Rick is a litigator specializing in complex civil litigation and arbitration. His practice includes product liability defense and environmental matters. He has defended hundreds of tort and contract cases around the country. He has prosecuted civil claims ranging from intellectual property to insurance coverage. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial matters of various sorts, including trade secrets, allocation of liability, and construction disputes. Rick has represented clients in courts across the country, from New York to New Mexico to New Orleans, from rural West Texas to Downtown Los Angeles, and he has arbitrated cases around the world.
Rick serves as national trial counsel and coordinating counsel for major clients in mass tort matters that span the country. He represented four oil companies in a putative nationwide class action in which he was appointed by the court as liaison counsel for the industry. He represented three companies in another putative national class action, and he represents several companies in putative statewide and regional class actions across the country. Rick also represents defendants engaged in multidistrict litigation over product liability claims, and he serves on the defense steering committee for cases involving hundreds of parties on both sides.
Rick has considerable appellate experience, having successfully defended trial court victories in state and federal appellate courts. He has also represented trade associations and other parties as amici in state and federal appeals.
Rick's arbitration experience includes lengthy trials before various tribunals over issues ranging from construction disputes to contract claims to environmental liabilities. He has also served as a sole arbitrator and on panels of arbitrators, in a variety of matters.
Pro bono is also an important part of Rick's practice. He has worked on reform litigation for mental patients, and accepted a court appointment to handle the trial of a federal class action on behalf of Hispanic prisoners in the D.C. corrections system. Rick is also active in Rebuilding Together, a volunteer home-improvement service for low-income housing.
Before founding Wallace King, Rick was a partner at Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler and at Howrey & Simon.
When not practicing law, Rick is an instrument-rated pilot, a youth hockey coach, a fading hockey player, aging skier, mediocre golfer, and trout bum. Rick and his wife Anne have four children.