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Alicia N. Ritchie

Alicia N. Ritchie

Partner

100 S. Charles Street
Suite 1600
Baltimore, MD 21201
alicia.ritchie@nelsonmullins.com

Alicia is a skilled trial lawyer who handles complex disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country.  She routinely defends manufacturers, hospitals, retailers, and other corporate clients in a variety of litigation matters that span industries and pose substantial financial and reputational risk to their businesses.  Alicia is highly regarded for her ability to...

Alicia is a skilled trial lawyer who handles complex disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country.  She routinely defends manufacturers, hospitals, retailers, and other corporate clients in a variety of litigation matters that span industries and pose substantial financial and reputational risk to their businesses.  Alicia is highly regarded for her ability to develop nuanced litigation approaches tailored to the unique needs of each client, working closely with her clients to shape strategies that guide cases to successful resolutions. Clients look to Alicia to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most challenging matters and often engage her in the pretrial phase to initiate innovative legal strategies that lead to early pretrial exits at the motions stage or get cases best postured for trial. 

Alicia has extensive experience in all aspects of trial strategy and major case litigation and has served as trial counsel in multiple jurisdictions nationwide.  In addition, Alicia has broad experience guiding clients through MDLs, mass actions, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims, toxic tort, and other complex litigation.  She has also managed numerous local and national trial teams, national coordinating counsel representations, and substantial caseloads through every phase of the litigation process. 

Alicia N. Ritchie

develop nuanced litigation approaches tailored to the unique needs of each client, working closely with her clients to shape strategies that guide cases to successful resolutions. Clients look to Alicia to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most challenging matters and often engage her in the pretrial phase to initiate innovative legal strategies that lead to early pretrial exits at the motions stage or get cases best postured for trial. 

Alicia has extensive experience in all aspects of trial strategy and major case litigation and has served as trial counsel in multiple jurisdictions nationwide.  In addition, Alicia has broad experience guiding clients through MDLs, mass actions, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims, toxic tort, and other complex litigation.  She has also managed numerous local and national trial teams, national coordinating counsel representations, and substantial caseloads through every phase of the litigation process. 

Alicia is a skilled trial lawyer who handles complex disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country.  She routinely defends manufacturers, hospitals, retailers, and other corporate clients in a variety of litigation matters that span industries and pose substantial financial and reputational risk to their businesses.  Alicia is highly regarded for her ability to... develop nuanced litigation approaches tailored to the unique needs of each client, working closely with her clients to shape strategies that guide cases to successful resolutions. Clients look to Alicia to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most challenging matters and often engage her in the pretrial phase to initiate innovative legal strategies that lead to early pretrial exits at the motions stage or get cases best postured for trial. 

Alicia has extensive experience in all aspects of trial strategy and major case litigation and has served as trial counsel in multiple jurisdictions nationwide.  In addition, Alicia has broad experience guiding clients through MDLs, mass actions, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims, toxic tort, and other complex litigation.  She has also managed numerous local and national trial teams, national coordinating counsel representations, and substantial caseloads through every phase of the litigation process. 

Experience

The 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 

  • Served as trial counsel in multiple state and federal courts for major talcum powder and asbestos-containing product manufacturers in mass tort litigation involving alleged personal injuries resulting from consumer and/or occupational exposures. Prior to trials, developed effective trial themes, complex medical, scientific, and technical defenses, corporate defenses, and case evaluation and resolution strategies. Also, successfully argued dispositive motions and motions in limine, limiting the clients’ exposures and often placing cases in a favorable position for pretrial resolution.
  • Serves as pretrial science counsel and science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams for major agrochemical manufacturer in litigation involving consumer and/or occupational exposures to agricultural and industrial chemicals, arguing motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and working to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials.
  • Serves as member of national coordinating counsel team for major consumer products company in talcum powder litigation, coordinating the company’s defense nationwide on various issues, including discovery, corporate designee witness testimony, experts, and trial workup.
  • Manages and serves as lead defense counsel for hundreds of asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death cases pending in Maryland and Washington D.C.
  • Represented major retailer in products liability litigation involving the sale of baby food allegedly containing toxic heavy metals.
  • Obtained judgment on the pleadings on behalf of brake manufacturer on five of seven claims in toxic tort products liability action.
  • Obtained summary judgment for drug manufacturer on all claims in a products liability action involving off-label use of product.
  • Obtained summary judgment for brake manufacturer on all claims in a toxic tort products liability action on grounds of insufficiency of expert testimony.
  • Obtained nonsuit for brake manufacturer on punitive damages claim in toxic tort products liability action, resulting in a favorable resolution.
  • Experience with settlement negotiations, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals.

Education

  • University of Baltimore School of Law, JD, cum laude (2006)
  • Coppin State University, MS (2001)
  • Coppin State University, BA, magna cum laude (1999)

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Clerkships

  • Judicial Clerk, The Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge (ret.), Supreme Court of Maryland

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Benchmark Litigation
    • Future Star (2022–2025)
    • Local Litigation Star (2021)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2023–2025), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2021–2025)
  • The Daily Record, Maryland’s Top 100 Women (2023, 2018); Leading Women (2016)
  • The Legal 500, Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action – defense: Toxic Tort (2022)
  • Profiles in Diversity Journal, Black Leadership Award (2022)
  • The Greater Baltimore Committee’s Leadership Class of 2022
  • Girl Scouts of Central Maryland: Distinguished Women Award (2018)
  • Maryland Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars Edition, Business Litigation (2012–2014); Class Action/Mass Torts (2014–2016)
  • Leadership on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow (2015)
  • ABA Tips Leadership Academy Participant (2014)
  • Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland
  • American Bar Association
  • ABA TIPS Leadership Academy Taskforce
  • American Bar Foundation
  • Baltimore City Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Maryland Defense Counsel
  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • National Bar Association
  • Serves as Chair of Coppin State University’s Development Foundation board. Previously served as board Vice-Chair and Governance Committee Chair
  • Member of University of Maryland System Foundation board, serving on board’s Spending Committee
  • Member of the Fannie Angelos Program for Excellence Advisory Board
  • Served as Dean of Lawyer’s Campaign for the CollegeBound Foundation
  • Served as Co-Leader for Legal Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Coaching Circles Program
  • Served as Baltimore City Lead for LCLD Law School Mentoring Program
  • Served as Attorney Mentor for University of Baltimore School of Law IL Mentoring Program
  • Pro bono attorney for Maryland Legal Aid Expungement Clinic
  • Former pro bono attorney for House of Ruth
  • Former pro bono attorney for Homeless Persons Representation Project