Rich focuses his practice on environmental, toxic tort, and products liability litigation in both state and federal courts. Rich has represented clients from many different industry sectors in these matters, including agribusiness, waste disposal, medical devices, mining, railroads, and major automobile manufacturers.
Rich has represented clients from across several different industrial sectors in federal statutory environmental litigation and regulatory matters, including CERCLA, RCRA, and Clean Water Act claims.
Rich also serves as both primary counsel and specialty appellate counsel for a major automobile manufacturer in Georgia, handling complex issues that affect the manufacturer nationwide.
This work has allowed Rich to develop substantial expertise in class action matters, issues related to expert admissibility, punitive damages, and the particular substantive and procedural difficulties presented by mass tort litigation.
Rich has represented clients on appeals in both state and federal courts, and has also crafted a number of amicus curiae briefs for both individual clients and industry groups.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Rich was a law clerk for Senior District Judge Robert E. Payne in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This formative legal experience shaped Rich’s practice as an attorney, and instilled in him an appreciation for rigor and precision in confronting legal issues.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Rich has represented victims of domestic violence in a pro bono capacity. Before relocating his practice to Atlanta, Rich acted as a coach for the University of Richmond Law School’s mock trial team, and is active in both the Virginia and Federal Bar Associations.
Representation of a major mining and metals company in a dispute with the Environmental Protection Agency concerning alleged lead contamination in Nebraska and elsewhere.
Defense of major agricultural company in a series of nuisance- and environmental-actions in Missouri. A two-week trial of one of those cases in 2011 resulted in a defense verdict.
Representation of a major textile manufacturer in water contamination issues in Virginia and elsewhere.
Primary counsel and specialty appellate counsel for a major automobile manufacturer in Georgia.
Summary judgment granted in two consolidated products liability class actions against a major automobile manufacturer in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Defense of a group of large dairy farmers in two mass tort cases brought in southeastern New Mexico.
Counsel to a product manufacturer in RICO suits against asbestos plaintiffs’ counsel in cases brought in the Western District of North Carolina and Central District of California.
Representation of and counsel to a Big Three automaker in numerous products liability cases concerning the use of asbestos in friction products.
Counsel to a national agricultural advocacy organization in filing an amicus brief before the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a class-action matter.
Counsel to a major railroad corporation in a fraud and RICO suit alleging that a plaintiff’s firm had filed thousands of baseless lawsuits against it.
Representation of a major construction company in an appeal of a contract dispute with the Virginia Department of Transportation that resulted in a favorable verdict from the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Counsel to a major food manufacturer in an appeal before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representation of a major waste disposal company in a contract dispute with a Virginia hospital that concluded with a favorable settlement.
Representation of a large Virginia truck maintenance corporation in a series of payment disputes that resolved in the client’s favor.
Representation of several victims of domestic violence in conjunction with McGuireWoods LLP’s association with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.
State Bar of Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association
Committee Vice Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, 2013-2014
Vice Chair for Programs, ABA Environmental Litigation and Toxic Torts Committee
Member, Federal Bar Association
The Best Lawyers in America Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Woodward/White, Inc., 2023