Episode 35 Legacy and Leadership | Ricardo Woods

Join David as he talks with Ricardo Woods, the managing partner of Burr & Forman's Mobile office. Ricardo is a defense trial lawyer and practices in the Administrative, Government, and Regulatory​ practice group with an emphasis on product and toxic tort liability, insurance litigation, and government liability. Ricardo is a creative problem-solver who provides his clients with innovative, cost-effective solutions and strategies. He is no stranger to the courtroom and has handled all stages of complex litigation over the last two decades. Ricardo has first-chair jury trial experience and extensive pretrial litigation experience. He has successfully defended matters, which included allegations of wrongful death, paralysis, consumer protection claims, fraud related to financial services, bad faith, civil rights violations, severe bodily injuries, and catastrophic property loss. In addition to his service to the bar and his government service as former City Attorney for the City of Mobile at the cabinet level with both Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Mayor Spiro Chriogotis, Ricardo has over a decade of general counsel experience, including leading a legal department, hiring outside counsel, monitoring litigation budgets, managing economic development projects, and actively guiding a crisis management team. Ricardo has served as a leader in the non-profit community over the years as the President of 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile, Inc., Chair of Mobile United, President of the Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association (an NBA affiliate), Chairman of AL.com’s first Gulf Coast Young Professionals’ Summit, and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Prichard Preparatory School. Ricardo currently serves as Second Vice President of the DRI Association of Lawyers Defending Business. He previously served as Secretary/Treasurer and as a member of the Board of Directors (National Director). His leadership within DRI also includes past service on the Diversity Committee (chair), the Product Liability Committee, and the Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Steering Committee. In addition, Ricardo is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). 2:30 Natchez, MS 5:00 AP Class 8:00 High School  12:00 Shaped Leadership 14:06 Didn't see himself as a leader at first  15:25 In charge of taking care of your people 16:58 Servant Leadership 17:59 Law school 19:20 Cumberland Law School 20:21 No coincidences 23:21 Been in Mobile 23 years