BARRETT RICE

Partner – Trial Lawyer

Barrett Rice has always loved hearing people’s stories. Even though she had an interest in the law, as the daughter of a lawyer, she started her career out as an actor, where she could recount those stories on stage. Barrett went to school for drama at Northwestern University and scored some significant roles in New York and Los Angeles. She believes the key to being a good actor is being a good listener. After a few years of playing fictional characters, she decided to explore telling the stories of real people—in the courtroom.

Storytelling remained a key part of Barrett’s persona, and she brought this passion with her as she entered the legal profession. Just as with acting, Barrett believes the key to being a great lawyer is being a good listener. With compassion, Barrett goes deep into her cases and with her clients—she learns everything about them and their situation, empathizing with them and bringing their stories to life in the courtroom.

Like many top students, Barrett started her legal career on the defense side, primarily representing large corporations in the maritime, oil and gas, and insurance industries. But she always felt sympathy for the individuals on the other side of the table—the real people who were severely injured by incidents such as explosions, collisions, and sinkings. She finally decided it was time for a change and now advocates solely for plaintiffs, ensuring that hard-working maritime professionals and their families can get as close to “whole” again in the wake of tragedy.

Barrett loves getting to know her clients as people. She focuses on making them feel safe. She works to gain a deep understanding of the ordeal they endured and how they’re feeling in the aftermath. In her eyes, making this connection with her clients is the only way she can truly speak for them.