Richard Joshua 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.