Richard P. Campbell

Of Counsel

617.241.3061

Connect

Print

EDUCATION

1970, B.A., University of Massachusetts
1974, J.D., cum laude, Boston College Law School

BAR ADMISSIONS

Florida
Massachusetts

COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
U.S. District Court, District of Maine
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, District of Vermont
U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

INDUSTRIES

Automotive

Aviation / Aerospace

Construction Industry Litigation

Heavy Equipment

Transportation / Trucking

PRACTICE AREAS

Asbestos Defense

Aviation Litigation

Business and Commercial Litigation

Class Actions

Employment Litigation

Environmental Litigation

Mass Disasters

Products Liability Defense

MEMBERSHIPS & AWARDS

After 32 years as a shareholder, Dick Campbell became Of Counsel to the firm on September 1, 2015. Dick will continue his efforts and contributions to keep the firm among the most prominent and recognized trial practice firms in the country.

Dick Campbell primarily represents national and international corporations in complex cases, including multi-district litigation, class actions, aviation, toxic tort and products liability disputes. He also represents clients in commercial disputes, including contests over the control of closely held corporations. He is one of seven national trial counsel for Caterpillar Inc., and, in August 2009, after five years of contentious litigation, concluded a nationally certified class action with decertification of the class, an involuntary dismissal with prejudice and an assessment of costs against the class representative.

Dick Campbell is lead trial counsel for one of the commercial airlines in the litigation pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit arising out of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein appointed him to the Aviation Defendants’ Executive Committee (“ADEC”) as Representative of the “Non-Carrier” Airlines Group. Under the leadership of its Liaison Counsel, Desmond T. Barry, Jr., the ADEC is responsible for coordinating the overall management of the procedural aspects of the litigation.

Dick is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and holds or has held numerous significant positions. He is a Past President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Dick is Founding Chair of the Board of Overseers at Boston College Law School and was awarded Boston College Law School’s highest honor, the Founders Medal. He serves as Trustee of the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the UMass Building Authority. Richard Campbell is a member of the ABA’s Task Force on Legal Education.

Featured in Boston Magazine, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the Boston Business Journal, Dick is also a frequent resource for television and radio programs on topics such as litigation, social host liability and the law.

  • American College of Trial Lawyers
    • Fellow
    • Chair, Adjunct State Committee, 2002-present
  • Boston College Law School
    • Board of Overseers, 2000 – 2009
    • Founding Chair, Board of Overseers, 2000 – 2007
    • Treasurer and Vice President, Alumni Council, 1990 – 1994
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
    • President, 2011 – 2012
    • President-Elect, 2010 – 2011
    • Vice President, 2009 – 2010
    • Attorney Chair, Bench Bar Committee, 2002 – 2003
    • Secretary, 2000 – 2001
    • Board of Delegates, 1991 – 1993; 1995 – 1998; 2000 – 2001
    • Co-Chair, Lawyer Advertising Committee, 1993 – 1996
    • Council Member, Section of Criminal Justice, 1993 – 1997
  • American Bar Association
    • Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)
      • Chair, 2001-2002
      • National Trial Academy
        • Director, 2006
        • Director-Elect, 2005
      • Committee Member, 2007-Present
      • Robert B. McKay Law Professor Awards Committee
        • Past Chair, 2007-2008
        • Chair, 2006-2007
      • Member, Section Council, 1996-1999
      • Vice-Chair, Aviation and Space Law Committee, 2006-2007
      • Member, Ethics and Professionalism Committee
      • Member, Task Force on Disaster Insurance Coverage
      • Chair, Task Force on September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund of 2001, 2001-2002
      • Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, 1999-2001
      • Chair, Task Force on Multi-Disciplinary Practices, 1999-2001
      • Appointed Chair, Task Force on Auto Choice Legislation, 1997-2000
      • Appointed TIPS Representative, American Board of Trial Advocates Civil Trial Bar Conferences, 1997-2003
      • Appointed Member, Task Force Proposed Changes to Rule 68, 1995-1996
      • Appointed Member, Ad Hoc Task Force on Civil Justice Panel, 1994-1996
      • Chair, Annual Meeting Program, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1993-1994
      • Chair, National Institute on Emerging Issues in Automobile Product Liability Litigation 1991, 1992
      • Chair, Products General Liability and Consumer Law Committee, 1990-1991
    • Fellow, ABA Foundation
    • Presidential Appointments
      • Member, Standing Committee on Governmental Affairs, 2005-2006
      • Member, Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, 2002-2005
      • Member, Special Committee on Funding the Judiciary, 2003-2004
      • Member, Task Force on Homeland Security
      • Member, Task Force on Terrorism and the Law, 2001-2002
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
    • Dean, Corporate Counsel College, 2005
    • Member, Executive Committee, 1996-1999
    • Chair, CLE Board, 1996-1999
    • Chair, Open Forum Committee, 1994-1995
    • Chair,Toxic and Hazardous Substances Committee, 1992-1994
    • Faculty Member, Defense Counsel Trial Academy, University of Colorado, 1991
    • Member, International Practice, Products Liability and Aviation Committees
  • Product Liability Advisory Council
    • Member, Executive Committee, 1995-1997
    • Trustee, PLAC Foundation
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Amicus Curiae Committee, 1995-1997
    • Product Liability Committee
  • Federal Bar Association
    • President, Massachusetts Chapter, 1993-1994
  • Massachusetts Bar Foundation
    • Board of Trustees, 1996-2001, 2008-
    • Vice President and Treasurer
  • Boston Bar Association
    • Co-Chair, Task Force on Multi-Jurisdictional Practice, 2001
    • Chair, 2002 Law Day Dinner Reception
  • United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, Civil Justice Advisory Group, established pursuant to the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990
    • Merit Selection Panel for Magistrate Judge, 2009
    • Appointed Member, 1991
  • Catholic Charities
    • Board of Trustees, 1996 – 2001
  • Boston College
    • President’s Circle
  • Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society
    • Board of Overseers, 1991-1994
  • Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States (ICCUSA)
    • Board of Directors, 1996
  • Boston College High School
    • Fides
  • Notre Dame Academy, Hingham
    • Board of Trustees, 1997 – 2002
  • University of Massachusetts
    • Board of Trustees, 2011 –
  • University of Massachusetts Building Authority
    • Member, 2011 –
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    • Advocate

  • The Charitable Irish Society, Silver Key Award
  • University of Massachusetts Boston 2014 Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Service
  • Inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Boston College Law School Founders Medal
  • American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Hecker Award
  • Boston College Law School Kenealey Award
  • University of Massachusetts Outstanding Alumni Award
  • Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association Defense Lawyer of the Year Award
  • MIAA Partners Wellness Partner of the Year Award
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” in the field of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and in the field of Products Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Selected by his peers as the Best Lawyers’ 2012 Boston Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Lawyer of the Year
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Listed in the Who’s Who Legal for Product Liability Defence
  • Listed as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation
  • Super Lawyer designation since 2005

Community Involvement

  • Catholic Charities (Board of Trustees, 1996 – 2001)
  • Notre Dame Academy, Hingham (Board of Trustees, 1997 – 2000)
  • Special Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County, 1991 – 1992
  • Boston College High School (Fides)
  • Greater Boston Elder Services
  • Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States (ICCUSA) (Board of Directors, 1996)
  • University of Massachusetts (Member, Board of Trustees)
  • Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society (Board of Overseers, 1991 – 1994)
  • Regular presentations on Social Host Liability to schools and community organizations throughout the State