Overview Experience Case Studies Insights Events News Outside the Office Community Leadership

Richard W.F. Swor

Associate

Nashville
phone: 615.949.2266
fax: 615.949.2241

email: [email protected]

Overview Experience Case Studies

Insights Events News

Outside the Office Community Leadership

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Overview

Richard represents clients in complex commercial litigation, especially disputes over property—both real and intellectual.

After beginning his career as a sound engineer for television and film, Richard decided to enroll in law school, with an eye toward contract negotiation in the entertainment industry. However, a judicial clerkship opened his eyes to the strategic world of litigation, and he realized this was the perfect fit for a person with a creative background and mindset. Richard immediately shifted his emphasis and has practiced in commercial litigation since graduation.

For Richard, litigation is a matter of lining up favorable facts and legal strategies in creative ways. He excels at finding the best path to victory—or to the best outcome possible—for a client, and he’s always prepared to go to trial when it’s in the client’s best interest. While Richard is experienced with a variety of business disputes, he has a particular focus on property litigation, whether real or intellectual. He has represented clients in brand enforcement and trademark disputes, including at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in both inter partes and ex parte proceedings, and other intellectual property litigation. Richard is equally experienced with commercial real property litigation, particularly commercial landlord/tenant disputes.

A zealous advocate with a gift for creative strategies, Richard is also a realist who provides clients with pragmatic advice. He’s a people person who excels at building relationships and bridges, and he’s good at working toward amicable solutions when desired. Richard is known as an excellent communicator who keeps clients informed, and he aims to offer a full picture of potential outcomes. He sees his role as providing both his opinion on the client’s best course of action, as well as a full list of options, adjusting his strategies to suit client preferences.

Industry

Financial Services & Capital Markets

Services

Commercial Litigation

Intellectual Property Litigation

Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Recognition

Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, Attorney for Justice, 2021-present
Nashville Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (YLD), Enterprise Award, 2023

Education

J.D., Belmont University - College of Law
- summa cum laude
- Belmont Law Review, Executive Events Editor
- Belmont Board of Advocates Moot Court, President
B.S., Belmont University

Admissions

Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

American Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Board, 2022-present
Tennessee Bar Association, LGBT Law Executive Council, 2020-present
Belmont Wesley Fellowship, Board Member, 2019-2022
Belmont University College of Law American Inns of Court, Mentor, 2021-present

Experience

Assisted in successfully defending against multiple summary judgment motions on behalf of commercial tenant related to lease dispute.
Obtained temporary restraining orders for business entities in multiple cases related to non-compete agreements, intentional interference of business relations, and other related contractual and business tort matters.
Helped obtain favorable results for clients in both inter partes and ex parte proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Served on litigation teams for trademark, trade dress, and patent infringement cases in multiple federal jurisdictions.
Assisted in managing document collection, review, and production for multi-jurisdiction national litigation.
Significant experience in the discovery process, including preparing clients for, taking, and defending both in-person and remote depositions, drafting discovery requests and responses, and successfully prosecuting and defending against court relief related to discovery disputes.
Helped local governmental entity obtain favorable judgment in public meetings case at both trial court and appellate court level.
Member of litigation team that defended against dispositive motions and eventually obtained settlement for pro bono client in federal 1983 litigation.

Articles | 2023

Co-author, "Cannabis and Evidence: Budding Trends in Trial Advocacy," American Journal of Trial Advocacy

Speaking Engagements | December 5, 2023

Speaker, "Land Use Challenges Related to Short-Term Rental Properties," myLawCLE Webinar

Outside the Office

Richard is a Nashville native. He is a classically trained pianist and unofficial music historian with a collection of more than 1,500 vinyl records. Richard loves record shopping, listening to both old and new music, and attending concerts. He’s also a movie buff who’s seen every Best Picture winner, as well as every Nicolas Cage film.

Most of all, Richard enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren, as well as their two cats (Pimento and Rosé) and puppy (Lucy Dogus). Lauren and Richard love to go camping and have a goal of visiting every Tennessee state park together (they’re currently one-third of the way there), as well as every U.S. national park.

Richard and Lauren with their cats, Pimento (left) and Rosé (right), in their Halloween costumes.

Richard and Lauren hiking the Kolob Canyons district of Zion National Park.

Richard and Lauren paddleboarding Lake Tellico at Fort Loudon State Historic Area.

Richard and Lucy at the Richland Park Farmers Market.

Community Leadership

Richard serves on the board of Daybreak Arts (formerly Poverty and the Arts) and is currently chair of the programming committee. He has also done extensive fundraising work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as part of the organization’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2022. Richard volunteers with his church as well, most recently serving on the 150th Anniversary Committee.

In addition to his service to the community, Richard is also active in professional service. He is an attorney volunteer with the American Inns of Court at his law school, where he mentors a group of law students, and volunteers as a guest judge with the school’s moot court program. He also serves on the board of the Young Lawyers Division of the Nashville Bar Association, helping organize Nashville’s Arts Immersion event, a partnership between the Nashville Bar Association and the Nashville Arts & Business Council. Proceeds from the event fund pro bono legal services for the Nashville arts and entertainment community.