Burr & Forman Mobile partner Ricardo Woods was recently appointed by the Defense Research Institute (DRI) to serve in the role of national diversity chairman for the organization. Woods assumes the role after serving as chair of the DRI’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the past year.

In his position as national diversity chairman, Woods will help lead the DRI in its diversity initiatives and efforts. These efforts include the DRI’s annual Diversity for Success Seminar and Corporate Expo, an innovative program that brings together more than 500 diverse attorneys, in-house counsel and law firm management. In addition, Woods will help the DRI continue its pursuit to becoming a thought leader on the issue of diversity within the legal profession, pushing the envelope to bring cutting-edge and thought-provoking ideas to the discussion on diversity and inclusion.

Woods has been actively involved in the DRI over the years, serving on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Government Liability Committee, and the Toxic Tort and Environmental Steering Committee.

At Burr, Woods is a defense trial attorney practicing in the firm’s Torts and Insurance Practice Group (TIPS) with an emphasis on, product and toxic tort liability, insurance litigation and government liability. He is also a member of the firm’s executive committee and the firm’s diversity committee.

Ricardo serves as the Chief Legal Counsel and City Attorney for the City of Mobile, AL and was appointed to the position by Mobile Mayor William S. Stimpson in 2013. In his capacity as City Attorney, Ricardo manages the City’s outside counsel at multiple law firms, serves as chief legal adviser to the executive branch of the local government, and serves as the executive director of the City of Mobile’s internal legal department.

About the DRI:

DRI is the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel. Membership in DRI provides access to resources and tools for attorneys who strive to provide high-quality, balanced and excellent service to their clients and corporations. DRI is host to 29 substantive committees whose focus is to develop ongoing and critical dialogue about areas of practice. DRI provides access to resources and tools to grow your practice – members can search a database of more than 65,000 experts, attend renowned CLE seminars, conferences, and webcasts, network with 20,000+ like-minded defense practitioners and more.

For more than a century, Burr & Forman LLP’s experienced legal team has served clients at the intersection of business and government with local, national, and international interests in numerous industry and practice areas, ranging from commercial litigation and class actions to corporate transactions, including bankruptcy and restructurings. A Southeast regional firm with 360 attorneys and 19 offices in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Burr & Forman attorneys draw from a diverse range of resources to help clients achieve their goals and address their complex legal needs. The firm operates as Burr Forman McNair in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.burr.com.