Summary

Richard is a regulatory attorney and litigator who helps companies resolve complex gaming law, data privacy and healthcare issues affecting their businesses. Since joining Taft in 2013, Richard has helped casinos, terminal operators, gaming equipment manufacturers, and video game businesses resolve legal matters arising under the Illinois Video Gaming Act and other gaming regulations nationwide. Richard has also helped clients successfully challenge the constitutionality of other local gaming laws. Richard’s comprehensive knowledge of gaming law issues and successful track record assisting terminal operators and gaming companies are among the reasons why he was honored as Top Gaming Litigation Lawyer for Chicago at Corporate LiveWire’s Excellence in Gaming Awards in 2016. Richard was recognized as one of 100 attorneys featured in the Lawyers of Color  “Nation’s Best 2020,” which promotes diversity in the legal profession and advances democracy and equality in marginalized communities.

In addition to gaming law issues, Richard’s practice also covers data privacy, commercial litigation, labor and employment litigation and compliance, regulatory compliance defense, healthcare regulatory litigation and compliance, and medical cannabis licensing and compliance. Richard uses court-tested strategies to help his clients obtain temporary restraining orders, defeat motions to dismiss, and obtain injunctive and declaratory relief. Richard also has experience using cost-saving eDiscovery tools and tactics that help reduce his clients’ litigation costs without sacrificing results. Richard is also experienced in peer reviews, privacy policies, business associate agreements, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act and HIPAA/HITECH issues.

Richard is also just as active in his legal community outside the courtroom as he is within it. Richard actively writes about a number of gaming and labor law issues, and has been published in Workforce Magazine and Workforce.com, the Chicago Bar Association Record, and the Illinois State Bar Association Business & Securities Law Forum Newsletter. Richard is also a member of the Chicago chapter of Taiwanese-American Professionals, where he formerly led the organization’s leadership and development committee.

Richard received his J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and his B.A. from Emory University. Richard has also been recognized as an Honoree, Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers and as an Honoree, “Emerging Lawyer” by Leading Lawyers Network for his professional reputation, ethical conduct and experience.

Awards

  • Honoree, Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Business Litigation (2016 – 2021)

  • Emerging Lawyer Honoree, Leading Lawyers

  • Top Gaming Litigation Lawyer Honoree, Chicago Corporate LiveWire (2016)

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch” (2021)

  • Honoree, Lawyers of Color “Nation’s Best 2020”

All Service Areas

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law (2011)
  • Emory University, B.A. in Classical Civilization and Political Science (2006)

Admissions

  • Federal - 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - Northern District of Illinois
  • State - Illinois
  • Federal - Eastern District of Michigan
  • Federal - U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • Federal - Northern District of Indiana

Notable Matters

  • Awesome Hand Services, LLC v. Fire Bar Incorporated, Case No. 16 CH 07920 – successfully obtained a temporary restraining order against an establishment on an agreement for future video gaming operations executed before the Illinois Video Gaming Act’s passage.
  • Triple 7 Illinois, LLC v. Gaming & Entertainment Management – Illinois, LLC, 2013 IL App (3d) 120860, appeal denied (Nov. 27, 2013) – in this leading gaming case, successfully represented the defendant in the denial of certification by the Illinois Supreme Court.
  • Sembs, Inc. v. Gaming & Entertainment Management – Illinois, LLC, et. al., Case No. 118030, appeal denied (Sept. 24, 2014) – successfully represented the defendant in the denial of certification by the Illinois Supreme Court.
  • Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association, et. al. v. The County of Cook, et. al., Case No. 13 L 050995 – successfully defeated a motion to dismiss and continuing to challenge the Cook County Gambling Machine Tax’s constitutionality.
  • Represents numerous terminal operators in litigation across the state arising in the video gaming industry and under the Illinois Video Gaming Act, procuring injunctive and declaratory relief.
  • Represents public utility company on compliance matters in municipal administrative hearings.
  • Represents the City of Chicago on matters before the human resources board.
  • Represents physicians before the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services.
  • Represents families in trust and loan matters, procuring judgments in excess of $1.5 million.

Speeches and Publications

Professional Affiliations

  • Taiwanese-American Professionals – Chicago

    Member