Richard Willis is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 35 years of experience practicing in the areas of product liability defense, environmental litigation, toxic torts, insurance defense and commercial litigation. He has acted as lead counsel in trials throughout the Southeast, and argued appeals in Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits and all (South Carolina, Georgia) appellate courts in the states in which he is admitted to practice.
Richard has served as lead counsel in catastrophic injury cases and significant business disputes for numerous corporate clients, including those in the communications industry, automotive and tire manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, retail distributors, pulp and paper companies, specialty chemical companies and consumer product manufacturers. Richard's case experiences include a wide variety of automotive and consumer products, disputes over the performance of large industrial equipment, Lanham Act and Unfair Trade Practice claims, construction defects, fire cause and origin claims and mass tort chemical exposure cases. He serves as regional counsel for various manufacturing and corporate clients, directing the supervision and management of their cases. Richard has participated in many cases and trials defending motor vehicles, cribs, heaters, car seats, bicycles and wakeboards against child plaintiffs’ claims.
Richard holds an adjunct professor position at the University of South Carolina, teaching trial advocacy. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator in South Carolina. Richard is a regular writer and speaker on trial advocacy and product liability issues.