent multi-national technology company in a series of product liability and/or warranty disputes in Georgia state and federal courts involving its products.

Successfully represented financial technology company in a series of restrictive-covenant lawsuits on both the plaintiff’s and defense sides, achieving desired business resolution against a competitor.

Successfully led 28 U.S.C. § 1782 action to obtain documents revealing secret ownership of Bahamian securities trading company on behalf of Russian citizen’s litigation against ex-husband. The U.S. District Court compelled the documents’ production and sanctioned the opposing party that fought for over three years to withhold them. Following Rick’s oral argument, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit unanimously affirmed those orders, becoming the first federal appellate court to hold that the statute at issue could reach documents controlled by a U.S. corporation but held overseas. The opposing party turned over the secret documents, paid all our client’s attorneys’ fees, and paid over half a million dollars to settle.     

Defeated multi-million-dollar claims for professional malpractice and fraud against national law firm, resulting in no liability and dismissal of all claims before any discovery. Rick successfully defended the trial court’s order before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.

Defeated multi-million claims for fraud, RICO, and breach of fiduciary duty against Atlanta real-estate investment managers regarding Costa Rican resort property. The case settled on favorable terms to our client immediately after we moved for summary judgment on all of plaintiffs’ claims.

Successfully defended Global Fortune 100 technology company in multi-million-dollar contract dispute. The case was settled on favorable terms to our client and without any monetary payment.

Successfully represented Fortune 500 company in responding to a Department of Justice grand jury document subpoena. We simultaneously conducted an internal investigation regarding the subcontract at issue in the subpoena and reported to the company’s management.

Obtained $29 million and $3.5 million class-action settlements against Bank of America and SunTrust, respectively, on behalf of home owners who alleged that they were improperly charged post-payment interest in violation of federal regulations when paying off FHA-insured mortgages.

Successfully defended prominent Atlanta real-estate investor in trustee fiduciary-duty case and defeated effort to block a multi-million dollar commercial real-estate transaction. The case was settled on favorable terms to our client after we defeated plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction and successfully obtained an order compelling critical discovery that the plaintiff had refused to produce.

Successfully represented an institutional investor in fraud and RICO cases against Bank of America, Countrywide, JP Morgan, and UBS. These high-stakes cases involved the alleged fraudulent sale of more than $6 billion in mortgage-backed securities, millions of pages of documents, and unusually well-funded and determined adversaries. The matter concluded with a confidential settlement in the client’s favor.

Successfully represented hard-money lender seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages for breach of contract against one of the 50 largest U.S. banks. We obtained a reversal in the Georgia Court of Appeals of an adverse summary judgment ruling, and the matter concluded on the eve of trial with a confidential settlement in the client’s favor.

Successfully represented investor in federal court post-judgment proceedings pursuing collection of a nearly $10 million judgment and in state court Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act case against the judgment debtors and dozens of their related entities. After obtaining a preliminary injunction against the judgment debtors and their related entities, the matter concluded with a confidential settlement in the client’s favor.

Professional Activities

Federalist Society, Atlanta Lawyers’ Chapter: Vice President (2019 – present); Executive Board member (2014 – present). 

Board of Court Reporting of the Judicial Council of Georgia: Board member (2019 – present). The Board of Court Reporting establishes and enforces standards that govern Georgia court reporters and provides a forum for an exchange of ideas and educational services.

Board of Pensions for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Chair of the Board of Directors (2020 – 2022); Chair of the Pension Committee and First Vice Chair of the Board of Directors (2018 – 2020); Board member (2014 – 2022). The Board of Pensions manages $10 billion of assets and oversees the healthcare, pension, and assistance benefits of the national clergy and their families.

First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta: Clerk of Session (2019 – present); Ruling Elder (2015 – present); Chair of Personnel Council (2017-18); Member of Senior Minister Search Committee (2013-14)

Teneo: Atlanta Regional Chair (2014 - 2018); Member (2011 – present). Teneo is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that educates and connects leaders working to develop practical solutions to pressing global issues.  

Atlanta Bar Association, Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers: Board member (2012-13)

Associates’ Campaign for Pro Bono Legal Services: Co-Chair (2012-13)

Bleckley Inn of Court: Barrister (2013-14)

Leadership Gwinnett (Class of 2014)

Honors and Awards

Georgia Rising Star, 2017 - 2021