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Turning 125: Nelson Mullins Celebrating 125 Years of Legal Service in 2022
In January 1897, attorney P.H. Nelson left his position as solicitor of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to set up a private law practice in Columbia, S.C. The State newspaper contained a short but prescient news item on Jan. 26 about the endeavor, which noted that "the new firm should meet with great success."
And they were right. Today, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP offers legal services in 15 states and the District of Columbia from 31 offices with 930+ attorneys, policy advisors, and professionals. It is the 71st largest law firm in the nation based on 2020 gross revenues, according to The American Lawyer’s Am Law 100, a legal news organization that tracks law firm growth.
Throughout 2022, Nelson Mullins will be sharing seminal events from its history that highlight its growth from a one-man firm in 1897 to where we are today. Click here to learn more.
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Deborah St. Lawrence Thompson
Partner
Suite 1600
Baltimore, MD 21201
Deborah has more than 20 years of experience representing an array of clients in complex cases, primarily in the areas of commercial, mass tort, products liability litigation, and labor and employment law. She has litigated in the areas of products liability defense, mass tort, and employment law defense in jurisdictions around the country. As a...
Deborah has more than 20 years of experience representing an array of clients in complex cases, primarily in the areas of commercial, mass tort, products liability litigation, and labor and employment law. She has litigated in the areas of products liability defense, mass tort, and employment law defense in jurisdictions around the country. As a first and second chair, she has represented equipment manufacturers, gasket manufacturers, and automotive manufacturers in product liability cases to verdict. Prior to private practice, Deborah served as the chief of Labor Personnel and Employment for a local government entity, creating policies and defending employment and labor matters for multiple agencies and departments. She also served as senior litigator for one of the largest historically Black universities in the United States.
In addition to her national clients, Deborah also serves as general counsel to numerous national nonprofit companies advising on a variety of matters related to employment and business litigation, mergers, copyright, trademark and branding, and concerns unique to the non-profit sector. Deborah has earned a reputation among her peers as a tough litigator who carefully prepares each case, but has also been recognized for collaborating with her clients to develop strategies focused on creating greater efficiency that result in the reduction of claims inventory, indemnity spend, and defense costs.
first and second chair, she has represented equipment manufacturers, gasket manufacturers, and automotive manufacturers in product liability cases to verdict. Prior to private practice, Deborah served as the chief of Labor Personnel and Employment for a local government entity, creating policies and defending employment and labor matters for multiple agencies and departments. She also served as senior litigator for one of the largest historically Black universities in the United States.
In addition to her national clients, Deborah also serves as general counsel to numerous national nonprofit companies advising on a variety of matters related to employment and business litigation, mergers, copyright, trademark and branding, and concerns unique to the non-profit sector. Deborah has earned a reputation among her peers as a tough litigator who carefully prepares each case, but has also been recognized for collaborating with her clients to develop strategies focused on creating greater efficiency that result in the reduction of claims inventory, indemnity spend, and defense costs.
Experience
- Defends manufacturers and distributors involved in industrywide toxic tort litigation on local, regional, national, and international levels
- Represents national and regional clients in courts throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia in all aspects of litigation and litigation management
- Provides key leadership and coordination to ensure firm’s national clients receive optimal, efficient and coordinated legal services
- Currently defending thousands of asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death cases filed in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia
- Represents public sector employers in both traditional labor and employment law matters
- Represents private and public sector employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia in matters involving discrimination claims, wage and hour issues, and contract and tort claims
- Counsels clients regarding strategies and compliance with the multitude of labor and employment laws applicable to their operations, including assisting in the development and establishment of employment policies and procedures; training managers, supervisors, EEO investigators, and staff on EEO and supervisory and disciplinary matters
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, JD, with honors (1997)
- University of the West Indies, BSc, with honors (1990)
Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Supreme Court of the United States
Practice Areas
Industries
- Defends manufacturers and distributors involved in industrywide toxic tort litigation on local, regional, national, and international levels
- Represents national and regional clients in courts throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia in all aspects of litigation and litigation management
- Provides key leadership and coordination to ensure firm’s national clients receive optimal, efficient and coordinated legal services
- Currently defending thousands of asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death cases filed in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia
- Represents public sector employers in both traditional labor and employment law matters
- Represents private and public sector employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia in matters involving discrimination claims, wage and hour issues, and contract and tort claims
- Counsels clients regarding strategies and compliance with the multitude of labor and employment laws applicable to their operations, including assisting in the development and establishment of employment policies and procedures; training managers, supervisors, EEO investigators, and staff on EEO and supervisory and disciplinary matters
Media
Recognitions
- Benchmark Litigation
- Top 250 Women in Litigation (2019–2021)
- General Commercial, Product Liability (2020–2021)
- Local Litigation Star, General Commercial, Product Liability, Employment (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America® — Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2020–2022)
- Global Manufacturing Client's "Legal Eagle" Award (2014)
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law's Black Law Student Association, "Practitioner of the Year" (2015)
Professional Activities
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Member
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, Member
- American Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Maryland Bar Association
- Monumental City Bar Association
Community
- Living Classrooms Foundation, Board of Trustees
- Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
- Baltimore Chapter – Bylaws Chair and Parliamentarian
- Associated Black Charities
- Humanim, The Human Services Company
- Howard County Local Children's Board (2012)
- National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Greater Baltimore Chapter, Former General Counsel
Leadership
- Nelson Mullins Diversity, Equity & and Inclusion Committee, Chair
- IADC 45th Annual Trial Academy (2017), Faculty Member
- Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter, Board of Directors
- Greater Baltimore Committee's LEADERship Class, Graduate (2014)
Deborah has more than 20 years of experience representing an array of clients in complex cases, primarily in the areas of commercial, mass tort, products liability litigation, and labor and employment law. She has litigated in the areas of products liability defense, mass tort, and employment law defense in jurisdictions around the country. As a... first and second chair, she has represented equipment manufacturers, gasket manufacturers, and automotive manufacturers in product liability cases to verdict. Prior to private practice, Deborah served as the chief of Labor Personnel and Employment for a local government entity, creating policies and defending employment and labor matters for multiple agencies and departments. She also served as senior litigator for one of the largest historically Black universities in the United States.
In addition to her national clients, Deborah also serves as general counsel to numerous national nonprofit companies advising on a variety of matters related to employment and business litigation, mergers, copyright, trademark and branding, and concerns unique to the non-profit sector. Deborah has earned a reputation among her peers as a tough litigator who carefully prepares each case, but has also been recognized for collaborating with her clients to develop strategies focused on creating greater efficiency that result in the reduction of claims inventory, indemnity spend, and defense costs.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.- Defends manufacturers and distributors involved in industrywide toxic tort litigation on local, regional, national, and international levels
- Represents national and regional clients in courts throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia in all aspects of litigation and litigation management
- Provides key leadership and coordination to ensure firm’s national clients receive optimal, efficient and coordinated legal services
- Currently defending thousands of asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death cases filed in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia
- Represents public sector employers in both traditional labor and employment law matters
- Represents private and public sector employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia in matters involving discrimination claims, wage and hour issues, and contract and tort claims
- Counsels clients regarding strategies and compliance with the multitude of labor and employment laws applicable to their operations, including assisting in the development and establishment of employment policies and procedures; training managers, supervisors, EEO investigators, and staff on EEO and supervisory and disciplinary matters
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, JD, with honors (1997)
- University of the West Indies, BSc, with honors (1990)
Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Supreme Court of the United States
Practice Areas
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturers & Distributors
- Asbestos
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- Toxic Torts
- State & Local Government Relations
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- Employment & Labor
Industries
- Benchmark Litigation
- Top 250 Women in Litigation (2019–2021)
- General Commercial, Product Liability (2020–2021)
- Local Litigation Star, General Commercial, Product Liability, Employment (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America® — Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2020–2022)
- Global Manufacturing Client's "Legal Eagle" Award (2014)
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law's Black Law Student Association, "Practitioner of the Year" (2015)
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Member
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, Member
- American Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Maryland Bar Association
- Monumental City Bar Association
- Living Classrooms Foundation, Board of Trustees
- Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
- Baltimore Chapter – Bylaws Chair and Parliamentarian
- Associated Black Charities
- Humanim, The Human Services Company
- Howard County Local Children's Board (2012)
- National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Greater Baltimore Chapter, Former General Counsel
- Nelson Mullins Diversity, Equity & and Inclusion Committee, Chair
- IADC 45th Annual Trial Academy (2017), Faculty Member
- Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter, Board of Directors
- Greater Baltimore Committee's LEADERship Class, Graduate (2014)
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
