Childers, Schlueter & Smith

What Childers, Schlueter & Smith does

Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC is a privately held personal injury and mass tort law firm headquartered at 1932 North Druid Hills Road, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia. Organized as a Georgia LLC, the firm operates on a contingency fee basis under a 'No Recovery, No Fee' model, eliminating upfront client costs and aligning firm compensation with case outcomes. The firm has 11-50 employees and serves clients across two parallel service categories: traditional personal injury (covering transportation accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, workplace injuries, and nursing home abuse) and mass tort litigation (covering dangerous drugs, medical devices, environmental toxic torts, and defective products). Geographic reach is dual-tiered: metro Atlanta communities including Marietta, Decatur, Alpharetta, Roswell, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Douglasville, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Peachtree City, Stone Mountain, and Duluth for personal injury matters, and nationwide representation across all 50 states for mass tort dockets such as the Paragard IUD MDL 2974.

The firm was founded in 2001 per firmographic records (though one firm-history source indicates 2012) by three partners: C. Andrew Childers, Richard R. Schlueter, and M. Brandon Smith, with additional equity attorneys Neil Edwards, Jed Douglas, and V. Ashley Spires. Specialization is concentrated in complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, with Andy Childers serving as Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel in the Paragard IUD MDL 2974 and 22 firm attorneys appointed to Plaintiffs' Executive and Steering Committees across major MDLs (Paragard, Depo-Provera, Hernia Mesh MDLs 2846 and District of New Hampshire). Neil Edwards leads a nationally recognized SJS/TEN practice with over $30 million in outcomes since 2016. The firm advertises more than $750 million in cumulative client recoveries, including a $250 million pharmaceutical settlement, $100 million environmental cleanup fund, $70 million NEC baby formula verdict, $29.25 million Georgia Supreme Court-restored wrongful death verdict, and $650 million+ in hernia mesh outcomes.

Revenue mechanics rely entirely on contingency fees (typically 25-40% of gross recovery in mass tort contexts), with no publicly disclosed pricing schedule. Marketing is content-led through practice-area pages, case-result promotion, and free-consultation intake via 1-800 line, supplemented by community involvement (Richard Schlueter's cancer research advocacy in Washington, free legal clinics, youth mentorship, annual 'CSS Day of Service') and earned-media recognition (U.S. News Best Law Firms Tier 1 in 2026, Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyer Top 100). The technology stack is described as standard legal practice management and document management systems, with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or platform products disclosed.

Name

Childers, Schlueter & Smith

Legal name

Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC

Website

https://cssfirm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Childers, Schlueter & Smith is an Atlanta-based plaintiff law firm specializing in personal injury and mass tort litigation (dangerous drugs, medical devices, environmental toxic torts, defective products) on a contingency fee basis. It serves injured individuals nationwide, with over $750 million in cumulative client recoveries and leadership roles in major MDL proceedings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Injury Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Product Liability & Recall (FSAJAGAG)

Keywords

• Personal injury law
• Mass tort litigation
• Medical malpractice
• Product liability cases
• Contingency fee representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Contingency Fee Legal Services: The firm operates exclusively on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and mass tort cases. Clients pay no upfront costs - the firm receives a percentage of the recovery only if the case is successful. This model aligns firm interests with client outcomes and makes legal representation accessible to individuals who cannot afford hourly legal fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Childers, Schlueter & Smith is a plaintiff-side law firm that represents individuals injured by negligence or harmed by dangerous products on a contingency fee basis. Its core offerings are personal injury representation (transportation accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic and premises injuries, workplace injuries, and nursing home abuse) and mass tort litigation (dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, environmental toxic torts, and defective products) consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceedings. The firm recovers compensation for clients through settlements and verdicts while charging no fees unless a recovery is obtained.

Product overview

Childers, Schlueter & Smith is a personal injury and mass tort law firm offering comprehensive legal services for individuals injured due to negligence or defective products. The firm provides two primary service categories: Personal Injury legal representation (covering transportation accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, workplace injuries, and nursing home abuse) and Mass Tort litigation (representing groups harmed by dangerous drugs like Depo-Provera and Zantac, defective medical devices such as Paragard IUD and hernia mesh implants, environmental toxic torts including asbestos and Roundup, and defective products like hair relaxers and talcum powder). The firm leverages specialized expertise in complex litigation areas including MDL proceedings and has recovered over $750 million for clients nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Injury Legal Services Comprehensive plaintiff-side personal injury representation on a contingency fee basis, covering transportation accidents (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian), medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries (brain, burn, spinal cord), premises liability, workplace injuries, workers' compensation, and nursing home abuse for individuals throughout Georgia.
• Mass Tort Legal Services Plaintiff-side mass tort litigation representing groups of individuals harmed by the same defendant or product, including dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, environmental/toxic exposures, and defective consumer products. Services include MDL participation, evidence gathering, expert coordination, settlement negotiation, and trial.
• Paragard IUD Lawsuit Services Legal representation for women nationwide injured by broken or fractured Paragard IUDs, including perforation, infertility, and sepsis claims, with active involvement in MDL 2974 where partner Andy Childers serves as Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel.
• Hernia Mesh Implant Litigation Legal services for victims of defective hernia mesh implants experiencing complications such as chronic pain, infections, organ perforation, and revision surgeries, with over $650 million in associated verdicts and settlements referenced by the firm.
• Depo-Provera Lawsuit Services Legal representation for women who developed meningioma brain tumors after prolonged Depo-Provera birth control shot use, alleging Pfizer failed to warn of the risk, with active participation in the consolidated Depo-Provera MDL.
• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Legal Services Legal representation for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis victims allegedly caused by medications such as Lamictal and Allopurinol or by medical provider negligence, including medical malpractice claims.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $750 million recovered for clients nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Depo-Provera MDL ParticipantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Due to the large number of Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits filed, cases were consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in February 2025. The firm is actively litigating these cases as part of the consolidated proceedings, working alongside other plaintiffs' firms to streamline legal processes and pursue settlements.
• Plaintiffs' Steering Committee / Executive Committee (Paragard MDL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe firm participates in the Paragard IUD multidistrict litigation (MDL 2974) in the Northern District of Georgia. Partner Andy Childers serves as Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel, and 22 other attorneys have been appointed to the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee and Plaintiffs' Steering Committee. This gives the firm significant leadership and influence in shaping litigation strategy for thousands of consolidated cases.
• Hernia Mesh MDL ParticipantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBard hernia mesh lawsuits have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings in MDL 2846 in the Southern District of Ohio, and Atrium C-QUR hernia mesh cases are in MDL in the District of New Hampshire. The firm coordinates with other plaintiffs' counsel in these consolidated proceedings.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Baron & Budd: National plaintiffs' firm with deep mass tort practice in mesothelioma, pharmaceutical, and environmental cases. Similar contingency-fee plaintiff model and MDL participation pattern as CSS, with a more established national brand.
• Simmons Hanly Conroy: National mass tort and personal injury firm with leadership roles in MDLs including hernia mesh, asbestos, and pharmaceutical litigation. Directly comparable on mass tort plaintiff practice, with a similar contingency-fee model and significantly broader national infrastructure.
• Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein: National plaintiffs' firm specializing in mass torts, consumer protection, and personal injury. Comparable to CSS on plaintiff-side pharmaceutical and medical device MDLs, with a longer historical track record and broader geographic presence.
• Weitz & Luxenberg: Plaintiff-side mass tort and personal injury firm with leadership in asbestos, pharmaceutical, and medical device MDLs. Directly comparable to CSS in contingency-fee plaintiff model and mass tort docket overlap (e.g., hernia mesh, talc).
• Motley Rice: One of the largest U.S. plaintiffs' firms, recognized for landmark mass tort verdicts including tobacco and opioid matters. Comparable to CSS in plaintiff-side mass tort specialization and MDL leadership, though operating at substantially greater scale and capital.

Direct peers

• Morgan & Morgan: Largest plaintiff-side personal injury firm in the U.S., operating on a contingency-fee model with a national footprint in PI and mass tort. Highly comparable to CSS in business model, contingency structure, and plaintiff-side mass tort involvement, though at vastly greater scale.
• Boling Rice LLC: Plaintiff-side personal injury and mass tort firm handling dangerous drugs, medical devices, and catastrophic injury cases on contingency. Comparable to CSS on practice mix, contingency model, and plaintiff-side MDL participation.
• Cash Krugler & Fredericks: Atlanta-based personal injury and mass tort firm operating on contingency fee. Most directly comparable to CSS in geographic market (Atlanta/Georgia), firm size, contingency model, and mass tort practice areas.
• The Law Offices of John David Hart: Atlanta personal injury firm handling catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and mass tort matters. Comparable to CSS in regional Atlanta PI focus, contingency-fee model, and mass tort practice area overlap.
• Frye Law Group: Plaintiff-side personal injury and mass tort firm with active pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. Comparable to CSS in contingency-fee structure, mass tort docket breadth, and mid-sized firm positioning in national plaintiff bar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSSLawyers
• Facebookfacebook.com/cssfirm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Childers, Schlueter & Smith