About Rich Hood

Richard J. Hood brings more than 18 years of complex litigation experience to The Wilhite Law Firm, with a national practice spanning high-stakes product liability, pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts, electronic discovery, and international data privacy. As a complex litigation attorney, he develops and implements litigation strategy for a docket comprising several of the world’s largest medical device manufacturing companies.

Before rejoining civilian practice, Rich was a Senior Instructor and Course Developer at the U.S. Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, training Civil Affairs and Military Governance officers in strategic communication, operational planning, and governance. He has operated as a former Infantryman and Civil Affairs leader in Southeast Asia, East Africa, Eastern Europe, and Korea. His dual careers in law and military service uniquely position him to navigate the intersection of legal systems, technology, and cross-cultural dynamics.

Rich has been judicially appointed to plaintiffs’ leadership roles in federal multidistrict litigation, including Mirena IUS, Hydroxycut, and numerous transvaginal mesh and pharmaceutical MDLs. He has served as court-appointed eDiscovery Liaison in high-profile federal cases. He is a contributing editor to multiple publications of The Sedona Conference on electronic discovery and cross-border data protection.

Known for his strategic precision and steady leadership under pressure, Rich has been a trusted advisor to law firms nationwide on litigation technology and workflow optimization. He is a frequent speaker at judicial training symposiums and legal technology conferences and continues mentoring junior attorneys and legal professionals across disciplines.