HarrisMartin's Southeast Asbestos Litigation Conference Speaker Profiles



Co-Chair Christian Hartley, Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC, Mount Pleasant, SC Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair Christian Hartley

Christian has spent his entire eighteen year career as a trial lawyer representing the victims of corporate wrongdoing. Christian has concentrated his practice on asbestos trial work for over 11 years.He has represented mesothelioma victims from over forty (40) states and has tried cases to verdict in several states.

Christian has played an important role in helping firms recover hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts over his career. In recognition of his expertise, other firms representing asbestos victims often hire Christian to help them litigate and try their more difficult cases.

Christian is happily married with one son and lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Christian has handled and continues to handle numerous friction, premises liability and take home/household exposure cases. Christian enjoys all aspects of preparing and trying mesothelioma cases, but takes special interest in matters of scientific evidence and debunking defense arguments.

Christian focuses on creative solutions to attacking the evolved defenses invoked by corporate interests. In addition to preparing and litigating cases for our clients, Christian routinely teaches lawyers at trial practice seminars around the United States.

Christian is licensed in Texas, Minnesota, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.

Co-Chair Nathaniel Mudd, Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC, St. Louis
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Co-Chair Nathaniel Mudd

Attorney Nate Mudd has dedicated his practice to exclusively representing mesothelioma victims and their families for over 11 years. He is deeply committed to helping his clients and has helped hundreds receive the compensation they deserve as quickly as possible.

Nate lives in Edwardsville, IL and is happily married with two children.

After graduation from law school, Nate served a prestigious two-year clerkship as an attorney with the State of Illinois Appellate Court. His next two years were spent focusing on personal injury, workers' compensation, medical malpractice and product liability cases, always on behalf of the injured plaintiff. Since 2001, Nate has dedicated his practice to representing those suffering from mesothelioma. In that time, Nate has represented individuals from 47 of the 50 States. He has successfully represented mesothelioma victims who have worked in numerous fields, including but not limited to: Power House/Power Plant workers, Chemical workers, Insulators, Pipefitters/Millwrights, Auto/Heavy Truck Mechanics, Electricians, Plastics plant workers, Cable Splicers/Phone workers, Paper Plant workers, Naval and Shipyard workers, Drywallers/Plasterers, Laborers, Aviation Mechanics, Boilermakers, Heavy Equipment Operators & Floor Coverers

Co-Chair Christopher Collier, Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young, LLP, Atlanta Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair Christopher Collier

Chris Collier is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. Chris represents individuals as well as businesses, ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 250 national and multinational corporations. Chris concentrates his practice in the areas of Premises Liability, Product Liability, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation, Transportation, and General Negligence.

Chris focuses his practice in federal and state courts in Alabama, Georgia, and West Virginia but has represented clients in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States. In addition, Chris manages and coordinates litigation in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.

Chris believes in being personally available to his clients. Likewise, he understands the time demands and financial constraints faced by his clients, as he previously served in the role of Counsel-Litigation & Environmental for one of the nation’s Class I railroads.

Chris has defended toxic tort and environmental litigation claims, including a substantial number of asbestos lawsuits, throughout his legal career. He has participated in all phases of the defense of these matters, from initial discovery through dispositive motions, expert discovery, settlement negotiations, and trial.

Chris serves as national counsel to a Fortune 500 commodity chemical company involved in both premises and product liability claims of alleged asbestos exposure. In this role, Chris coordinates national defense issues. He also serves as counsel for several additional clients on a regional and state-wide basis. Chris understands the dilemmas faced by companies in toxic tort and asbestos litigation, having advised one of the nation’s Class I railroads on issues related to asbestos liability from both a legal and business standpoint.

The Honorable D. Garrison Hill, South Carolina Circuit Court, Circuit 13, Greenville, SC

The Honorable Caryl P. Privett, Alabama Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Birmingham, AL

Gail Andrews, Law Clerk, Alabama Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Birmingham, AL

Thomas J. Burns, O'Connell, Tivin, Miller & Burns, LLC, Chicago

Jessica M. Dean, Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett, P.C., Dallas

Nathan D. Finch, Motley Rice, Washington, DC

Rebecca C. Kibbe, K&L Gates LLP, Miami

Robert R. Hatten, Patten Wornom Hatten & Diamonstein, LLC, Newport News, VA

Jeffrey P. Hubbard, Hubbard Mitchell Williams & Strain, Ridgeland, MS

Jason J. Irvin, Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP, Dallas

J. Conard Metcalf, Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC, Alton, IL

Robert O. Meriwether, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Columbia, SC

Rick Nemeroff, Nemeroff Law Firm, Dallas

Albert H. Parnell, Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP, Atlanta

Alan Pickert, Terrell Hogan, Jacksonville, FL

Michael A. Pollard, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Chicago

Jonathan Ruckdeschel, The Ruckdeschel Law Firm, LLC, Ellicott City, MD

Jennifer M. Techman, Evert Weathersby Houff, Atlanta

Kenneth J. Wilson, Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC, Barnwell, SC