Heather A. Ritch Rocks

Heather A. Ritch Rocks is a partner at Reed Smith and the managing partner of the firm’s Philadelphia office. Her practice focuses on product liability and mass tort litigation, particularly for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and other highly regulated companies. She handles matters involving prescription and over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, food, and consumer products. Her work includes complex litigation, trials, discovery, and emerging technology issues, with substantial experience in the Philadelphia Complex Litigation Center and national mass tort proceedings.

Heather earned a J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2003 and a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1997. Her legal education supported a litigation career requiring close work with scientific and medical evidence, experts, regulatory records, discovery, and trial strategy. She has developed experience translating complicated technical issues into clear litigation positions for courts and juries. That background is particularly relevant to disputes involving drug safety, medical products, consumer goods, and other heavily regulated industries.

Heather defends companies in product liability cases and coordinated mass torts involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer products. Her representative work has included litigation concerning ranitidine, hormone replacement therapy, diet drugs, and other products that required management of complex scientific and medical issues. She works with national and local teams on case strategy, discovery, expert development, trials, and appeals. Her practice also addresses e-discovery and the use of emerging technologies in high-volume litigation and case management.

Heather A. Ritch Rocks has been recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation: Product Liability in Pennsylvania and has received other professional recognition for litigation and leadership. She became managing partner of Reed Smith’s Philadelphia office in 2026 and has held leadership and community roles in the region. Her practice combines product liability defense, mass tort strategy, trial experience, scientific analysis, discovery management, and firm leadership for clients facing complex and highly regulated litigation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Reed Smith LLP
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Member, New Jersey State Bar Association
• Chair, Board of Directors, Legal Clinic for the Disabled (2013-2015)
• Member, American Bar Foundation
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• Member, Board of Trustees, International House Philadelphia (2010-2014)
• Member, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Corporate Council (2017-Present)
• Founding Member, Reed Smith’s Tangled Title Team (2007-Present)
• Member, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)

Licensed State

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey

Education

• Temple University Beasley School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Swarthmore College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges