Rick is a graduate of the University of Akron School of Law and specializes in the areas of commercial real estate, land use, business, and municipal law. Rick started out his professional career as a lawyer in 1972. In 1974, after a brief period as in house counsel for The Ervin Company, a regional real estate development company, he co-founded the law firm of Cannon & Kline in Charlotte, NC. He later relocated his private practice to Davidson, where he continued to serve as the Davidson Town Attorney for a total of 40 years.

Rick has more than 42 years of experience in providing legal assistance to clients in transactions involving the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and operation of single-use and multi-use projects such as shopping centers, office buildings, residential developments, and other commercial real estate projects. He represents clients in all phases of commercial real estate transactions and the resolution of real estate contract disputes prior to litigation. In the area of business and corporate law, Rick has advised start-ups, emerging enterprises, and established companies. He is well versed across a broad spectrum of business related matters including drafting and reviewing contracts, business agreements, purchase and sale of businesses, and advice on incorporating or forming an LLC.