Alert
Idea Exchange
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.
The LatestView All
May 6, 2022
New data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) indicates that the divide between rural and urban areas in COVID-19 primary vaccination coverage has more than doubled in under a year.
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Growing Divide
Richard B. North, Jr.
Partner
201 17th Street NW
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30363
Richard is an accomplished trial lawyer in the areas of medical device, pharmaceutical, and aviation litigation with a national practice. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Richard has tried cases in 12 states and has been actively involved in pre-trial and discovery activities in every other state in the country, as well...
Richard is an accomplished trial lawyer in the areas of medical device, pharmaceutical, and aviation litigation with a national practice. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Richard has tried cases in 12 states and has been actively involved in pre-trial and discovery activities in every other state in the country, as well as in the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. He also has extensive experience in the role of lead defense counsel in multiple multidistrict litigation proceedings (MDLs).
Richard leads a team of 18 lawyers in several offices of the firm who have worked closely with him in successfully handling MDLs and other litigation with a national scope. Together, with the assistance of numerous other attorneys throughout Nelson Mullins’ nationwide platform, the team has successfully litigated and resolved thousands of cases around the country.
Richard also has substantial appellate experience. A former law clerk for the late Albert Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, he has handled multiple appeals before the Eleventh Circuit, as well as cases before all of the appellate courts in Georgia. He is also frequently called upon by defense organizations to author amicus briefs in courts throughout the country.
Richard is also a dedicated advocate for diversity in the legal profession, and he has been recognized for the diversity of his team and the trial teams he has developed.
as in the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. He also has extensive experience in the role of lead defense counsel in multiple multidistrict litigation proceedings (MDLs).
Richard leads a team of 18 lawyers in several offices of the firm who have worked closely with him in successfully handling MDLs and other litigation with a national scope. Together, with the assistance of numerous other attorneys throughout Nelson Mullins’ nationwide platform, the team has successfully litigated and resolved thousands of cases around the country.
Richard also has substantial appellate experience. A former law clerk for the late Albert Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, he has handled multiple appeals before the Eleventh Circuit, as well as cases before all of the appellate courts in Georgia. He is also frequently called upon by defense organizations to author amicus briefs in courts throughout the country.
Richard is also a dedicated advocate for diversity in the legal profession, and he has been recognized for the diversity of his team and the trial teams he has developed.
Experience
Experience
- Has served as national counsel for a medical device manufacturer in litigation involving vascular devices and urological products, including as lead counsel in multiple MDLs.
- Tried cases in courts throughout the country and has also advised clients on litigation matters in international jurisdictions.
- Tried multiple Bellwether cases in MDLs as lead trial counsel.
- Has orchestrated and led the litigation of hundreds of cases throughout the country that were remanded from an MDL.
- Has served as regional counsel for heavy machinery manufacturers.
- Coordinated the development of epidemiology and regulatory experts as a part of the firm’s national representation of a major pharmaceutical company.
Representative Matters
Some appeals in which Richard has been involved, which impacted Georgia law, include the following:
- Ellis v. C. R. Bard, Inc., 311 F.3d 1272 (11th Cir. 2002) (learned intermediary defense)
- Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Townsend, 279 Ga. 511 (2005) (dram shop liability of air carrier)
- Ogletree v. Navistar International Transportation Corp., 245 Ga. App. 1 (2000) (proximate cause in multi-stage manufacturing process)
- International Harvester Co. v. Cunningham, 245 Ga. App. 736 (2000) (product manufacturer’s rights in discovery)
Education
-
University of Virginia School of Law,
JD
- Dillard Fellow
- Harvard University, BA, History and Literature, cum laude
Admissions
- Georgia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, Judge Albert Henderson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Practice Areas
Experience
- Has served as national counsel for a medical device manufacturer in litigation involving vascular devices and urological products, including as lead counsel in multiple MDLs.
- Tried cases in courts throughout the country and has also advised clients on litigation matters in international jurisdictions.
- Tried multiple Bellwether cases in MDLs as lead trial counsel.
- Has orchestrated and led the litigation of hundreds of cases throughout the country that were remanded from an MDL.
- Has served as regional counsel for heavy machinery manufacturers.
- Coordinated the development of epidemiology and regulatory experts as a part of the firm’s national representation of a major pharmaceutical company.
Representative Matters
Some appeals in which Richard has been involved, which impacted Georgia law, include the following:
- Ellis v. C. R. Bard, Inc., 311 F.3d 1272 (11th Cir. 2002) (learned intermediary defense)
- Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Townsend, 279 Ga. 511 (2005) (dram shop liability of air carrier)
- Ogletree v. Navistar International Transportation Corp., 245 Ga. App. 1 (2000) (proximate cause in multi-stage manufacturing process)
- International Harvester Co. v. Cunningham, 245 Ga. App. 736 (2000) (product manufacturer’s rights in discovery)
Media
Recognitions
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Product Liability & Mass Torts — Nationwide (2021)
- The Legal 500 United States:
- Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action: toxic tort- defense (2020)
- Product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2014–2016)
- The International Who's Who of Liability Defence Lawyers (2010, 2016–2018, 2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Product Liability Litigation — Defendants (2012–2022)
- Georgia Super Lawyers, PI Products: Defense (2010–2014, 2018–2021)
- Recognized for excellence in client services in the BTI Client Service All-Star Team for Law Firms (2011)
- Selected as one of Georgia Trend's Legal Elite (2012)
- Recipient of the firm's Sheryl Ortmann Diversity Award for his achievements in promoting diversity in the legal profession (2013)
Professional Activities
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
- American Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Richard is an accomplished trial lawyer in the areas of medical device, pharmaceutical, and aviation litigation with a national practice. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Richard has tried cases in 12 states and has been actively involved in pre-trial and discovery activities in every other state in the country, as well... as in the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. He also has extensive experience in the role of lead defense counsel in multiple multidistrict litigation proceedings (MDLs).
Richard leads a team of 18 lawyers in several offices of the firm who have worked closely with him in successfully handling MDLs and other litigation with a national scope. Together, with the assistance of numerous other attorneys throughout Nelson Mullins’ nationwide platform, the team has successfully litigated and resolved thousands of cases around the country.
Richard also has substantial appellate experience. A former law clerk for the late Albert Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, he has handled multiple appeals before the Eleventh Circuit, as well as cases before all of the appellate courts in Georgia. He is also frequently called upon by defense organizations to author amicus briefs in courts throughout the country.
Richard is also a dedicated advocate for diversity in the legal profession, and he has been recognized for the diversity of his team and the trial teams he has developed.
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.Experience
- Has served as national counsel for a medical device manufacturer in litigation involving vascular devices and urological products, including as lead counsel in multiple MDLs.
- Tried cases in courts throughout the country and has also advised clients on litigation matters in international jurisdictions.
- Tried multiple Bellwether cases in MDLs as lead trial counsel.
- Has orchestrated and led the litigation of hundreds of cases throughout the country that were remanded from an MDL.
- Has served as regional counsel for heavy machinery manufacturers.
- Coordinated the development of epidemiology and regulatory experts as a part of the firm’s national representation of a major pharmaceutical company.
Representative Matters
Some appeals in which Richard has been involved, which impacted Georgia law, include the following:
- Ellis v. C. R. Bard, Inc., 311 F.3d 1272 (11th Cir. 2002) (learned intermediary defense)
- Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Townsend, 279 Ga. 511 (2005) (dram shop liability of air carrier)
- Ogletree v. Navistar International Transportation Corp., 245 Ga. App. 1 (2000) (proximate cause in multi-stage manufacturing process)
- International Harvester Co. v. Cunningham, 245 Ga. App. 736 (2000) (product manufacturer’s rights in discovery)
Education
-
University of Virginia School of Law,
JD
- Dillard Fellow
- Harvard University, BA, History and Literature, cum laude
Admissions
- Georgia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, Judge Albert Henderson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice & Legal Strategies
- Aviation
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturers & Distributors
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Industries
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Product Liability & Mass Torts — Nationwide (2021)
- The Legal 500 United States:
- Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action: toxic tort- defense (2020)
- Product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2014–2016)
- The International Who's Who of Liability Defence Lawyers (2010, 2016–2018, 2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Product Liability Litigation — Defendants (2012–2022)
- Georgia Super Lawyers, PI Products: Defense (2010–2014, 2018–2021)
- Recognized for excellence in client services in the BTI Client Service All-Star Team for Law Firms (2011)
- Selected as one of Georgia Trend's Legal Elite (2012)
- Recipient of the firm's Sheryl Ortmann Diversity Award for his achievements in promoting diversity in the legal profession (2013)
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
- American Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
