Rich Oetheimer, a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department, specializes in the defense of products liability actions, commercial real estate development litigation and complex financial litigation.

Work for Clients

Mr. Oetheimer has extensive experience in the defense of product liability claims against manufacturers of prescription drugs, medical devices, chemical substances and consumer products. This experience includes defense of asbestos, DES, PPA, lead paint, heart valve and Dalkon Shield IUD litigation, including participation in jury trials in federal and state courts.

Mr. Oetheimer also has extensive experience in the defense of complex financial litigation, including substantial involvement in major bankruptcy court litigation matters. He has also been active in all types of commercial real estate development litigation, including zoning appeals and land use issues.

Professional Activities

Mr. Oetheimer has chaired programs for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, and has presented at CLE International Programs. He is a member of the Boston and American Bar Associations, the Products Liability Committee of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute.

Publications/Presentations

Mr. Oetheimer co-authored the “Lender Liability” chapter of the MCLE publication Business Torts in Massachusetts. He also was an Associate Editor of the California Law Review at the University of California at Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law from 1980-1981.

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Oetheimer is admitted to the Bars of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, and the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Massachusetts and the Northern District of New York. He has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in numerous American jurisdictions.

Education

J.D., University of California at Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981
B.A., Boston College, 1978 (summa cum laude)

Mr. Oetheimer also studied law at Harvard Law School.