Richard represents clients in environmental, natural resources, commercial, healthcare fraud, and white collar criminal matters, including trials and appeals and investigations by regulatory and law enforcement agencies. He has decades of experience navigating parallel proceedings in which civil and criminal issues arise from the same set of facts.
Although much of Richard’s work involves defending clients, he has obtained millions of dollars in value for plaintiffs and counter-claimants, and obtained an injunction protecting a rare wetlands area. He has also obtained, pro bono, the release from federal prison of an individual incarcerated for 30 years for a non-violent crime.
Professional Recognition
- AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary
- Top Leading Litigator by Chambers USA
- Best Lawyers in America®—Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental, and Natural Resources. In addition, Best Lawyers in America® has named Richard Davis the “Birmingham Natural Resources Law Lawyer of the Year” for 2017, 2019, and 2021.
- Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Chair, Birmingham Bar Association Federal Practice Section (2015-2016)
- Chair, Alabama State Bar Environmental Law Section (2010-2011)
- Editor-in-Chief, Cumberland Law Review (1988-1989)
Community Involvement
- Volunteer, Northern District of Alabama Pro Bono Counsel for Unrepresented Indigent Parties in Civil Cases
Highlights
- Environmental: Representing Lee County Commission in effort to protect local water supply and unincorporated communities from impacts by a proposed granite quarry
- Commercial: Defending corporation, CEO, and CFO in federal lawsuit by customer alleging breach of contract, fraud, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) violations with damages claim exceeding $50,000,000
- Environmental: Defending public water authority in multiple putative class action/mass tort cases regarding PFOA, PFOS, and related chemicals released into the Tennessee River by upstream manufacturers
- Environmental/Commercial: representing recycling and transport services company in state civil enforcement proceeding and related federal commercial litigation after successful representation in federal criminal investigation of hazardous waste disposal practices (no charges filed)
- Healthcare: representing multiple healthcare providers—including nursing homes, pharmacists, pharmacies, and a psychologist—in False Claims, Stark, and Anti-Kickback and other fraud investigations
- Environmental: Defending Clean Water Act citizen suit against landowner for alleged unpermitted discharges of pollutants into Black Warrior River from fully reclaimed mine site
- Environmental: Represented City of Opelika and additional parties in successful rejection of proposed granite quarry that threatened Saugahatchee watershed, city water supply, and charitable equine and canine therapy farm for at-risk children
Presentations and Publications
- “Surprise! You May Be an Environmental Criminal: Recognizing the Quagmire as a Prerequisite to Managing Risk, Manufacture Alabama Environmental Conference (November 16, 2016, Millbrook, Alabama)(presentation)
- “Working with Environmental Experts in Litigation, Regulation, and Transactions,” 25th Annual Southern Environmental Law & Regulation Conference (June 10, 2016, Destin, Florida)(presentation)
- “Healthcare Audits and Investigations as Pathways to Criminal and Civil Liabilities for Providers,” Etowah County Medical Group Management Association (October 20, 2015, Gadsden, Alabama)(presentation)
- “Strategic Legal Risk Management—Contingency Planning to Avoid or Mitigate Legal Crises,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)
- “Investigations—Internal and Governmental,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)
- “What Accountants Should Know About White Collar Crime,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)
News & Insights
- SDF’s Richard Davis & Brittney Claud Obtain Favorable Judgment for Family Physician in Medicare Overpayment/Recoupment Case
- 16 Starnes Attorneys Listed in the 2022 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- 30 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2023
- STARNES DAVIS FLORIE RANKED A TOP FIRM BY CHAMBERS USA 2022
- US Department of Labor Announces Enforcement, Effort for Focused Inspections in Hospitals, Nursing Care Facilities Treating COVID-19 Patients
- TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
- DOJ Announces Renewed, Enhanced Focus on Corporate Crime
- 29 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2022
- OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Workers
- STARNES DAVIS FLORIE RANKED A TOP FIRM BY CHAMBERS USA 2021
- OSHA’s National Emphasis Program – COVID-19
- Biden’s OSHA and the Likelihood of More COVID-19 Regulation
- Corporate Transparency Act Requires Identification of Owners and Control of Shell Companies and Imposes Civil and Criminal Liability for Non-Compliance
- Twenty-Six Attorneys Named to the 2020 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Criminal Consequences for Failed OSHA Compliance
- Twenty-Six SDF Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021
- Richard Davis, Joe Miller & Christian Hines Named Best Lawyers”2021 Lawyer of the Year”
- PPP Amendments Loosen Restrictions, Provide Additional Relief to Businesses
- With Benefits Come Responsibility: Businesses Should Expect Sharp Scrutiny for Covid-19 Relief
- DOJ’s National Nursing Home Initiative Targets “Grossly Substandard Care”