Rick Deane practices in the areas of corporate criminal investigations and general litigation, and his experience includes more than 14 years as an assistant United States attorney during which he litigated cases involving environmental crimes, civil rights violations, mail and wire fraud, public corruption, tax fraud, and numerous other violations of federal law. He also has extensive experience in conducting grand jury investigations. While serving as chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorneys' Office, he was responsible for coordinating all matters related to grand jury operations. He has lectured extensively on grand jury practice and procedures. Along with another assistant United States attorney, Rick successfully defended the district's grand jury procedures against a wide-ranging attack that had resulted in a district court decision dismissing numerous indictments because of various administrative irregularities. In that appeal and many others, Rick gained extensive experience appearing before the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal.

Rick also acquired a wide range of unique litigation experience while serving as a United States magistrate judge. During the four years he served in that position, Rick handled a variety of civil and criminal litigation. As a magistrate judge, Rick presided over civil jury trials, conducted pretrial case management in complex civil cases, conducted preliminary proceedings in all criminal cases, conducted hearings and other proceedings as necessary to recommend disposition of summary judgments and other case-dispositive motions, and reviewed and recommended disposition of prisoner suits collaterally attacking convictions or complaining of conditions of confinement. Additionally, he reviewed and issued arrest and search warrants.

Rick was appointed by President Clinton as United States attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in 1998. As a U.S. attorney, Rick supervised a staff of approximately 70 assistant U.S. attorneys and related support staff of approximately 100 employees. Under his leadership, the office successfully prosecuted numerous cases involving environmental crime, fraud, public corruption, and tax matters, as well as drug and violent crimes. Rick also directed the office's handling of civil matters involving false claims, health care fraud, and
qui tam actions.

While serving as a United States attorney, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Rick to serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, consisting of a select group of U.S. attorneys who regularly met with the attorney general and other senior Department of Justice officials to offer advice on various policy matters and substantive issues.

In March 2001, Rick was named by Time Magazine to the "Time 100 List of Innovators" for his creativity and determination in the application of the RICO Statute (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) to fight local crime involving child prostitution. Rick is also a long-time adjunct professor at Georgia State University College of Law where he has taught courses on white-collar crime and advanced evidence.