The Academy is a select group of seasoned trial lawyers, whose work is truly exemplary and international in scope. Academy members are from more than 30 countries, and include both prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases, as well as plaintiffs' and defense counsel in civil litigation. IATL fellowships are offered by exclusive invitation, and only after a lengthy evaluation process.
“Over his distinguished career, Ricky has first-chaired more than 120 jury trials to verdict,” said Doug Cameron, Chair of Reed Smith’s Litigation Department. “This coveted distinction further highlights what we’ve long known, that Ricky is a tremendous asset to his clients and to our complex cross-border litigation team.”
Raven’s practice is focused on products liability and mass tort litigations that are frequently cross-border in nature, involving multiple jurisdictions. For example, Raven has first-chaired Honeywell International’s national trial team in an ongoing multidistrict litigation regarding Bendix brakes for over 25 years. He also serves on the national trial team for Union Carbide Canada in its personal watercraft litigation.
Raven began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Harris County. Today, he is well regarded for his thought leadership and community activism, and he has been named to Savoy Magazine’s list of the “Most Influential Black Lawyers” in the United States for the past four years.
Raven serves as a Fellow to the Houston Bar and Texas Bar Associations, and he is also an elected member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as the International Association of Defense Counsel, United States Supreme Court Bar, New York State Bar Association, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and College of the State Bar of Texas.
Raven is also very active in the community. He has served on the boards of such civic organizations as The University of Texas Health Science Center, Ronald McDonald House of Houston, Houston Symphony Orchestra, University of Houston, Southwestern University, Yellowstone Academy, the Houston Community College Foundation, and the Houston Zoo. Currently, Raven is also Director of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Commissioner to both the Police Officers' Civil Service Commission and the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for the State of Texas.
