Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that veteran litigator Jerry L. Rios has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner. The addition of Rios continues a recent surge of new arrivals for the firm in the Texas legal market and particularly in Houston. Since March 2018, Husch Blackwell has added 14 attorneys in its Houston office.
Rios focuses his practice on product liability defense and has particular experience with clients in the transportation industry. He has defended clients in a wide variety of matters, including product liability, premises liability, security liability, consumer fraud and bad faith, and catastrophic personal injury.
“At nearly 60 lawyers strong, our Product Liability group’s ability to handle complex, high-stakes matters is national in scope,” said Joe Orlet, the leader of Husch Blackwell’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team. “Jerry enhances the depth we have built, while also expanding our presence in Texas, which is a key strategic imperative for our group.”
Rios owned and managed a private statewide litigation defense practice in Texas for 30 years and has represented national companies in some of their most complex legal matters throughout Texas. He also has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution, participating in numerous mediations and arbitrations and serving the Texas legal community as both a mediator and an arbitrator.
Rios holds a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law and has a B.A. from Texas State University. Jerry has previously served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee for Attorney Discipline (Houston Division) and the State Bar of Texas Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (Houston Division). He was also a professor for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. He is currently a member of the Computer/Technology and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections of the State Bar of Texas and is a member of the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. Rios is also active in the Trucking Insurance Defense Association.
“Husch Blackwell has demonstrated a real commitment to the industries it serves, including transportation companies,” said Rios. “That intense industry focus, as well as the deep and talented bench of product liability lawyers at the firm, made Husch Blackwell a very attractive option. I look forward to growing the firm’s product liability practice in Texas and throughout the country.”