Prof. Arthur Miller described Richard Arsenault as one of the “leaders in the area of complex litigation.” Similarly, Prof. Edward Sherman, former Dean of Tulane Law School, described Arsenault as one of the “experts in class actions.” Hon. Kenneth Starr observed that Arsenault has a “stunning ability to brilliantly multi-task.” He has been described by Baylor Professor James Wren as being at the “pinnacle of the national plaintiff’s bar, integral to the process of conceptualizing a national board certification in complex litigation and an absolute superstar of multibillion dollar plaintiff litigation management.” LSU Professor Frank Maraist noted that “Richard is one of the outstanding litigators in this part of the world, a leading faculty member at continuing legal education programs, and has been a valuable member of the LSU Trial Advocacy Program.” Arsenault has over 300 articles and presentations to his credit, including one published in the Federal Courts Law Review. He has also co-authored the chapter on MDLs in an ABA Treatise.

The Wall Street Journal described Arsenault as having “national notoriety” and observed he hosts “must-attend legal seminars on the hot cases of the moment.” The New York Times described him as one of the “big players” in the legal community and observed he has “repeatedly played a leading role in mass cases.” USA Today featured Arsenault as a member of the “Legal Elite” and the New Orleans Times Picayune referred to him as “an authority on class actions.” U.S. News & World Report included Arsenault in their “Best Lawyer” rankings and Business Week described him as a “Dean of the Louisiana Tort Bar.”

Arsenault has been an invited lecturer at various law schools including Baylor, Duke, Emory, University of Texas, Tulane, and George Washington. He has been featured by The New York Times, L.A. Times, NPR, Associated Press, CBS, BBC, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and other national press outlets. Arsenault has been recognized as one of America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers by Trial Lawyer magazine, nominated for the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award by the Public Justice Foundation, and recognized by the National Law Journal as one of America’s Elite Trial Lawyers. He will also be one of the first practitioners in the nation to become Board Certified in Complex Litigation. The LA Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed Arsenault to serve on the Rules of Professional Conduct and State MDL Exploratory Committees.

Arsenault has been involved in over 25 MDL proceedings, often appointed to leadership positions. He served as Co-Lead Counsel in the Actos MDL where a jury rendered a $9 billion verdict and the presiding Judge noted Arsenault’s “high degree of skill and expertise in complex litigation.” Arsenault also served on the Pinnacle Hip Implant MDL Executive Committee and was a trial team member for three Bellwether trials which resulted in $502 million, $1.04 billion, and $247 million verdicts. These form part of the over $15 billion in verdicts and settlements in which Arsenault has participated.

Neblett Beard & Arsenault