Robert

Rhodes

Associate
1717 West 6th Street, Suite 250
Austin, TX 78703

Overview

Robert is a seasoned litigator and appellate advocate with a focus on intellectual property, combining a deep understanding of technical subject matter with a passion for creative industries. He brings together deep technical acumen and an authentic connection to the creative arts, offering clients a strategic edge in complex patent, trade secret and trademark disputes.

Robert has represented clients across a range of industries, including restaurant and hospitality, voice-over-IP, IoT and wireless communications, guiding them through high-stakes litigation at every phase, from pre-suit strategy to appellate review. One of Robert’s most successful trials resulted in a $115 MM jury verdict for a trade secret claim in federal district court. Robert is adept at managing large-scale litigation, conducting depositions, working with expert witnesses and crafting persuasive legal arguments. Beyond litigation, he also advises clients on the development, protection and enforcement of their intellectual property portfolios, aligning legal strategy with business goals.

Robert brings a unique perspective to his legal practice, shaped by his early career as a laboratory analyst and professional musician. His scientific background and firsthand experience in the creative world inform his nuanced approach to protecting innovators, entrepreneurs and artists.

Robert graduated with honors from Columbia Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review. Before his career as an attorney, Robert worked in R&D for a clinical toxicology and pharmacogenetics laboratory and was a professional bassist, touring throughout the United States and Canada.

Immediately prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Robert was an associate at a national intellectual property boutique law firm

Education

Admissions

  • Memberships

    • Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
    • State Bar of Texas (Intellectual Property Section)

Overview

Robert is a seasoned litigator and appellate advocate with a focus on intellectual property, combining a deep understanding of technical subject matter with a passion for creative industries. He brings together deep technical acumen and an authentic connection to the creative arts, offering clients a strategic edge in complex patent, trade secret and trademark disputes.

Robert has represented clients across a range of industries, including restaurant and hospitality, voice-over-IP, IoT and wireless communications, guiding them through high-stakes litigation at every phase, from pre-suit strategy to appellate review. One of Robert’s most successful trials resulted in a $115 MM jury verdict for a trade secret claim in federal district court. Robert is adept at managing large-scale litigation, conducting depositions, working with expert witnesses and crafting persuasive legal arguments. Beyond litigation, he also advises clients on the development, protection and enforcement of their intellectual property portfolios, aligning legal strategy with business goals.

Robert brings a unique perspective to his legal practice, shaped by his early career as a laboratory analyst and professional musician. His scientific background and firsthand experience in the creative world inform his nuanced approach to protecting innovators, entrepreneurs and artists.

Robert graduated with honors from Columbia Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review. Before his career as an attorney, Robert worked in R&D for a clinical toxicology and pharmacogenetics laboratory and was a professional bassist, touring throughout the United States and Canada.

Immediately prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Robert was an associate at a national intellectual property boutique law firm

Experience

  • Fintech Representation

    Represented a national fintech company in various disputes in state and federal court.

  • Trade Secret Litigation

    Represented plaintiffs in a $2 B trade secret case against one of the world’s largest retailers.

  • Trade Secret Litigation

    Won a unanimous $115 MM jury verdict against the world’s largest company in a trade secret case over misappropriation of a computer and telecommunications system

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