Richard M. Carter

Biography Richard Carter practices primarily in complex litigation involving commercial construction, intellectual property (patents, copyrights and tradeworks), professional liability and serious personal injury and wrongful death. In his more than forty years of practice he has tried many complex jury trials to verdict in both state and federal courts. Because of his extensive trial experience, he has been certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law since 1999. In addition to his extensive trial experience, Richard has helped many doctors and other professionals with their contracts and actions to protect their licensure. Richard holds an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for many years and has been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in Tennessee in the areas of Intellectual Property and Litigation. Richard served on the Tennessee Bar Associations Committee to explore creation of uniform Local Rules for the three federal judicial districts of Tennessee. He was Chairman of the Local Civil Rules Committee of the United States District Court for the Western District Local Rules Committee between 2009 and 2010 when the Local Rules for the Western District were rewritten. In 2012, the Federal Court appointed him Chairman of the newly formed Standing Local Rules Committee where he served as Chairman and Member until 2016. He also was a member of the Western Districts Local Patent Rules Committee. He has served as Treasurer of the Leo Bearman Sr. Inn of Court, a member of the Lawyers Journal Club, a fellow in the Tennessee Bar Foundation and a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America. Richard strongly values his faith and has served Independent Presbyterian Church as Clerk of the Session, Chairman of the Staff Care Committee, Chairman of its Diaconate and Chairman of the Plant and Operations Committee and as a long standing teacher of Senior Adults. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the IPC Foundation. He also has been Secretary and Vice President (2000-2009) of the Law School Alumni Association and was President in 2009-2010 when the new law school building was opened in downtown Memphis. He continues to serve as a member of the Law Alumni Association Presidents Committee. He also served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the West Point Society of the Mid-South. He has lectured extensively on federal local rules, patent litigation and trial practice issues including: the America Invents Act; the update on SCOTUS patent cases; patent litigation; patentability under 35 U. S. C. § 101; accounting defense; uses of demonstrative evidence at trial; Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act; expert witness examination; class action lawsuits; and wrongful death, to name a few. Richard received his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1973 where he commanded one of the Academys four Regiments. After earning his Airborne and Ranger tabs, Richard served in various positions as an Infantry Lieutenant and Captain in Europe before returning to attend law school under the Army Funded Legal Education Program. While at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, Richard was Editor-In-Chief of the Law Review, a member of the Moot Court Board and recipient of the Sam A. Meyer Scholarship. Following graduation from law school, Richard served in the Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps as a prosecutor, senior prosecutor, and senior defense counsel before leaving the service in 1984 to join Martin Tate. Richard has been Chairman of the Firms Litigation Department for more than 25 years. For many years, he has been and remains a member of the Memphis, Tennessee, American and Federal Bar Associations.