Rodney Miller: A Point of View Like No Other

Womble Bond Dickinson IP Litigation Partner Rodney Miller always aimed high. His destination changed a few times along the way, but his focus on excellence never wavered.

The Albany, Ga. native planned to pursue a career in accounting. But while he was still in high school, he had a heart-to-heart talk with his sister’s friend—who was an engineer—after church one Sunday. That conversation led him to rethink his career plans.

“I always was a math and science person, and I used to like to draw, so I thought I’d become an engineer and design cars,” he said.

Rodney studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech, where he also took part in several engineering internships, including at Whirlpool and Milliken & Company. After college, he became a technical sales engineer with the Carrier Corporation in Houston.

“I was a social butterfly, and this job gave me a chance to still use my technical degree, but also go to companies, design products for them, and sell the products to them,” Rodney said.

But there was one more fork in Rodney’s career path. His girlfriend at the time (now his wife of 16 years) had just become a lawyer and said, “You should probably go to law school—and so I’m here right now.”

Rodney’s wife also told him that wherever he practiced law, he needed to be his authentic self. Diversity, equity, and inclusion matter deeply to him, and he is a leader in Womble’s efforts to make the firm more representative of the communities it serves.

“I’m a litigator and you have a jury—and that jury is full of people from different backgrounds with different experiences,” he said. “Sometimes, when you have a bunch of people on a team from similar backgrounds, you might miss out on how other people see things.”

He also sees diversity, equity, and inclusion as a matter of fundamental fairness: “You’re building on the past and trying to build a better future,” Rodney said.

In addition to his legal practice, Rodney is an active dad of two and a fitness enthusiast. He also volunteers extensively with the Ron Clark Academy, a nonprofit middle school in Southeast Atlanta that has received national attention for its nurturing environment and academic excellence.

A background in engineering. A lifelong commitment to achievement. A winner’s mindset in litigating IP disputes. And someone who is proud to be his true, authentic self.

Those are just some of the things that give Rodney Miller a point of view like no other. 

Discover more about our unique perspectives here.