Overview
Rich Worf has represented clients in all phases of civil litigation and has extensive experience in mass tort and insurance coverage litigation.
Rich was part of the trial team representing the debtor in the In re Garlock Sealing Technologies bankruptcy case in a proceeding to determine his client's aggregate responsibility for thousands of current and future mesothelioma claims. The trial resulted in a nationally recognized ruling accepting the debtor's liability estimate of $125 million and rejecting the estimate of asbestos claimants that exceeded $1 billion. Rich regularly represents clients seeking permanent resolutions of mass tort liabilities in bankruptcy, or defending putative mass tort class actions. Rich also advises businesses on mass tort issues when purchasing or investing in distressed assets or conducting corporate restructurings.
Rich co-chairs the firm's Insurance Recovery Practice Group. He represents policyholders, exclusively, in insurance coverage disputes and counsels clients with respect to their coverage needs.
Rich also practices general commercial litigation. His experiences include successfully defending a public company merger and obtaining a published appellate ruling approving his client's real estate development.
Experience
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Represented debtor at trial to determine aggregate responsibility for thousands of current and future mesothelioma claims, resulting in a nationally recognized ruling accepting client’s estimate of $125 million and rejecting claimant estimate of over $1 billion. In re Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC, 504 B.R. 71 (Bankr. W.D.N.C. 2014).
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Represents debtor as special counsel for asbestos claims estimation matters in In re Bestwall LLC, Case No. 17-31795 (Bankr. W.D.N.C.).
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Represents debtor as special counsel for asbestos claims estimation matters in In re DBMP LLC, Case No. 20-30080 (Bankr. W.D.N.C.).
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Represents the Southeastern Conference in 12 "single-school, single-sport" putative class actions (MDL centralization in Illinois) filed by former football student-athletes related to concussions in college sports.
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Represented insured in obtaining favorable choice-of-law ruling in property insurance coverage dispute. American Realty Advisors et al. v. Lexington Insurance Co. et al., 2019 NCBC 58 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 2019).
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Represented Wachovia and its directors in successfully defending suit challenging merger of Wachovia and Wells Fargo.
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Represented real estate development company in obtaining summary judgment in suit seeking to rescind city approval of residential development and successfully defending summary judgment on appeal. Coventry Woods Neighborhood Association v. City of Charlotte, 688 S.E.2d 538 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
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Represented real estate development company seeking damages for breach of contract governing development of multiple major hotel properties.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization, litigation - bankruptcy, 2020-26; Charlotte Litigation - Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year, 2023
- Benchmark Litigation, Future Star, litigation, 2014-16, 2025-26; Top Litigator Under 40, 2016-17
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, North Carolina Rising Star, business litigation, 2012-13
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Law360, North Carolina Editorial Advisory Board, 2024
Community Affiliations
- Avondale Presbyterian Church, Elder, 2019-21; Room in the Inn Leader, 2019-20, 2021-24; Finance Leader, 2022
- Leadership Charlotte, Class 41
- Charlotte Symphony, Board of Trustees
News & Events
News
Events
Insights
Publications
Practice Areas
Education
Yale University, J.D., 2006; Senior Editor, Yale Law Journal, 2005-06
Harvard College, A.B., summa cum laude, 2003, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, The Honorable R. Lanier Anderson III, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2006-07
