Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the past 30 years. Corporate Legal Times reported that national defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation’s “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ lawyers in corporate America.” The article notes, “For all his talents as a shrewd negotiator … Rice has earned most of his respect from playing fair and remaining humble.”

National Prescription Opiate MDL: Joe serves as co-lead counsel in the National Prescription Opiate MDL. As Chair of the opioid Negotiating Committee, he’s worked with the committee and the AG Committee to reach over $50 billion in settlements for communities.

Vehicle Recalls: Joe served as one of the lead negotiators in the $15 billion Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Fraud settlement for 2.0-liter vehicles, the largest auto-related consumer class action settlement in U.S. history. Joe also led the firm’s negotiations of a pair of Takata bankruptcy resolutions, securing funds for victims.

Medical Drugs and Devices: Joe led negotiations for several settlements that are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion for women who allege complications caused by TVM and sling products. He is also a member of the PSC for the Lipitor® MDL.

BP Oil Spill: Joe served as a co-lead negotiator for the PSC for two settlements with BP, one of which is the largest civil class action settlement in U.S. history. He also led negotiations for the settlement reached between the PSC and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

9/11: Joe held a crucial role in executing strategic mediations and/or resolutions on behalf of 56 families of 9/11 victims who opted out of the government-created September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. The litigation and resulting settlements provided recourse to victims’ families and shattered a settlement matrix that had been utilized for decades.

Tobacco: As lead private counsel for 26 jurisdictions, including numerous State AGs, Joe was integral to the crafting and negotiating of the landmark $246 billion Master Settlement Agreement.

Asbestos: Joe has led and negotiated the bankruptcies of numerous large asbestos corporations for more than 30 years. He has also worked on numerous Trust Advisory Committees, reaching resolutions through the Bankruptcy Court in the aggregate of more than $30 billion.

Learn more about Joe Rice at www.motleyrice.com/attorneys/joseph-f-rice.