Motley Rice
Motley Rice is a privately held plaintiffs' litigation law firm founded in 1979 with more than 100 attorneys across nine U.S. offices, representing individuals, governments, and institutions in complex civil litigation and mass torts on a contingency-fee basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersMount Pleasant, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Motley Rice does
Motley Rice is a privately held plaintiffs' litigation law firm founded in 1979 and headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with affiliated entities in California (Motley Rice LLP) and New Jersey (Motley Rice New Jersey LLC). The firm employs more than 100 attorneys and hundreds of support personnel across nine U.S. offices and operates a global co-counsel network that enables representation in all 50 states and internationally. Motley Rice specializes in complex civil litigation on behalf of individual plaintiffs harmed by corporate wrongdoing, government entities, and institutional clients, with 19 named practice areas spanning anti-terrorism, antitrust, asbestos exposure, aviation, consumer fraud, diabetes/GLP-1 RA drugs, human rights, medical devices, medical drugs, nursing home abuse, personal injury, securities class actions, sexual abuse, technology and media, toxic exposure, transportation, whistleblower, and women's health. The firm holds MDL leadership positions in several active mass torts, including hair relaxer (10,900+ pending cases), talcum powder (57,937+ cases), and PFAS/AFFF litigation.
The firm's business model is overwhelmingly contingency-fee based: attorneys are paid a percentage of client recovery only if the case succeeds, with case expenses deducted from the gross recovery. Some matters are handled on an hourly retainer basis. Initial consultations are free, and client acquisition occurs through a multi-channel approach including online case intake forms covering 100+ case types, attorney referrals, earned media coverage, content marketing (the "Causes, Not Just Cases" blog and newsletter), and an active presence across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky. Distribution is direct-to-consumer plus co-counsel referral. Notable case results include negotiation of the $246 billion tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (the largest civil settlement in U.S. history), a $110 million Wells Fargo shareholder derivative settlement approved in 2026, and a $103 million New Indy emissions settlement.
There are no proprietary technology products or platforms; technology footprint consists of standard marketing, analytics, and consent tooling (Google Analytics, Hotjar, CallRail, BrightEdge, OneTrust, Google Tag Manager, and advertising pixels). The firm has multiple registered trademarks for its logo and brand identity and maintains an extensive awards profile (Chambers USA, Best Law Firms National Tier 1, The Legal 500 United States Top Tier, Lawdragon 500, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent) reflecting its national reputation.
Motley Rice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Motley Rice
- Legal name
- Motley Rice LLC
- Website
- https://motleyrice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Motley Rice is a privately held plaintiffs' litigation law firm founded in 1979 with more than 100 attorneys across nine U.S. offices, representing individuals, governments, and institutions in complex civil litigation and mass torts on a contingency-fee basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Motley Rice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plaintiffs Litigation Law Firm
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)
Keywords
Where Motley Rice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mount Pleasant
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Motley Rice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Contingency Fee Representation: Most cases use a contingent fee contract, meaning attorneys do not get paid until or unless clients make a recovery. The contingent fee is a percent of the recovery, calculated before deducting expenses. In some circumstances, a retainer agreement may include representation on an hourly basis.
- Hourly Fee Representation: In some circumstances, a retainer agreement may include representation on an hourly basis, though the firm recommends speaking with an attorney to learn more about fee structures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Contingency Fee - No upfront cost to clients |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Motley Rice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Motley Rice is a plaintiffs' litigation law firm that provides contingency fee and hourly legal representation to individuals, families, workers, consumers, investors, and government entities who have been harmed by corporate or institutional wrongdoing. The firm litigates complex civil cases across 19 practice areas — including asbestos, tobacco, securities fraud, sexual abuse, toxic exposure, medical drugs/devices, antitrust, and consumer fraud — and leads multi-district litigation (MDLs), class actions, and mass torts across all 50 U.S. states and internationally through a co-counsel network.
Product overview
Motley Rice is a plaintiffs' litigation law firm providing legal services through a comprehensive portfolio of practice areas rather than a technology product platform. The firm offers legal representation across 19 core practice areas including Anti-Terrorism, Antitrust, Asbestos Exposure, Aviation, Consumer Fraud, Diabetes Lawsuits, Human Rights, Medical Devices, Medical Drugs, Nursing Home Abuse, Personal Injury, Public Client, Securities Class Actions, Sexual Abuse, Technology and Media, Toxic Exposure, Transportation, Whistleblower, and Women's Health. The firm maintains featured active cases including Ozempic/Gastroparesis, Talcum Powder, Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food, Teen Social Media Harm (including Meta), Birth Control, Hair Relaxer, and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. Motley Rice provides legal consultation services through case intake forms and attorney consultations, operating primarily in the United States with offices in multiple states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Asbestos Exposure Legal Services Represents victims of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, seeking compensation from asbestos companies.
- Securities Class Actions Handles securities fraud litigation, shareholder derivative actions, and class actions involving investment losses and corporate governance failures.
- Sexual Abuse Litigation Represents survivors of sexual abuse including clergy abuse, institutional abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and human trafficking, including under Rhode Island's lookback window law and in international matters such as the Harrods trafficking investigation.
- Toxic Exposure Litigation Handles cases involving toxic substance exposure including talcum powder, hair relaxers, PFAS, asbestos, lead poisoning, baby food heavy metals, Camp Lejeune water contamination, and environmental contamination.
- Medical Drugs and Devices Litigation Represents patients injured by pharmaceutical products (including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RA drugs, birth control drugs and devices, mental health medications, hernia mesh, insulin pumps, and other medical devices).
- Personal Injury Lawsuits Handles personal injury claims arising from accidents, defective products, and negligence causing bodily harm.
- Consumer Fraud Protection Litigates cases involving consumer fraud, deceptive practices, and protecting consumer rights.
- Public Client Services Represents government entities, attorneys general, and public clients in high-impact litigation and investigations, including opioid, fair lending, and environmental matters.
- Antitrust Litigation Handles antitrust class actions and complex litigation against companies engaged in anti-competitive behavior.
- Aviation Accident Litigation Pursues legal action on behalf of victims and families affected by aviation accidents and incidents.
- Human Rights Lawsuits Represents victims of human rights violations including trafficking, labor exploitation, and institutional abuse (including the Harrods trafficking investigation in partnership with UK firm Leigh Day).
- Anti-Terrorism Lawsuits Represents victims and families in litigation against terrorist financiers and entities that enable terrorism.
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Represents victims of nursing home abuse, neglect, and substandard care in elder care facilities.
- Whistleblower Claims Represents whistleblowers bringing claims under SEC, CFTC, IRS, and Qui Tam provisions.
- Technology and Media Lawsuits Handles litigation involving technology companies, social media harm, data privacy, and media-related claims.
- Women's Health Lawsuits Handles litigation involving women's health products including birth control devices, fertility treatments, and reproductive health medications.
- Transportation Accident Lawsuits Pursues claims arising from transportation accidents including vehicle defects, train derailments, and automotive safety issues.
- Hair Relaxer Products Liability MDL MDL No. 3060 alleging chemical hair relaxer products (L'Oréal, Revlon, and others) caused uterine, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, with 10,900+ lawsuits pending and bellwether trials scheduled for late 2026.
- Wells Fargo Shareholder Derivative Settlement $110 million federal court-approved shareholder derivative settlement resulting in mortgage assistance for low- and moderate-income borrowers in over 50 communities; Motley Rice served as co-lead counsel alongside Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP and Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP.
- Rhode Island Sexual Abuse Representation Represents survivors of sexual abuse pursuing claims under Rhode Island's lookback window law through Motley Rice's Rhode Island office.
- Legal Consultation Services Provides free initial legal consultation, case evaluation, intake, and ongoing legal counsel to prospective clients across all practice areas through phone (1.800.768.4026) and online contact forms.
Quantifiable outcome
- $246 billion Master Settlement Agreement negotiated — largest civil settlement in U.S. history
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Motley Rice
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Motley Rice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Motley Rice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Leigh DaycoreUK law firm working with Motley Rice in investigating potential legal claims regarding allegations of trafficking, rape, sexual assault, physical abuse, and exploitation at Harrods department store. Leigh Day represents survivors in the UK while Motley Rice represents US-based survivors. Both firms collaborating on this international human rights matter.
- Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLPcoreServed as co-lead counsel for plaintiffs in the Wells Fargo shareholder derivative litigation, alongside Motley Rice LLC and Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP. Played central role in negotiating the $110 million settlement.
- Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPcoreServed as co-lead counsel for plaintiffs in the Wells Fargo shareholder derivative litigation, alongside Motley Rice LLC and Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP. Played central role in negotiating the $110 million settlement.
- Co-Counsel NetworkcoreNetwork of co-counsel across the globe enabling the firm to represent clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Formalized through the firm's Co-Counsel Referral Program.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Motley Rice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein: Nationally recognized plaintiffs' litigation firm with a parallel practice in mass torts, class actions, and securities litigation. Highly comparable as a similarly sized plaintiff firm with strong MDL leadership and contingency-fee economics.
- Weitz & Luxenberg: Plaintiff-side mass tort firm founded with an asbestos focus and expanded into pharmaceutical, environmental, and consumer litigation. Directly comparable in business model, plaintiff orientation, and mass tort MDL portfolio.
- Simmons Hanly Conroy: One of the largest plaintiff mass tort firms in the U.S., active in asbestos, pharmaceutical, and consumer MDLs. Comparable in scale, contingency-fee model, and active MDL leadership.
- Robins Kaplan LLP: Plaintiff-focused complex litigation firm with deep practice in mass tort, antitrust, and securities class actions. Closely comparable in MDL leadership and plaintiff-side business model.
- Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll: Plaintiff-side complex litigation firm specializing in antitrust, consumer protection, securities, and human rights cases. Directly comparable in contingency fee class action practice and plaintiff-side orientation.
- Baron & Budd: Plaintiff mass tort firm with deep roots in asbestos, environmental contamination, and water contamination cases (e.g., Camp Lejeune). Comparable in plaintiff mass tort focus and contingency model.
- Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann: Leading plaintiff-side securities class action firm that regularly serves as lead counsel in shareholder litigation. Directly comparable to Motley Rice's securities class action practice and Wells Fargo shareholder derivative work.
- Labaton Klear Sucharow: Specialist plaintiff securities litigation firm with active whistleblower practice. Comparable to Motley Rice's Securities Class Actions and Whistleblower Claims practice areas.
- Milberg Tadler Phillips Grossman: Plaintiff securities and complex litigation firm with a long history in shareholder class actions. Comparable in plaintiff-side securities fraud and shareholder derivative litigation.
- Keller Rohrback: Plaintiff complex litigation firm with practices in consumer protection, securities, and mass torts. Comparable in plaintiff-side class action and MDL portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Motley Rice social profiles
Digital presenceMotley Rice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Motley Rice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Motley Rice subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Motley Rice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Motley Rice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Motley Rice
What does Motley Rice do?
Motley Rice is a plaintiffs' litigation law firm that provides contingency fee and hourly legal representation to individuals, families, workers, consumers, investors, and government entities who have been harmed by corporate or institutional wrongdoing. The firm litigates complex civil cases across 19 practice areas — including asbestos, tobacco, securities fraud, sexual abuse, toxic exposure, medical drugs/devices, antitrust, and consumer fraud — and leads multi-district litigation (MDLs), class actions, and mass torts across all 50 U.S. states and internationally through a co-counsel network.
Is Motley Rice a public or private company?
Motley Rice is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Motley Rice founded?
Motley Rice was founded in 1979. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Motley Rice based?
Motley Rice is headquartered in Mount Pleasant, United States, in the North America region.
How does Motley Rice make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contingency Fee Representation is the primary driver. The others are hourly Fee Representation.
Who are Motley Rice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, Weitz & Luxenberg, Simmons Hanly Conroy, Robins Kaplan LLP, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Baron & Budd, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann, Labaton Klear Sucharow, Milberg Tadler Phillips Grossman and Keller Rohrback.
Does Motley Rice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Motley Rice.
What industry is Motley Rice in?
Motley Rice's product category is Plaintiffs Litigation Law Firm. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAB, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, with a secondary code of BPAHAAAM, Personal Injury & Insurance Defense. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.