“Orlando Richmond is highly recognized for his skills as a trial attorney.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2024, where Rod is ranked for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts and Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi) “He’s just phenomenal in the courtroom.” “He connects well with juries.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2023) “Richmond was described by one industry competitor as having ‘one of the best courtroom presences in the industry’ ... ‘Rod is fantastic,’ enthuses a peer. ‘He is a former military man who doesn’t flinch at trying cases in very difficult, plaintiff-friendly venues like Atlantic City and Philadelphia, and he manages to bring a calm, pleasant demeanor to what could be very ugly proceedings. It works – he sways the juries.’” (Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America Editorial, 2019)
Overview
“Orlando Richmond is highly recognized for his skills as a trial attorney.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2024, where Rod is ranked for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts and Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi) “He’s just phenomenal in the courtroom.” “He connects well with juries.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2023) “Richmond was described by one industry competitor as having ‘one of the best courtroom presences in the industry’ ... ‘Rod is fantastic,’ enthuses a peer. ‘He is a former military man who doesn’t flinch at trying cases in very difficult, plaintiff-friendly venues like Atlantic City and Philadelphia, and he manages to bring a calm, pleasant demeanor to what could be very ugly proceedings. It works – he sways the juries.’” (Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America Editorial, 2019)
Practice Areas
About
Recognized as one of Benchmark Litigation’s 2019-2024 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America, Rod Richmond is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has over 30 years of experience and served as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous jury trials in state, federal and military venues. He has tried at least 60 cases to verdict and handled numerous administrative proceedings. His trial practice over the past several years has primarily focused on mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical products, over-the-counter products, toxic torts and environmental issues. In addition to his product liability practice, he also defends Attorneys General consumer protection litigation for clients in a variety of industries.
He is frequently called upon to prepare and try cases in challenging venues with significant amounts in controversy. AmLaw’s The Litigation Daily profiled him as its Litigator of the Week, May 11, 2018, for his defense verdict in a bellwether Pradaxa® product liability trial, and Law360 featured him as one of its 2016 Trial Pros. He is known for his courtroom presence, calm demeanor at trial and oral advocacy skills. He has extensive experience and success in converting medical, scientific and industry information into presentations that are easy for juries to understand.
In June 2020, Rod authored a two-column article in Fortune on diversity and inclusion. In part one, he discussed three issues that contribute to a law firm environment where diverse lawyers are minimized and ultimately leave law firms. In part two, he discussed potential steps firms can take to address bias and retention. The Wall Street Journal pictured and quoted Rod in a September 2020 article discussing diversity issues and why there are still so few black executives in America’s top companies. His writing on diversity-related topics has also been published in The American Lawyer, DRI’s For The Defense, and Mississippi Business Journal, among others. He received the National Bar Association’s 2021 Presidential Black Excellence Award.
Rod is listed by a variety of other industry publications, including Chambers USA, Lawdragon 500 (Mass Tort, Environment & Toxic Tort Litigation), LMG Life Sciences, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence, Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences, and Mid-South Super Lawyers. He has spoken on trial and litigation-related topics at prestigious industry conferences, including ACI’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation Seminar and IADC’s Corporate Counsel College.
Rod was profiled by the American College of Trial Lawyers in “Fellows as Ministers: Calling and Practice Not Mutually Exclusive,” Journal, Issue 89, Spring 2019, for serving as a pastor of Northside Christian Church in West Point, Mississippi. He is a member of the West Point, Mississippi Hall of Fame. He has served as City Attorney for West Point since 2005. He is a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation, past president of the Mississippi Bar Association’s Litigation/General Practice Section, and served on the Mississippi Governor’s Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee. His litigation career began as a Marine Corps JAG Officer, and he was nominated for Outstanding Young Marine Corps Lawyer for his work.
Rod received his J.D. from Georgetown University and his B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from Jackson State University. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., District of Columbia Superior Court. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi.
Experience
- The below are some of Rod’s recent trials and significant results:
- Debra Purnell, et al. v. Monsanto Company, et al., Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Opinion issued on July 1, 2024. “Monsanto Ducks Roundup Case as Philly Plaintiff Withdraws,” Law360, July 3, 2024
- Cates v. Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., Case No. 6:19-cv-1670-PGB-LRH, U.S.D.C. (M.D. Fla.) - Obtained summary judgment, affirmed by the 11th Circuit, based on adequate labeling. “11th Circ. Freezes CoolSculpting User’s Product Liability Suit,” Law360, July 24, 2023
- Gallam v. Boehringer Ingelheim, Case No. CPL-HHD CV-16-6067874-S, Connecticut Superior Court at Hartford, 2018 (Co-Lead Defense Counsel). “Litigator of the Week: A Compassionate – But Effective – Product Liability Defense,” The American Lawyer’s The Litigation Daily, May 11, 2018; “Boehringer Scores 2nd Bellwether Win in Conn. Pradaxa Suit,” Law360, May 7, 2018.
- Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson et al., Case No. 1422-CC09326-01, 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, 2017 (Lead Defense Counsel). “J&J, Backed by Battalion of Lawyers, Opens 5th Talcum Powder Trial,” The National Law Journal, April 11, 2017.
- Elliott v. El Paso Corp., et al., 181 So. 3d 263 (Miss. 2015) (Lead Defense Counsel). Summary judgment affirmed on appeal.
- Kristufek v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc., Case No. 120702275, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, 2015 (Lead Defense Counsel).
- Andrews v. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Greenblatt v. Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., and Gaghan v. Hoffmann-La Roche; Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, 2011 (Lead Defense Counsel). “Roche Win Upheld in ‘Twin Peaks’ Star’s Accutane Case,” Law360, August 4, 2014.
- Rossitto v. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Case No. ATL-l-7481-10-MT and Reynolds v. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Case No. 002644-03, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, 2012 (Lead Defense Counsel).
Distinctions
- West Point, Mississippi Hall of Fame
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Board of Trustees, 2019-Present
- Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, Mass Tort, Environment & Toxic Tort, 2022, 2024-2025
- Benchmark Litigation
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2019-2024
- Litigation Star – Nationwide and Mississippi
- National Practice Area Star
- The AmLaw Litigation Daily
- Litigator of the Week, May 11, 2018
- Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business,
- Product Liability & Mass Torts - Nationwide, 2015-2024
- Litigation: General Commercial - Mississippi, 2023-2024
- National Bar Association
- Presidential Black Excellence Award, 2021
- The Legal 500 US
- Recognized in the editorial for nationwide Dispute Resolution: Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices – Defense, 2019.
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2011-2025
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Super Lawyers, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2006-2007, 2011-2023
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2012-2023
- Capital Bar Association, Professionalism Award, 2023
- Law360, Trials Editorial Advisory Board, 2022
- LMG Life Sciences, Life Sciences Star
- Who's Who Legal
- Product Liability Defence
- Life Sciences – Product Liability
- Greater Mississippi Attorney at Law Magazine, Feature Cover Story, Premiere Edition, June 2012
- Former Member, Mississippi Governor's Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee
- City Attorney, West Point, Mississippi, 2005-Present
- Clay County's Top 40 Over 40, Daily Times Leader, 2008
- Nominee, Outstanding Young Marine Corps Lawyer, 1992
- Judge Advocate, United States Marine Corps, 1991-1994
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1994
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
Education
- Georgetown University, J.D., 1989
- National Champion, Moot Court
- Jackson State University, B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 1986
- President, Student Government Association
- Clerkship, Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., District of Columbia Superior Court, 1989-1990
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Bench-Bar Liaison Committee
- Litigation/General Practice Section
- Past President, 2003-2005
- Workers’ Compensation Section
- Past Executive Committee Member
- Magnolia Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Capital Area Bar Association
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Member, Trial Law Institute
- Member, Diversity Law Institute
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Panelist, “Trial Masters – The Use of Storytelling at Trial and Expecting the Unexpected,” American Bar Association TIPS Section Conference, Hollywood, CA, May 2, 2024.
- Panelist, "Strategies in High Profile, Bet-The-Company Litigation: From Venue to Trial Practice Tips," Butler Snow and ACC TN CLE Program, December 6, 2023.
- Panelist, "Product Liability & Mass Torts: Location, Location, Location," Black In-House Counsel Network, 2023 Elevating Black Excellence Virtual Conference, April 27, 2023.
- Panelist, "Trial Lawyer Roundtable," Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 15, No. 1, March 2022.
- Speaker, "Changing Tides and Steady Streams in the Jury Panel (Part 2 of 2)," 2022 DRI Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., February 3, 2022.
- Speaker, "Product Liability Trial Tactics – Elements and Style (Part 1 of 2)," 2022 DRI Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., February 3, 2022.
- Panelist, “Challenges and Initiatives: Increasing Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” American Bar Association, December 17, 2020.
- Author, “Why I Resist Casual Friday and Other Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion: A Black Partner’s Perspective,” The Quarterly, Volume 44, Number 2, Summer 2020.
- Author, "Why I Resist Casual Friday and Other Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion," DRI For the Defense, July 2020.
- Author, "Effective strategies for finding—and retaining—talented nonwhite and female lawyers: A Black partner’s perspective," Fortune, June 12, 2020.
- Author, "A Black partner’s perspective on why law firms are failing at diversity," Fortune, June 11, 2020.
- Author, “ORLANDO R. RICHMOND – Why I resist casual Friday and other thoughts on diversity and inclusion: A Black partner’s perspective,” Mississippi Business Journal, June 9, 2020.
- Author, "Why I Resist Casual Friday and Other Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion: A Black Partner's Perspective," The American Lawyer, June 8, 2020.
- Panelist, “Defending Against Punitive Damages,” International Association of Defense Counsel, 2020 Midyear Meeting, Pebble Beach, Calif., February 23, 2020.
- Author, “Why I Resist Casual Friday and Other Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion: A Black Partner’s Perspective,” Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 12 No. 4, January 2020.
- Faculty, Mississippi ABOTA Masters in Trial CLE, Mississippi College School of Law, November 14, 2019.
- Presenter, “Real Life Tips and Instruction for Today’s Litigator,” Memphis Bar Association CLE, Memphis, Tenn., November 8, 2017.
- Panelist, “Striking Back Against Innovative Third Party Litigation Funding and Aggressive Attorney Advertising,” ACI Drug & Medical Device Litigation Conference, New York, N.Y., December 2016.
- Panelist and Moderator, “The Impact of Social Media, Advertising and Litigation Financing,” IADC Corporate Counsel College, Chicago, Ill., April 2016.
- Author, “Discovery From The Perspective of Closing Argument,” Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 6 No. 3, September 2013.
- Presenter, “The Closing Argument: Objectives, Obligations and Objections,” Magnolia Bar Association Fall CLE, Jackson, Miss., November 2013.
- Presenter, “Reimagining Discovery through the Prism of Closing Argument,” DRI Annual Young Lawyers Seminar, Las Vegas, Nev., June 20, 2013.
- Presenter, “Current Juror Perceptions of the FDA and the FDA Defense: A Focus Group Analysis,” DRI Conference, New York, N.Y., May 16, 2013.
- Presenter, “Opening Statements,” Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Federal Express Worldwide Headquarters, Memphis, Tenn., November 2010.
- Presenter, “Building Your Civil Trials,” National Business Institute, July 2010.
- Presenter, “The Art of the Settlement,” National Business Institute, September 2009.
- Presenter, “The Opening Statement: A Lasting Impression, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Roy Smith” (based on A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger), Mississippi Bar Litigation Section, January 2009.
- Presenter, “Red Hot Topics in Litigation: What's the Damage? Apportionment of Fault,” Mississippi Bar Convention, Summer School for Lawyers, July 2008.