W. Rick Griffin
- Wichita, Kansas Office
- El Dorado, Kansas Office
- Ph: (316) 265-9311
- Fx: (316) 265-2955
- wrgriffin@martinpringle.com
Practicing In
- Civil & Commercial Litigation
- Products Liability
- Aviation Law
- Insurance Defense
- Oil & Gas Law
- Creditor’s Rights
- Bankruptcy
- Banking & Financial Services
Meet Rick Griffin
Rick Griffin is a 1999 graduate of Oklahoma State University and remains an avid Cowboys fan despite settling a bit north, in Kansas. Before attending the University of Kansas School of Law, Rick served for two years as the Director of the Alumni Career Network at the Wichita State University Alumni Association. Although not a native Kansan, Rick’s professional leadership and civic involvement have greatly benefited his adopted community. Rick concentrates his litigation practice on commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, oil and gas law, insurance defense, aviation law and products liability.
Fun Fact
Rick enjoys competing in triathlons and collecting red wine.
If only Napa Valley hosted triathlons!
Commercial Litigation & Insurance Coverage Litigation
Rick ably represents businesses and individuals embroiled in commercial litigation, whether the disputes center on contractual rights and duties, insurance coverage questions, or other aspects of general commercial litigation. Rick represents clients, both large and small, in commercial real estate matters, issues involving the aviation and energy industries, and in complex financial disputes. He has litigated in state and federal courts throughout the country.
PRODUCTS LIABILITY
Rick’s products liability practice encompasses products of all shapes and sizes, including those related to aircraft manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, and the construction arena. He is well-versed in the applicable tort laws, statutes, and regulations governing these actions. Rick has litigated product liability claims brought throughout the United States. Rick also co-authored a chapter on the Joint Defense Doctrine in the 2008 Compendium on Evidentiary Privileges for Corporate Counsel published by Defense Research Institute (DRI).
Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights
Since graduating from law school in 2004, a great deal of Rick’s practice has been devoted to creditor’s rights litigation both in district courts and bankruptcy courts across the United States. He has handled matters involving all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code and is intimately familiar with chapters 7, 11, and 13. Rick co-authored the Chapter 11 section for creditors in the Third Edition of the Kansas Bar Association Bankruptcy Handbook.
Oil and Gas Law
Kansas and other states in the region are home to numerous oil and gas producers and energy storage facilities. Rick’s energy practice serves this vital industry in many ways. He was instrumental in the representation of Kansas energy producers and stakeholders in one of the largest oil and gas bankruptcies in the country. Rick’s keen intellect and dogged efforts resulted in a favorable outcome for Martin Pringle’s clients, despite the poor economic conditions prevailing at the time. He also provides guidance to clients regarding oil and gas leases, lease operations, fractional shares, mineral royalties, surface rights, and environmental disputes, as well as handling various matters before the Kansas Corporation Commission.
Education
- University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., 2004
- Oklahoma State University, B.S., 1999
Bar Admissions
- Kansas, 2004
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals, 2009
-
United States Supreme Court, 2007
Professional Affiliations
- DRI, Aviation Law, Communities Chair
- DRI, Products Liability, Marketing Vice-Chair
- Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Wichita Bar Association, Civil Practice Committee & Bankruptcy Committee
- DRI, Financial Institutions and Creditor's Rights Specialized Litigation Committee, Member
- DRI, Aviation Law Section, Member
- DRI, Products Liability Section Member
- Kansas and Wichita Bar Associations, Member
Civic / Social Involvement
- Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter, Past Chairperson, Board of Directors
- Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Board of Directors
- Young Professionals of Wichita, Board of Trustees, 2010 Chairperson
- Destination ICT, Steering Committee
Notable Experience
- Successfully initiated an involuntary bankruptcy on behalf of a creditor and defeated an attempt to transfer the $100+ million dollar case from Kansas to Delaware.
- Successfully defended an $88 million commercial litigation and arbitration case involving the forced sale of a corporate ownership interest.
- Represented more than 40 oil and gas creditors in the SemCrude first purchaser bankruptcy pending in Delaware, resulting in the return of over $70 million to clients with Kansas oil and gas production.
- Successfully defended an aviation products liability case under GARA where the decision was appealed and affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
- Represented plaintiff in civil jury trial concerning insurance coverage where the client obtained a judgment more than 10 times greater than what was offered pre-suit.
- Successfully pursued a plaintiff’s commercial litigation claim wherein the client was awarded summary judgment on a breach of fiduciary duty claim and subsequently settled the claim for more than 25 times the pre-suit settlement offer.
- Successfully litigated contested oil and gas well location exception in front of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).
- Successfully defended a commercial litigation claim attempting to pierce the corporate veil and hold an individual member of a limited liability company personally liable for the company’s debts.
- Successfully negotiated the resolution of a $3 million mechanic’s lien resulting in full payment to the contractor.
- Successfully litigated an appeal of zoning change and subsequently negotiated a favorable resolution of protests allowing the commercial housing project to proceed.
Awards and Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America, 2013 - 2024
- Kansas Super Lawyer, 2011 - 2023
- Wichita Business Journal 40 Under 40 Class, 2007
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), Trial Academy Graduate, Stanford Law School
Published Articles / Presentations
- Co-Author. "The Joint Defense Doctrine - Cohesion Among Traditional Adversaries, Evidentiary Privileges for Corporate Counsel," 2008. Print.
- "Congress Deals Debtors a Blow." Defense Research Institute, For The Defense, February 2007. Print.