Rich represents business clients in complex litigation and class action disputes, including a significant focus on banking and financial services matters; product liability matters, and other government enforcement and regulatory matters, including compliance with federal and state laws governing banks and their consumer lending and collection activities.
In addition to his work in the financial services sector, Rich has experience in the energy, manufacturing, automotive, and retail sectors. He has handled high-stakes disputes in trial and appellate courts, both federal and state, throughout the country as well as in commercial arbitrations.
In his financial services practice, Rich has represented banks and other financial institutions in matters involving parallel regulatory and civil litigation, as well as with private litigants, including class action plaintiffs and commercial counterparties. He has significant experience in the auto lending, residential mortgage, and deposit banking businesses. He has represented banks and lenders in fiduciary litigation, consumer class actions, Ponzi schemes, disputes involving complex financial products and instruments, residential mortgage securitizations, investor claims, aiding-and-abetting fraud claims, and other complex litigation matters.
In the manufacturing sector, Rich has defended clients in matters filed by state attorneys general, in complex commercial litigation, and in class actions and mass actions filed by consumer attorneys.
Rich maintains an active pro bono practice and has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest School of Law.
At Wake Forest University School of Law, Rich graduated first in his class, earned a faculty scholarship, served as research assistant to Dean Blake Morant, and was a member of the Wake Forest Law Review and national moot court team. After law school, Rich served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Richard Voorhees of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Rich was the assistant director at Lipscomb University for Conflict Management and worked for a consulting firm.
Representation of Fortune 50 company in actions filed by state attorneys general throughout the country.
Representation of financial services institution in numerous class actions filed by consumer attorney.
Representation of auto manufacturer in mass actions filed by plaintiff’s attorney in thirty different states.
Representation of bank in fiduciary litigation related to allegations of aiding and abetting a Ponzi scheme.
Representation of manufacturer in stock purchase agreement dispute.
Representation of energy provider in major insurance coverage action.
Representation of bank in complex mortgage-backed securities litigation.
Representation of real estate investment trust in class-action securities case.
Representation of transportation client in international discovery dispute.
Volunteer, Council for Children’s Rights
Member, Chair (2015-2016), Young Alumni Board, Wake Forest University School of Law
Chair and Board Member, Matthews Help Center
Member, Mecklenburg County Bar
The rules of professional conduct in some jurisdictions require disclosure of selection methodology for certain public accolades and recognitions. Click here to view available selection methodologies.
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation - Banking and Finance, 2021-2023
Named to "North Carolina Rising Stars," Business Litigation, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2021
Selected for inclusion into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2019-2020
Named to Legal Elite “Young Guns,” Business North Carolina, 2017