Richard E. Wallace, Jr. , who is our Washington, D.C. office managing partner, specializes in complex civil litigation and arbitration. Mr. Wallace, who has defended hundreds of torts and contract cases nationwide, focuses his practice on product liability defense and environmental matters. He has prosecuted civil claims ranging from intellectual property to insurance coverage, and has represented clients across the country and arbitrated cases around the world.
Richard E. Wallace, Jr. , who is our Washington, D.C. office managing partner, specializes in complex civil litigation and arbitration. Mr. Wallace, who has defended hundreds of torts and contract cases nationwide, focuses his practice on product liability defense and environmental matters. He has prosecuted civil claims ranging from intellectual property to insurance coverage, and has represented clients across the country and arbitrated cases around the world.
Mr. Wallace is the national trial counsel and coordinating counsel for major clients in mass torts 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 also represented three companies in another putative national class action, and represents several companies in putative statewide and regional class actions across the nation. Additionally, he also represents defendants in multidistrict litigation on product liability claims and serves on the defense steering committee for cases involving hundreds of parties.
He has considerable appellate experience, having successfully defended trial court victories in state and federal appellate courts. He also has represented trade associations and other parties as amici in state and federal appeals.
Mr. Wallace has arbitrated lengthy trials before various tribunals over issues ranging from construction disputes to contract claims to environmental liabilities. He also has served as a sole arbitrator and on panels of arbitrators in various matters.
Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments
Mr. Wallace is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and before the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia District; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth and Fifth Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia; and the Districts of Maryland and Southern Texas; U.S. Tax Court; District of Columbia Court of Appeals; and Maryland Court of Appeals.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Maryland Bar Association, and the American Arbitration Association. He was named among “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” by Chambers USA and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Mr. Wallace also performs a significant amount of pro bono work. He has worked on reform litigation for mentally ill patients, and accepted a court appointment to handle the trial of a federal class action on behalf of Hispanic prisoners in the District of Columbia corrections system. He is also active in Rebuilding Together, a volunteer home improvement service for low-income housing.
Publications and Presentations
- “Consolidated Arbitration in the United States: Recent Authority Requires Consent of the Parties,” 10 J. Int’l Arb. 5 (Switzerland 1993).
- “Developments in International Arbitration in the United States,” Jahrbuch der Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit (Germany 1988, 1989 and 1990).
- “Immunity for Arbitrators Under United States Law,” The Immunity of Arbitrators (England 1990).
- “Court-Ordered Consolidated Arbitrations in the United States,” 5 J. Int’l Arb. 5 (Switzerland 1988).
- “Interest Awards in International Commercial Arbitrations,” 28 Va. J. Int’l L. 919 (1988).
- “Choosing the Substantive Law to Apply in International Commercial Arbitration,” 27 Va. J. Int’l L. 39 (1986).
- “Legal Rights and Mental Health Care,” Lexington Books (1983); reprinted by McMillan Publishing (1985).