Harness Dickey, a leading intellectual property law firm in Troy, has announced the appointment of Ray Millien to CEO, succeeding the 100-year-old firm’s first-ever CEO Bill Coughlin, who will assume the role of CEO emeritus.
Millien’s 25 years of experience include in-house IP counsel positions in four different industries — automotive, energy, financial services, and health care — and also in practice both a large general practice firm and an IP boutique. Most recently he was the chief IP officer at Volvo Car Corp. and CEO of Volvo Cars Ventures in Sweden.
“I’m honored that the firm’s executive committee selected me to build on Bill’s success,” says Millien, “As CEO, I’ll not only practice with the finest IP lawyers, but also will help Harness Dickey build on its long and preeminent history of serving the country’s most elite businesses, universities, inventors, artists and entrepreneurs. It’s the ultimate opportunity in the perfect place with the right people.”
Millien’s vision for the future includes reimagining the way IP boutiques deliver legal services by embracing innovation with a similar zeal. He also plans to implement some of the work-life balance ideology he admired in Sweden.
“Our firm is in the ideal position for me to entrust its leadership to someone with the acumen, ideas and energy to catapult us into the next stage of our growth,” says Coughlin. “I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me achieve through the pandemic the progress we’ve made toward our goals, and I look forward to my new role as CEO emeritus. No one better than Ray can help us continue to harness innovation as we start on our next 100 years.”
