Gordon Rather has been engaged in active trial practice throughout his extensive professional career. He consistently has been recognized as one of the state’s most effective trial lawyers. Other lawyers and clients have characterized him as a “great trial lawyer” who is “in touch with every detail of a case” in addition to being “thorough and extremely good with juries.” His practice centers on litigation, including complex commercial issues, class actions, product liability defense, toxic torts, admiralty and maritime matters, and insurance defense.
With regard to employment matters, Rather serves as the relationship partner for Chubb and directs Chubb matters to our team of seasoned and experienced partners who handle claims involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour violations.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | Complex Commercial, Class Action, Product Liability |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | Complex Commercial, Class Action, Product Liability |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2024 | Complex Commercial, Class Action, Product Liability |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2022 | Complex Commercial, Class Action, Product Liability |
| Lawdragon Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Inductions | 2017 | |
| The 2016 Legends of the 500 | 2016 | |
| The 2016 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2016 | |
| The 2014-15 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2014-2015 | |
| The 2012 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2012 |
Rather’s considerable experience includes:
- Lead trial counsel in defending personal injury and wrongful death litigation in State and Federal Court throughout the entire state of Arkansas over many years;
- Lead trial counsel in defending a complex commercial matter involving claims related to policy cancellation, bad faith and punitive damages;
- Lead trial counsel for a multi-state hospital system defending class actions;
- Lead trial counsel for the state’s largest health insurer defending claims involving network termination;
- Lead trial counsel for a major oil company defending oil field contamination and crude oil release claims;
- Lead trial counsel for a U.S. chemical manufacturer defending product liability claims;
- Lead trial counsel for a U.S. boat manufacturer defending product liability claims;
- Lead trial counsel in a wrongful death action involving allegedly defective electrical equipment; and
- Defense trial counsel in two maritime wrongful death actions arising from an accident that occurred while unloading a river barge.