Butler Snow LLP is pleased to announce that Alyson B. Jones and Orlando R. Richmond, Sr. have been named to Forbes® 2025 Best-In-State Lawyers list in its inaugural 2025 edition. Jones and Richmond were each recognized for their experience and achievements in the Class Action/Mass Tort category in Mississippi.
“We congratulate Alyson and Rod on their well-deserved recognition,” said Christopher R. Maddux, chair of Butler Snow. “This honor is an acknowledgment of their expertise and dedication to providing an elevated level of client service.”
Forbes® Best-In-State Lawyers highlights exceptional candidates in an effort to produce an exhaustive list of the best legal representation each state has to offer. Inclusion as a member of the list is based on a multi-stage process involving editorial research, nominations, peer reviews, client feedback and review by an independent advisory board.
Alyson B. Jones
Jones serves as Practice Group Leader for the firm’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. Frequently called upon to assemble teams and manage both coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases, she represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability litigation across the country. Jones has “considerable MDL experience,” “continues to impress as the result of her aptitude at handling coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases,” and is “attuned to understanding the underlying business implications.” She is well-versed in MDL procedures, having represented major companies in high-profile MDL proceedings. Her recent experience includes serving as lead counsel successfully obtaining summary judgment in favor of a medical device manufacturer in the Middle District of Florida and serving as co-lead MDL counsel for a major pharmaceutical company in litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of New York. She has also served as MDL defense liaison counsel for another major company in mass tort litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and lead counsel for mass tort litigation in multiple jurisdictions across the country for another company.
In addition to being recognized by The Legal 500 US as a Next Generation Partner, Jones has been selected by Law360 as a Rising Star (2019), Lawdragon 500 (Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Litigation and Class Action Litigation), Thomson Reuters Mid-South Super Lawyers® and Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 (2014). In 2017, she was selected to PORTICO 10, a group of promising attorneys who have made significant accomplishments in their career. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Class (2014) and a graduate of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy.
Orlando R. Richmond, Sr.
Recognized as one of Benchmark Litigation’s 2019-2025 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America, Rod Richmond is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has over 30 years of experience and served as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous jury trials in state, federal and military venues. He has tried at least 60 cases to verdict and handled numerous administrative proceedings. His trial practice over the past several years has primarily focused on mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical products, over-the-counter products, toxic torts and environmental issues. In addition to his product liability practice, he also defends Attorneys General consumer protection litigation for clients in a variety of industries.
He is frequently called upon to prepare and try cases in challenging venues with significant amounts in controversy. AmLaw’s The Litigation Daily profiled him as its Litigator of the Week, May 11, 2018, for his defense verdict in a bellwether Pradaxa® product liability trial, and Law360 featured him as one of its 2016 Trial Pros. He is known for his courtroom presence, calm demeanor at trial and oral advocacy skills. He has extensive experience and success in converting medical, scientific and industry information into presentations that are easy for juries to understand.
Richmond is listed by a variety of other industry publications, including Chambers USA, Forbes (Class Action/Mass Tort), Lawdragon 500 (Mass Tort, Environment & Toxic Tort Litigation), LMG Life Sciences, BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®, Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence, Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences, and Thomson Reuters Mid-South Super Lawyers®. He has spoken on trial and litigation-related topics at prestigious industry conferences, including ACI’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation Seminar and IADC’s Corporate Counsel College.