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Mr. Zirkman is BSA’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He has over 30 years of experience as a public and private company general counsel, having served as Vice President and General Counsel of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Fiesta Restaurant Group, and as General Counsel at DIRTT Environmental Solutions LTD. Career highlights include guiding Carrols through its initial public offering and its subsequent spin-off of Fiesta Restaurant Group, a listing of DIRTT Environmental Solutions on the NSADAQ, an array of significant M&A transactions, and quarterbacking the successful defense of a high-profile proxy contest.
As Scouting America's general counsel, he has helped guide them through what the Wall Street Journal has described as the largest and most complex bankruptcy filing in US history. Before his in-house roles, Mr. Zirkman was a senior corporate associate in the New York City law firm Baer Marks & Upham.
Mr. Zirkman is a respected figure in the legal and business community, frequently sharing his expertise at forums. His topics of discussion include corporate governance, activism defense, M&A, SEC reporting and compliance, franchising, complex litigation strategy & management, and employment law. A graduate of Brooklyn Law School and holder of a B.S. degree in Psychology from Duke University, Mr. Zirkman is admitted to practice in New York and Texas.
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse is Managing Partner of DiCello Levitt’s Birmingham office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Mass Tort division. Fu is also a member of the firm’s Public Client, Environmental, Personal Injury, Civil Rights, and Trial practice groups. Widely known for her relentless client advocacy, Fu represents individuals and public entities injured by wrongful conduct, whether from defective medical devices or drugs, environmental contamination, corporate misconduct, or civil rights abuse. Nationally recognized as a powerhouse in mass torts, class actions, products liability, discrimination, and sexual assault claims, Fu has secured almost a billion dollars in client damages.
Fu holds prominent leadership positions for several multidistrict litigations, including Co-Lead Counsel for In re: Abbott Laboratories, et al., Preterm Infant Nutrition Products Liability Litigation; Co-Lead Counsel for In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation; Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for In re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation; Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/ Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation; and Plaintiffs’ Committee for In re Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAS) Products Liability Litigation. She also represents municipalities in both In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation and In re: McKinsey & Company Inc., National Prescription Opiate Consultant Litigation, and is counsel in In re: Proton Pump Inhibitor Litigation. Fu formerly held a seat on the In re: Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Hip Implant Liability Litigation Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re: Higher One Account Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, and has represented plaintiffs in many other MDLs. Fu also leads many systematic civil rights and sexual assault cases and represents states and municipalities in litigation.
In addition to other significant representations, she currently represents the City of Baltimore in relation to the devastating collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Lawdragon recognized Fu as one of the 500 Leading Consumer Lawyers. In 2024 Lawdragon recognized Fu as one of the 500 Leading Global Plaintiff Lawyers. Chambers USA 2022 and 2023e ranked the firm’s Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs team among Chambers USA 2022 and 2023 ranked the firm’s Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs team among the top five in Alabama. The Birmingham Business Journal honored Fu with a Best of the Bar Award and Who’s Who in the Law recognitions in 2021 and 2022. In 2024, Forbes recognized Fu as one of America’s Top 200 Lawyers in their inaugural list.
Fu is a founding member of Shades of Mass, an organization dedicated to encouraging the appointment of black and brown attorneys in national mass tort actions. She is a board member of Public Justice and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Fu previously served as a hearing officer for the Alabama State Bar, held leadership roles in the American Association for Justice and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission, and acted as Alabama State Bar vice president and commissioner.
Fu is fluent in French and Haitian Creole and functional in Spanish. Her steadfast pursuit of justice is motivated in large part by her experience as a mother of two young girls.
Under Elizabeth Cabraser’s leadership, Lieff Cabraser has become one of the country’s largest law firms serving clients seeking redress for financial and consumer fraud, anti-competitive practices, harmful drugs and products, and illegal employment practices. For four decades, Elizabeth has made sure that our firm remains dedicated to its clients and its core values.
Possessing unparalleled expertise in complex civil litigation, Elizabeth has served as court-appointed lead, co-lead, or class counsel in scores of federal multi-district and state coordinated proceedings. These cases include multi-state tobacco, the Exxon Valdez disaster, Breast Implants, Fen-Phen (Diet Drugs), Vioxx, Toyota sudden acceleration, numerous securities/investment fraud cases, and Holocaust litigation. Today, Elizabeth serves in court-appointed leadership positions in several of the nation’s highest profile civil cases, including serving as Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel in the GM ignition switch defect litigation, as Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel in the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” and Fiat Chrysler Ecodiesel Emissions MDLs. She is currently immersed in nationwide Opioids litigation. In January 2018, she was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Settlement Negotiating Committee in the National Prescription Opiates MDL, and earlier this year was appointed Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel in the McKinsey & Co. National Prescription Opiate MDL.
Sean P. Fahey is a partner and chair of Troutman Pepper’s Health Sciences Department where he leads the group’s litigation, white collar, regulatory, intellectual property, and transactional practices. He has extensive experience serving as national coordinating and trial counsel in complex, multidistrict products liability and health care litigation. He represents several of the largest pharmaceutical, medical device, and life science companies in their high-stakes cases, and also serves as strategic settlement counsel and coordinating counsel in parallel litigation, including DOJ and regulatory investigations, and congressional hearings. He is nationally recognized by clients and peers in Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, The Legal 500, LMG Life Sciences, and The Best Lawyers in America.
John Hooper defends multinational companies in complex litigations, including a variety of commercial, product liability, financial services, false and misleading advertising and other consumer class actions where he has served as national, regional and/or strategic counsel. He provides clients with all-inclusive strategic litigation management and counseling services to mitigate the reputational and financial risk associated with high exposure, viral and bet-the-company litigations.
John advises companies to create and execute litigation and strategic resolution options in some of the largest, most complex class actions, commercial litigations and mass torts in federal and state courts. Hooper's experience ranges from trials and arbitrations to mediations and settlements, and all stages of a case, from prelitigation to appeal. John's clients include some of the world's largest manufacturers of automobiles, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, building materials, tires, sporting goods and apparel as well as retailers, railroads, hedge funds, life insurance companies, private equity firms, banks and other financial services institutions.
Chambers noted that John Hooper is “24/7 responsive and very strategic” and “he thinks of end-game solutions in a way that other attorneys do not.” The Legal 500 United States has noted that, "John Hooper in New York is 'strongly recommended to anyone seeking a practical approach to managing complex litigation matters, particularly those with national scope.” John has just been recognized by the National Law Journal as one of its “50 Litigation Trailblazers” for his practice of advising multi-national clients on creating and implementing end game strategies in "Viral Litigations". The American Lawyer has recognized his skills in the management and resolution of "bet the company" litigation and as a "great master strategist." He has been nominated to the BTI "Client Service All-Star Team" for multiple years. He is also recognized in the Association of Corporate Counsel's 2014 Value Champion award. The New York Law Journal stated that John Hooper “has worked on some of the most high-profile litigation matters in the last decade.”
He has also been appointed by the federal and state courts as a Special Master, Special Settlement Master and Special Arbitration Master. He has also been appointed as the Lead Defense Settlement Liaison Counsel in MDL and other federal and state class and mass actions. He is a member of the Academy of Court Appointed Special Masters. John is a frequent speaker in the United States and Canada on topics related to class and mass actions.
Vince Chhabria is a federal district judge in the Northern District of California, based in San Francisco. He was nominated by Barack Obama in July 2013 and confirmed by the Senate in March 2014.
Before taking the bench, Judge Chhabria was Chief of Appellate Litigation for the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, as well as a deputy on the Government Litigation Team for that office. He successfully defended a challenge to San Francisco’s universal health care program, and was part of the legal team that successfully challenged California’s ban on same-sex marriage. He also defended the City in: a First Amendment challenge to an ordinance requiring cell phone retailers to warn customers about possible health risks from rf energy exposure from cell phones; an Establishment Clause challenge to a resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors criticizing Vatican statements and policies regarding adoption by same-sex couples; separate First Amendment and Equal Protection challenges to an ordinance banning tobacco sales in drug stores; a state law preemption challenge to an ordinance requiring landlords to pay relocation assistance to evicted tenants; and a Due Process challenge to the City's red light camera program. Chhabria was also a member of the City Attorney’s Affirmative Litigation Task Force. In that capacity he served as lead counsel in several matters involving the failure of businesses to pay employees the minimum wages and benefits required by San Francisco law. Prior to joining the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, Chhabria worked in the San Francisco office of Covington & Burling, where he focused primarily on criminal defense litigation.
Chhabria served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer during the 2001-2002 term. Before that, he clerked for James R. Browning on the Ninth Circuit and Charles Breyer on the Northern District of California.
Chhabria attended law school at Berkeley from 1995-1998. Before that, he spent three years working as a Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in Washington, D.C. He received his undergraduate degree in Politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1991.
On the bench, Judge Chhabria’s cases have included a challenge to the Trump Administration’s decision to cut Affordable Care Act subsidies, a challenge to the federal government’s detention of unaccompanied minors accused of gang affiliation, a challenge to the conditions of confinement at ICE detention facilities during the COVID pandemic, a case about whether Lyft Drivers are employees or independent contractors, an MDL involving allegations that Monsanto’s Roundup causes cancer, and an MDL arising from Cambridge Analytica’s acquisition of Facebook user data.
Michelle is a nationally recognized litigator focused on electronic discovery law, data privacy, cross border discovery, and AI technology exploration. She counsels clients on the development and execution of defensible eDiscovery processes in connection with contentious, high-stakes commercial litigation, products liability cases, antitrust matters, and internal and government investigations. Michelle regularly advises multinational corporations on data loss and records retention, as well as challenges and solutions generated by emerging technologies.
Michelle frequently writes and speaks about issues and solutions related to electronic discovery. She was recognized by Relativity as a 2023 AI Visionary.
Paul Geller, managing partner of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP’s Boca Raton, Florida office, is a founding partner of the Firm, a member of its Executive Committee, and head of the Firm’s Consumer Practice Group. Paul’s 30 years of litigation experience is broad, and he has handled cases in each of the Firm’s practice areas. Notably, before devoting his practice to the representation of consumers and investors, he defended companies in high-stakes class action and multi-district litigation, providing him with an invaluable perspective. Paul has tried bench and jury trials on both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ sides and has argued before numerous state, federal, and appellate courts throughout the country.
Paul was recently selected to serve in a leadership position on behalf of governmental entities and other plaintiffs in the sprawling litigation concerning the nationwide prescription opioid epidemic. In reporting on the selection of the lawyers to lead the case, The National Law Journal reported that “[t]he team reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ in mass torts.” Paul was also a critical member of the team that negotiated over $50 billion in settlements against certain opioid distributors, manufacturers and dispensers. Prior to the opioid litigation, Paul was a member of the leadership team representing consumers in the massive Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” emissions case. The San Francisco legal newspaper The Recorder labeled the group that was appointed in that case, which settled for more than $17 billion, a “class action dream team.” Paul was recently one of the Lead Counsel in In re EpiPen (Epinephrine Injection, USP) Mktg., Sales Pracs. & Antitrust Litig., a nationwide class action that alleged that pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Mylan N.V. engaged in anti-competitive and unfair business conduct in its sale and marketing of the EpiPen auto-injector device. The case recently settled for $609 million.
Some of Paul’s other recent noteworthy successes include the then largest privacy class action settlement in history – a $650 million all cash recovery in In re Facebook Biometric Info. Privacy Litig., concerning the use of biometric identifiers through Facebook’s “tag” feature. In addition to the monetary recovery, Facebook disabled the tag feature altogether, deleting user facial profiles and discontinuing the use of facial recognition software.
Paul serves on the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts Advisory Board and was formerly on the Advisory Board of Emory University School of Law and the separate Board of The Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims at Emory. He is a member of the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute of the Litigation Counsel of America. Paul is also a member of the Supreme Court Historical Society. Additionally, he served for many years as a member of the Board of Advisors for The Center on Civil Justice at New York University School of Law. In these roles and others, Paul frequently lectures on class action and MDL issues at judicial seminars, bar conferences, and academic programs. Paul is also a recurring member of the faculty of the Mass Torts MDL Certificate Program at the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke University School of Law, as well as the Baylor MDL Judicial Summit.
Paul is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell (the highest rating available), twice named one of the nation’s top “40 Under 40” by The National Law Journal, and named one of “Florida’s Top Lawyers” by Law & Politics and South Florida Business Journal. He has also been named a Legend, a Leading Lawyer in America, a Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer, and a 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer by Lawdragon; a Leading Lawyer by Chambers USA; a Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazer by The National Law Journal; one of Florida’s “Legal Elite” by Florida Trend magazine; and one of “Florida’s Most Effective Lawyers” by American Law Media’s Daily Business Review. Additionally, Best Lawyers® named Paul a Best Lawyer in America and a Florida Best Lawyer in the area of “Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs,” and he was additionally chosen as Lawyer of the Year in that same category. Super Lawyers Magazine has also named Paul a Florida Super Lawyer for 16 consecutive years.
Paul earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the University Honors Program. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law, with Highest Distinction, where he was an editor of the Emory Law Journal, a member of the Order of the Coif Legal Honor Society, and awarded multiple American Jurisprudence Book Awards for earning the highest grade in class.
Mr. Zavareei has devoted the last two decades to recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of consumers and workers. He has served in leadership roles in dozens of class action cases and has been appointed Class Counsel on behalf of numerous litigation and settlement classes. An accomplished and experienced attorney, Mr. Zavareei has litigated in state and federal courts across the nation in a wide range of practice areas; tried several cases to verdict; and successfully argued numerous appeals, including in the D.C. Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, and the Fifth Circuit.
After graduating from UC Berkeley School of Law, Mr. Zavareei joined the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. There, he managed the defense of a nationwide class action brought against a major insurance carrier, along with other complex civil matters. In 2002, Mr. Zavareei founded Tycko & Zavareei LLP with his partner Jonathan Tycko.
Mr. Zavareei has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in dozens of class actions involving deceptive business practices, defective products, and/or privacy. He has been appointed to leadership roles in multiple cases. As Lead Counsel in an MDL against a financial services company that provided predatory debit cards to college students, Mr. Zavareei spearheaded a fifteen-million-dollar recovery for class members. He is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel in consolidated proceedings against Fifth Third Bank, and on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in MDL litigation against TD Bank. As Co-Lead Counsel in Farrell v. Bank of America, a case challenging Bank of America’s punitive overdraft fees, Mr. Zavareei secured a class settlement valued at $66.6 million in cash and debt relief, together with injunctive relief forcing the bank to change a practice that will save millions of low-income consumers approximately $1.2 billion in overdraft fees. In his order granting final approval, Judge Lorenz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California described the outcome as a “remarkable” accomplishment achieved through “tenacity and great skill.”
In March 2023, Mr. Zavareei argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski, asserting that the Federal Arbitration Act does not require stays of district court litigation when a defendant appeals the denial of its motion to compel arbitration.
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James has led Hausfeld’s consumer protection practice group since the firm’s inception and courts have personally appointed him to leadership positions in numerous successful consumer fraud class actions. He has a diverse practice centering on consumer protection and cybersecurity/privacy law, antitrust law (with an emphasis in agriculture), environmental torts, and sports and entertainment law. James’ practice also includes domestic and international environmental and public health litigation.
James has pursued justice on behalf of his clients, both domestically and abroad, in a wide variety of practice areas and on behalf of notable clients -- including musicians and professional athletes. He has successfully resolved the claims of numerous farmers and landowners in Barbados who suffered reduced crop yields and property damages as a result of a massive jet fuel spill. James has also represented farmers and other entities seeking damages related to unauthorized releases of genetically modified crops. Domestically, he has represented municipalities and individuals suffering harm related to lead paint and other toxic products.
James’ distinctive approach to litigation has resulted in recoveries of hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients and class members.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers received her commission to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of California in November 2011. She is the first woman of Mexican-American heritage to occupy that seat. Prior to her role on the federal bench, she served as a Superior Court Judge for the State of California in Alameda County and before that was an equity partner for the law firm of Cooley LLP.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers received her commission to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of California in November 2011. She is the first woman of Mexican-American heritage to occupy that seat. Prior to her role on the federal bench, she served as a Superior Court Judge for the State of California in Alameda County and before that was an equity partner for the law firm of Cooley LLP.
In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Gonzalez Rogers serves on numerous national, circuit, and district committees, including the U.S. Conference Committees on Defender Services and International Judicial Relations. In 2010, she was elected as the first state court judge to the Council of the American Law Institute. She has worked on projects related to Privacy, Employment, Unjust Enrichment, and Copyright and will be an Advisor to the new project on Constitutional Torts. She also chaired the Membership Committee for six years.
She is the Judicial Representative to the ABA Section on Antitrust and Competition. She currently serves as an Officer for both the Ninth Circuit District Judges Association and for the Northern District’s Historical Society, and related Ninth Circuit committees, and the Board of the Northern District Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. In the past, she served on the Board of Trustees for Princeton University and numerous Latinx organizations.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers was born and raised in Texas. She graduated cum laude from Princeton University and received her J.D. from the University of Texas, Austin after completing her final year of classes at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Federal Judicial Service:
Education:
Professional Career:
EDUCATION
Transylvania University University of Kentucky College of Law
Karen K. Caldwell is a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. She is also Chair of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Judge Caldwell is a former United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky and prior to her appointment to the federal bench in 2001, she was a partner in the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP. Before taking the bench, Judge Caldwell served as Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Publication Committee, the editor of Bench & Bar Magazine and a member of the Character and Fitness Committee of the Kentucky Board of Bar Examiners. Judge Caldwell serves as a trustee of Transylvania University.
In 1995, Judge Caldwell received Kentucky's Outstanding Lawyer Award from the Kentucky Bar Association. In 2005, she was awarded an honorary degree from Transylvania University and in 2007, she received the Outstanding Alumnus of Kentucky Award from the Kentucky Counsel on Post Secondary Education and the Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education. In 2010, Judge Caldwell was inducted into the Hall of Fame at University of Kentucky College of Law.
Born 1953 in Oakland, CA
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Northern District of California
Nominated by Barack Obama on August 6, 2009 and renominated on January 20, 2010, September 13, 2010, and January 5, 2011, to a seat vacated by Martin J. Jenkins; Confirmed by the Senate on May 10, 2011, and received commission on May 12, 2011
U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2001-2011
Education:
University of California, Berkeley, A.B., 1975
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D., 1979
Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. Charles B. Renfrew, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1979-1980
Attorney, Asian Law Caucus, San Francisco, California, 1980-1981
Law clerk, Hon. James R. Browning, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1981-1982
Private practice, San Francisco, California, 1982-1985
Staff attorney, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California, 1985-2001
Attorney, author, teacher, pastor and story teller, Mark Lanier is consistently recognized as one of the top civil trial lawyers in America. For almost 40 years, Mark has taken on some of the biggest challenges in the legal field. In doing so, he has achieved some of the largest verdicts in history; accomplishments that have changed business practices to protect the public and have gained justice for the victims of dangerous drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products.
Best known as a zealous advocate for individuals in personal injury and product liability claims against major corporations, Mark brings passion, creativity, and an unparalleled ability to connect with juries in courtrooms across the nation. In addition, he has successfully represented clients in claims involving fraud, breach of contract and other forms of business litigation.
These results cumulatively have put Mark close to $20 billion in verdicts during his highly acclaimed career.
Mark’s success in the courtroom and perspectives on litigation have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg News, and the Houston Chronicle, among many other publications. He is also a frequent guest on news and business programs for a wide range of broadcast and cable networks.
Mark was twice named the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year and was further inducted into the National Trial Lawyers’ Hall of Fame. He was further honored as The National Law Journal’s Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year. The American Association of Justice honored Mark with their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Holding three honorary doctorates, he was bestowed the Ambassador of Peace award by the Guatemalan government. Mark is published in both legal and theological arenas and has six books, numerous published articles and two movies among his works.
Mikal C. Watts is more than just an attorney – he’s a driver of change and a powerful force in the battle for justice. His commitment is about more than just winning cases, it’s about empowering people who have been harmed in their struggles against large corporations after their lives have been upended by catastrophe.
As an advocate, Mikal strives to make the legal world less intimidating, more accessible, and ultimately, a platform where anyone can stand up and voice their grievances, no matter how powerful the opponent.
As a founder of Watts Law Firm LLP, Mikal has powered change, enabling over 200,000 clients to realize their right to have their voices heard against the largest corporations worldwide. This determination has led to the recovery of billions of dollars for clients who have fallen victim to catastrophic personal injury, toxic torts, product liability, and other unfortunate circumstances caused by corporate negligence and greed.
His goals have always been clear: to secure the maximum compensation for his individual clients, to hold the mighty accountable, to establish precedents that inspire societal change for the greater good, and to empower the voiceless.
Mass Tort Attorney Committed to Personal Communication with Clients
Mikal C. Watts deeply understands that the key to a successful client-lawyer relationship lies in personalized, regular communication. Despite the inherently complex and large-scale nature of mass tort litigation, Mikal is dedicated to ensuring that every client feels individually acknowledged and truly understood. In an industry where clients can often feel lost in the crowd, Mikal has developed a thoughtful and effective strategy to guarantee each person feels genuinely recognized and represented.
The first facet of this strategy involves a significant investment in resources and staffing at Watts Law Firm LLP. Mikal has meticulously assembled a robust team of skilled attorneys, paralegals, and legal professionals who embody his commitment to client-focused service. This team is charged with the task of responding promptly to all client inquiries, and they are steadfast in their mission to make each client feel valued and heard. A vital part of this mission includes providing regular updates on case statuses, ensuring clients are never left in the dark about their legal journey.
Moreover, Mikal’s dedication to personalized communication extends well beyond the boundaries of conventional legal practices. Recognizing the importance of face-to-face interactions in fostering trust and mutual understanding, Mikal makes it a point to personally meet with his clients. Despite the challenging logistics of representing thousands of clients spread across the country, Mikal has prioritized maintaining a direct, physical presence in his clients’ lives.
To realize this ambitious approach, Mikal travels to each city affected by catastrophe at least once every 90 days. These visits aren’t just formal courtesy calls; they involve Mikal hosting town-hall meetings, where he personally answers questions, addresses concerns, and discusses the ongoing litigations. These in-person sessions underscore his commitment to individualized service and serve as a testament to his dedication to empowering his clients.
This two-pronged approach reflects Mikal C. Watts’ unwavering commitment to not just represent his clients legally, but to ensure they feel heard, valued, and empowered throughout their legal journey. It underscores his philosophy that in mass tort litigation, the power lies in each individual’s story and each client’s voice.
“One of the most effective plaintiff trial lawyers in the United States.”
Harnessing the Power of Law for Systemic Change
Mikal C. Watts understands the real power of the law lies in its commitment to systemic change. Every case taken on is seen not just as a battle to be won, but as an opportunity to shift paradigms, to raise standards, to effect lasting change. Mikal’s relentless pursuit of justice in the face of powerful adversaries has resulted in unprecedented settlements in product liability cases, environmental mass torts, and more.
Corporations frequently prioritize profit over safety, sometimes resorting to reducing safety standards and cutting corners to protect their bottom line. Mass tort law firms play a pivotal role in interrupting this cycle of corporate negligence. By compelling corporations to pay damages to all affected parties, these firms hit corporations where it hurts the most – their finances.
This financial impact is twofold; not only does it provide much-needed compensation to the victims of negligence, but it also serves as a powerful deterrent to corporations. Faced with hefty financial penalties, corporations are often compelled to reassess and revamp their safety standards and policies. After experiencing such a substantial financial blow, the threat of another such penalty can act as a potent motivator for corporations to prioritize safety over profit in the future.
One example of this type of corporate change can be demonstrated by Mikal’s litigation against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company, which resulted in resolving the most significant product liability case in the country. Watts Law Firm LLP was nationally recognized as one of two firms leading in the pursuit of hundreds of claims brought nationwide against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Mikal was instrumental in bringing to light Ford’s quiet efforts to recall these defective tires in foreign countries while consumers in the United States continued to be injured or killed riding on the same tires. The terms of the settlement were unprecedented in American history for a case of this type; not only monetarily, but by virtue of what the companies agreed to do with respect to the disclosure of information relating to their own investigations into the alleged defects with their products and their corporate safety policies. As a result, these automotive giants changed their practices to produce better and safer products.
In this way, mass tort law firms aren’t just advocates for victims; they are instrumental in driving systemic change. By forcing corporations to face the financial consequences of their negligence, Mikal fosters an environment where safety takes precedence over profit, making industries safer for everyone.
Tireless Champion for the Everyman
In a society often dominated by corporate interests, Mikal stands out as a tireless champion for the everyman. The Texas Lawyer aptly noted, “In the driver’s seat, trial lawyer Mikal Watts doesn’t even know where the brake pedal is.” He consistently pushes the boundaries of what is possible in a courtroom, wielding the power of the law to drive change and empower his clients.
Mikal’s reputation as a powerful advocate for his clients is echoed by the San Antonio Express News, which describes him as a “hardworking, smart and formidable courtroom adversary who also drives a hard bargain in settlement talks.” The National Law Journal affirms that “Watts has established a record as one of the most effective plaintiff trial lawyers in the United States.”
Mikal’s unyielding dedication to his clients and the pursuit of justice resonates in every case he handles. His work has garnered national attention, with major news outlets including ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and The Wall Street Journal featuring his victories. Yet, for Mikal, his true success lies not in recognition, but in the knowledge that his work has empowered individuals and communities, altering lives and society for the better.
Join Our Mission to Empower the Voiceless and Power Change
Mikal is proud of his background and his journey from the University of Texas, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with high honors and then earned his law degree, to his position today as the leader of a law firm dedicated to systemic change for the greater good. As a Board-Certified Attorney in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Lawyer, Mikal embodies the power of the law. His commitment to clients not only assists them as individuals, but forces necessary changes that make our collective society a better and safer place to live.
With Mikal C. Watts, you are not just a client; you are part of a powerful mission. You are part of a change, a movement that holds corporations accountable and empowers individuals. Mikal C. Watts doesn’t just practice law; he empowers voices, powers change, and exemplifies the true potential of the legal system.
Richard Seeborg was nominated on August 6, 2009 by President Obama to serve as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. The United States Senate confirmed Judge Seeborg’s nomination on December 24, 2009 and he received his commission on January 24, 2010. Judge Seeborg maintains his chambers and courtroom in San Francisco, California. Judge Seeborg served as a Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division from February 2001 until his appointment as a District Judge.
Judge Seeborg graduated from Yale College in 1978 and from Columbia Law School in 1981. From 1981 to 1982 he served as a law clerk to the Honorable John H. Pratt in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Following his clerkship, Judge Seeborg joined the law offices of Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco, becoming a partner in the firm in 1987. From 1991 to 1998, Judge Seeborg served as an Assistant United States Attorney in San Jose, California, handling federal criminal prosecutions. In 1998, he rejoined Morrison & Foerster as a partner in the firm’s Palo Alto, California office and served in that capacity until his appointment as a Magistrate Judge in 2001.
Judge Seeborg has participated in numerous rule of law projects around the world and for several years served on the adjunct faculty at Santa Clara University School of Law. He served as the chair of the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on the Magistrate Judge System from 2015 to 2018 and for six years was a member of the Ninth Circuit Jury Instruction Committee. Concurrent with his duties as a federal district judge, since January, 2018 Judge Seeborg has served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. On February 1, 2021, Judge Seeborg succeeded to the position of Chief Judge of the Northern District of California.
Michael Andolina focuses his practice on working with clients to manage crises and defend andresolve complex multiparty and multi-jurisdictional matters. He handles a diverse range oflitigation matters in state and federal courts across the country, with an emphasis on resolvinglarge scale litigation in multiple forums
Mike has extensive experience advising clients in connection with mass tort and other crisismanagement situations, including coordinating and conducting investigations, engaging withregulators and law enforcement, developing litigation strategy, and defending clients throughall stages of litigation. Currently, he serves as lead resolution counsel for the Boy Scouts ofAmerica in their pending Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings. He also represents 3MCompany in connection with the Combat Arms Earplug multi-district litigation pending in theNorthern District of Florida, the largest MDL in US history. Mike was recognized by the MDLCourt as an "MDL MVP" for his role in negotiating a settlement structure to resolve more than250,000 claims again 3M relating to alleged hearing loss.
Mike has also represented Honda in numerous capacities in connection with the Takata airbagrecalls, the largest vehicle recall in history, including in multidistrict litigation pending in the USDistrict Court for the Southern District of Florida, In re Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation,where plaintiffs allege both economic product defect and personal injury claims againstnumerous automobile manufacturer defendants and Takata within a single proceeding. Mikealso represents Honda in Takata's worldwide restructuring proceedings, which have beendescribed by industry experts as the most complex multinational proceedings in history, and inconnection with litigation brought by state attorneys general.
June 2019, Mike was named by Crain's Chicago Business as a Notable Gen X Leader in Law.He was also recognized in February 2018 with the International Law Office's "2018 Client ChoiceAward," which honors partners and law firms worldwide that provide "excellent client care" andare nominated only by corporate counsel.
Previously, Mike served as the deputy head of litigation at a large firm in Chicago, where hepracticed for more than 20 years.
Judge Breyer received his AB in 1963 from Harvard College and his JD in 1966 from UC Berkeley School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, he clerked for Oliver J. Carter, chief judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He then served as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco until 1973, when he was appointed assistant special prosecutor, Watergate Special Prosecution Force. He entered private practice in 1974, specializing in the defense of white-collar criminal cases.
He was appointed to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, in 1997 by President Clinton. In 2011, he was appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States to serve on the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. He was appointed by President Obama (with the consent of the Senate) in 2012 to serve as Vice Chairman of the United States Sentencing Commission, and re-appointed in 2017 by President Trump. During his twenty-five year judicial career, Judge Breyer has presided over a number of criminal matters implicating foreign concerns such as terrorism, theft of intellectual property, sex trafficking, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Additionally, he managed one of the largest civil cases filed in the United States: Volkswagen’s installation of defeat devices in their diesel vehicles intended to circumvent environmental laws. Since 1997, Judge Breyer has advised the governments of Egypt, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine on criminal justice and civil case management issues. In October 2018 he received the prestigious Devitt Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a United States Article III federal judge.
Judge Jane Triche Milazzo was sworn in as a United State District Court Judge on October 12, 2011, after being unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on October 11, 2011.
Judge Milazzo graduated from LSU Law School in 1992 and immediately went into practice with her family at the Law Offices of Risley Triche, LLC, where she engaged in a general civil practice. Judge Milazzo was the first female to practice law in Assumption Parish and ultimately became the first female elected to Louisiana’s 23rd Judicial District Court.
Judge Milazzo regularly speaks to lawyers on issues of professionalism, advocacy, and complex litigation. She currently presides over the multidistrict litigation, In Re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation. She is married to her husband, John. They have six children and five grandchildren.
About District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín
Born 1977 in Mexico City, Mexico
Federal Judicial Service:
Confirmed as Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Nominated by Joseph R. Biden on January 3, 2023, to a seat vacated by Jeffrey Steven White. Confirmed by the Senate on February 28, 2023, and received commission on March 3, 2023.
Education:
Princeton University, A.B., 1999
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 2004
Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. David Briones, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 2004-2006
Women’s Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union, New York City, 2006-2010; fellow, 2006-2008; staff attorney, 2008-2010
Staff attorney, Legal Aid at Work, San Francisco, California, 2010-2013
Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2012, 2013, 2016
Senior staff attorney, Immigrants’ Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union, San Francisco, California, 2013-2015
Contract attorney, University of California, Irvine, School of Law (based in Oakland, California), 2015
Contract attorney, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Pasadena, California (based in Oakland, California), 2015
Civil rights attorney, U.S. Department of Education, San Francisco, California, 2016-2017
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (based in San Francisco, California), 2017-2018; senior immigrants’ rights attorney, 2017; managing attorney, Immigrants’ Rights Project, 2018
National Immigration Law Center, Los Angeles, California (based in Oakland, California), 2018-2023; staff attorney, 2018-2020; supervising attorney, 2020-2023
Other Nominations/Recess Appointments:
Nominated to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, August 1, 2022; no Senate vote
Miscellaneous Information:
On February 28, 2023, Vice President Kamala D. Harris voted yea to break a tie when the Senate voted 48-48 on confirmation of the nomination.
Steve Zalesin is a nationally renowned trial lawyer with extensive experience in false advertising, intellectual property and complex commercial matters. He has successfully tried cases and argued appeals in numerous courts throughout the United States.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Zalesin has represented the nation’s leading consumer products companies in a series of landmark cases that have shaped the laws of false advertising, while helping to preserve and grow the markets for our clients’ products. In the past year he has won dismissal of several high-profile “greenwashing” cases, in which our clients were accused of misrepresenting the environmental impact of their operations. In addition, he has successfully defended multiple clients in putative class actions that alleged that their products contained dangerous contaminants. Mr. Zalesin is currently defending major beverage, consumer healthcare, household goods, and confectionary companies in litigation over their product labeling and advertising.
In 2016, Mr. Zalesin secured a federal jury verdict for the world’s leading beverage company in a closely-watched dispute over juice labeling. He initially obtained summary judgment dismissing the claims against our client, and successfully defended that ruling before the Ninth Circuit. The U.S. Supreme Court then vacated the Ninth Circuit’s decision and remanded the case for trial. The Los Angeles jury rejected the competitor’s claims in full, returning a verdict in our client’s favor after a six-day trial and less than a day of deliberation. As a result, Mr. Zalesin was named “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer (March 24, 2016). In 2020, he obtained a noteworthy dismissal of a class action complaint that targeted a leading online petitioning platform and its efforts to promote racial justice following the murder of George Floyd.
The National Law Journal recently named Mr. Zalesin to its 2023 list of “Media & Entertainment Law Trailblazers.” He is also listed in Chambers USA as a leading practitioner in the area of Advertising: Litigation, where he is described as “absolutely terrific.” Clients note, he “is one of the top advertising litigators in the country. He is a very good writer and a very effective oral advocate who is excellent in court. He’s an all-round top lawyer.” Clients praised his “good, calm demeanor as an advocate in the courtroom.”
Mr. Zalesin is listed as “Litigation Star” in Benchmark: America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys. He has been named as a “Client Service All-Star” by The BTI Consulting Group for the past several years. This award recognizes attorneys who “stand above all the others in delivering the absolute best in client service."
Judge Rosenstengel was appointed United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois May 19, 2014. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and earned her Juris Doctorate from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1993. Judge Rosenstengel was in private practice from 1993 until 1998 and served as a career Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge G. Patrick Murphy. She served as Law Clerk until being sworn as Clerk of Court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in October 2009. She served as Clerk of Court until commissioned as a United States District Judge upon the nomination of President Barack Obama and confirmation of the United States Senate.
The Honorable John R. Tunheim has served for over 27 years as United States District Judge in the District of Minnesota and served as Chief Judge from 2015 until July 1, 2022. From 1994- 1998, Judge Tunheim served as Chair of the U.S. Assassination Records Review Board, an independent federal agency empowered to declassify the remaining secret records of the assassination of President Kennedy. Before his appointment as a federal judge, he served as Minnesota’s Chief Deputy Attorney General and Solicitor General, and in the U.S. Senate, as Staff Assistant to U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey. He has devoted much of his judicial career to helping develop the rule of law in new democracies, including drafting the Kosovo Constitution and advising over 45 countries on the development of the rule of law, on counter- terrorism measures and on judicial independence, among many other topics. He is a graduate of Concordia College and the University of Minnesota Law School, where he served as President of the Law Review. He was Chair of the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management from 2005 to 2009 and currently serves as a Member of the U.S. Judicial Conference. He has served as Chair of the ABA’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division and the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges. He is currently a member of the IT Security Task Force established by the Judicial Conference to reform the judiciary’s IT practices. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a former Chair of the Concordia College Board of Regents. Judge Tunheim also serves on the Minnesota Historical Society Executive Council. He has presided over three mass tort Multidistrict Litigation consolidated cases and is now presiding over two major antitrust MDLs.
With more than two decades of practicing personal injury law, Rosemary Pinto has earned an impressive record of courtroom victories, most of which were in cases that other lawyers had rejected as unwinnable. Even in law school, Ms. Pinto stood out among her peers as one of the preeminent litigators. She won the Villanova Law School Theodore F. Riemel Moot Court Competition, in which law students presented a series of arguments before trial and appellate judges.
As a trial lawyer representing injured victims, she has achieved some of the largest verdicts in Philadelphia against corporations and medical treaters in cases that were against seemingly insurmountable odds. Ms. Pinto has an extensive background litigating mass tort actions. In the past, she represented asbestos manufacturers and insurance companies in complex matters. Currently, she confines her practice to the representation of victims, including victims of defective drugs and products that have been irresponsibly marketed to the public. Ms. Pinto also has the added advantage in the courtroom of having practiced insurance defense law early in her career. With this background, Ms. Pinto is able to predict what the defense will do in nearly every case.
Ms. Pinto has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Top Rated Products Liability Attorney in Philadelphia, PA” since 2005, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America© since 2006. She is frequently asked to lecture to other lawyers in the areas of medical malpractice, product liability and improvement of trial skills by the Philadelphia Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Pinto has taught at the Beasley School of Law in the Trial Advocacy Program. She also participated in the Philadelphia Bar Association’s program, teaching civics to high school students. She has appeared on television and radio in relation to cases litigated, her pro bono work and her work in the legal community.
Ms. Pinto credits her success in the courtroom to her background. Her father was one of the preeminent trial lawyers in the country and thus she developed a love of the law at an early age. In addition, as a former high school history teacher, Ms. Pinto believes that courtroom trials are very similar to teaching, because in both situations you are exposing a captive audience (that might prefer to be somewhere else) to a new set of facts or evidence, and you need to present the information in a way that is interesting so that the audience becomes involved in the process. Ms. Pinto is a firm believer in our justice system and the ability of a jury of one’s peers to weigh the evidence and come up with a fair decision. She says that it is the collective wisdom of a jury that gives it the ability to see through false statements and red herrings to achieve a just result. Ms. Pinto takes an active role in politics by supporting both political candidates and judicial candidates that support the Constitution of the United States and our justice system in the hopes of ensuring access to justice for all, not just the wealthy corporations and insurance companies. Giving back to the community is important to Ms. Pinto as an attorney, so she continually represents indigent clients, donates to and helps raise money for charitable causes and holds receptions for candidates seeking public office who support the rights of all of our citizens. Ms. Pinto has been on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. She has also served on the Board of Delegates to the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Norman E. Siegel litigates high-stakes cases for companies and individuals. He has earned a reputation locally and nationally for his ability to strategize, negotiate and deliver results. He was recently named by Best Lawyers as a 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” and by Law360 as a “Titan of the Plaintiff’s Bar” for his work in class action litigation following big wins against some of the largest corporations in America.
Norm has successfully tried to verdict a wide range of cases, obtaining several multimillion- dollar jury verdicts, and has obtained billions in settlements for his clients.
Norm concentrates his practice in three principal areas:
Business Litigation. Norm successfully deploys the firm’s contingency fee business litigation model in bet-the-company and “David vs. Goliath” matters involving intellectual property, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation and more. In one such matter, he prosecuted a groundbreaking antitrust case on behalf of Heartland Surgical Specialty Hospital, which claimed the region’s dominant hospital systems conspired to prevent it from obtaining in-network provider contracts. After Norm secured a key admission from a defense witness, Heartland settled with all defendants.
Data Breach and Privacy. Named one of Law360's “MVPs of the Year” for Cybersecurity and Privacy, Norm has served as lead counsel in several of the largest data breach cases litigated to date, including the sprawling multidistrict litigation alleging Equifax compromised the personal information of more than 148 million Americans in a 2017 data breach. More than 250 cases were filed against Equifax, and Norm was selected lead counsel over scores of other applicants. A leader in this burgeoning field of law, Norm has prosecuted data breach claims against Capital One, Quest Diagnostics, Target Corp., The Home Depot Inc., Marriott, the Office of Personnel Management, and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and he is the co-founder of the American Association for Justice’s data breach and privacy group.
Class Actions. Norm’s recent work includes multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of consumers who were overcharged for life insurance policies. In Vogt v. State Farm Insurance Co., Norm delivered the closing argument to the jury that returned a $34 million verdict for Missouri owners of State Farm life insurance. Norm also served as lead counsel in Larson v. John Hancock Life Insurance Co., a nationwide class action that ultimately settled for $59.75 million just before trial. For his work in the field, Best Lawyers recently named Norm “Lawyer of the Year” for class action litigation.
Norm began his career as an Assistant Attorney General at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, where he gained a broad range of experience in complex litigation. He was later named partner at the firm now known as Dentons before starting Stueve Siegel Hanson in 2001. Norm was recognized as a 2020 Missouri Lawyers Awards Influential Lawyer by Missouri Lawyers Weekly; has been named among the “500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America” by Lawdragon; and is listed among Best Lawyers in America and Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar.” He has been honored several times as a Top 100 Missouri/Kansas “Super Lawyer” and a Benchmark Plaintiffs “Local Litigation Star.”
Norm has served on the boards of the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Bar Foundation and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Outside the office, he enjoys tennis, collecting art, and spending time with his family and his dog, a Whoodle named Lucky.
Eric Gibbs prosecutes consumer protection, antitrust, whistleblower, financial fraud and mass tort matters. He has been appointed to leadership positions in dozens of contested, high profile class actions and coordinated proceedings, and currently serves in leadership positions in In re Equifax, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, In re: Wells Fargo Auto Insurance Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, In re Risperdal and Invega Product Liability Cases, In re Banner Health Data Breach Litigation. Eric has recovered nearly a billion dollars for the clients and classes he represents, and has negotiated groundbreaking settlements that resulted in meaningful reforms to business practices, and have favorably impacted plaintiffs’ legal rights.
Reputation and Recognition by the Courts
In over twenty years of practice, Eric has developed a distinguished reputation with his peers and the judiciary for his ability to work efficiently and cooperatively with co-counsel, and professionally with opposing counsel in class action litigation.
[Mr. Gibbs] efficiently managed the requests from well over 20 different law firms and effectively represented the interests of Non-Settling Plaintiffs throughout this litigation. Judge Wu, In re Hyundai & Kia Fuel Economy Litigation (C.D. Cal)
The attorneys who handled the case were particularly skilled by virtue of their ability and experience.
Judge Debevoise, In re: Mercedes-Benz Teleaid Contract Litigation (D.N.J.)
They are experienced and knowledgeable counsel and have significant breadth of experience in terms of consumer class actions.
Judge Sabraw, Mitchell v. American Fair Credit Association (Alameda County Superior Court)
Representation was professional and competent; in the Court’s opinion, counsel obtained an excellent result for the class.
Judge Fogel, Sugarman v. Ducati North America (N.D. Cal)
Achievements and Leadership
Eric has been widely recognized for his professional excellence and achievements, and has been selected by numerous publications as a leading lawyer in the field of Class and Mass Actions.
In 2019, Law360 recognized Eric among its “Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar,” one of only 10 attorneys nationwide to receive the award, honoring “influential plaintiffs lawyers who had significant wins in 2018.” He also received the 2019 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award for his work in the Anthem Data Breach Litigation. The Daily Journal named Eric to its prestigious list of “Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California” for 2019 and 2016, and Law360 recognized Eric as a “2016 Consumer Protection MVP,” the only plaintiff-side lawyer in the country selected in that category. In 2018, Law360 named Eric a “Cybersecurity & Privacy MVP,” one of only five attorneys who received the honor nationwide. Consumer Attorneys of California selected Eric and co-counsel as finalists for the Consumer Attorney of the Year award for their work in achieving $100 million settlement in the Chase “Check Loan” Litigation.
His cases have been chronicled in major legal and news publications including NBC News, CNN, the National Law Journal, The New York Times, Auto Week, Market Watch, and Bloomberg News.
Eric holds a variety of leadership positions in professional associations dedicated to consumer advocacy, and he is frequently called upon to present on developing trends in the law at conferences throughout the country. Eric heads our California whistleblower attorney practice group.
Litigation Highlights
In re Anthem, Inc. Data Breach Privacy Litigation
Served as a court-appointed member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee representing the interests of plaintiffs and putative class members following a massive data breach of approximately 80 million personal records. The lawsuit settled in August 2018 for $115 million, the largest data breach settlement in history.
In re Chase Bank U.S.A., N.A. “Check Loan” Contract Litigation
Multidistrict litigation that alleged Chase Bank wronged consumers by offering long-term fixed-rate loans, only to later more-than-double the required loan payments. Eric led negotiations in the case, which resulted in a $100 million settlement with Chase eight weeks prior to trial.
In re Adobe Systems Inc. Privacy Litigation
As court-appointed lead counsel, Eric and his team reversed a long line of decisions adverse to consumers whose personal information was stolen in data breaches. Judge Koh issued a 41 page decision in plaintiffs’ favor and Eric negotiated a comprehensive reform of Adobe’s data security practices. The court’s landmark decision on Article III standing in this case marked a sea change and has been cited favorably in over twenty cases in the year since it was issued.
After more than a decade of litigation, Eric as lead counsel achieved a nationwide class action settlement on behalf of approximately 5 million consumers of Intel Pentium 4 processors. The lawsuit changed Intel’s benchmarking practices and Intel agreed to a cash settlement for the class, along with $4 million in charitable donations.
Parkinson v. Hyundai Motor America
Eric served as class counsel in this lawsuit alleging that the flywheel and clutch system in certain Hyundai vehicles was defective. After achieving nationwide class certification, Hyundai agreed to a settlement that provided for 50-100% reimbursements to class members for their repairs and full reimbursement for rental vehicle expenses.
De La Cruz v. Masco Retail Cabinet Group
Eric served as lead attorney litigating the collective claims of dozens of misclassified account representatives for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Successfully certified a class of current and former Masco account representatives and personally arbitrated the case to judgment obtaining full recovery for the class.
In re Providian Credit Card Cases
Eric played a prominent role in this nationwide class action suit brought on behalf of Providian credit card holders alleging that Providian engaged in unlawful and fraudulent business practices in connection with the marketing and fee assessments for its credit cards. The Honorable Stuart Pollack approved a $105 million settlement, plus injunctive relief—one of the largest class action recoveries in the United States arising out of consumer credit card litigation.
Chris Chorba is co-chair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Class Actions Practice Group. He specializes in defending class actions and complex litigation, and he has been recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation. Law360 also named Mr. Chorba a “Class Action MVP,” which profiles attorneys who have “distinguished themselves from their peers by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals.” The National Law Journal also recognized him as a “Trailblazer” for his work defending consumer class actions.
Mr. Chorba has had substantial experience litigating a broad range of complex commercial matters at the trial and appellate level in California and throughout the country, and in multi-district litigation (MDLs). His litigation and counseling experience includes work for companies in every industry, including automotive, beauty / cosmetic, consumer products, education, entertainment, financial services, food and beverage, health care, insurance, life sciences, retail, social media, sports and gaming, technology, telecommunications, and utility / energy.
JENNIFER SAULINO is a global co-leader of Sidley’s Product Liability practice. As a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, Jennifer possesses an unusual ability to translate complex legal theories into simple, clear messages for judges and juries. As a first-chair trial lawyer, she focuses on synthesizing extensive case findings into crisp themes, uncovering and dissecting critical, compelling facts, and shaping successful strategies that position clients for optimal results. With experience trying more than a dozen complex, lengthy cases to jury verdicts, and having appeared in numerous federal and state courts across the country, individuals and corporations consistently seek her leadership when faced with tough litigation.
Jennifer is ranked by Chambers USA for General Commercial Litigation (2022–2024) and Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2023–2024) in the District of Columbia with clients recognizing her trial prowess and high-quality advice. Additionally, she has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation 2025 as a “National Practice Area Star” and “Litigation Star” for Product Liability in the District of Columbia and was named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2025 “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” and “Top 250 Women in Litigation" lists.
Dan Schwartz works for individuals, small businesses, and public clients in complex multidistrict, commercial, public client, and class action litigations and arbitrations. An experienced litigator with deep knowledge of a wide range of matters, Dan has successfully represented clients in high stakes disputes involving, among other things, affirmative and defensive antitrust claims, fraud, the False Claims Act, consumer privacy, FLSA class and collective actions, trade secret misappropriation, the Anti-Kickback Statute, defamation, securities fraud, toxic tort, bankruptcy, the Affordable Care Act, and patent matters.
Dan has also represented clients on appeal in a number of significant cases in state and federal courts, including arguing a First Amendment matter of first impression in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He previously worked for several major international law firms and clerked for the Honorable Carlos T. Bea of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Dan graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Prior to his legal career, Dan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College and earned a Master of Arts from Brandeis University. He is a proficient Russian speaker.
H. Minor Pipes, III is a founding member of the firm Pipes Miles Beckman, LLC. He provides counsel in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, construction law, general litigation, corporate litigation, and class actions. Since being admitted to the Bar, Minor has tried numerous cases to decision, in both state and federal courts. Minor was the lead negotiator for the defendants in the Global Settlement of a national class action involving eight hundred settling defendants – the matter of In re: Chinese Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation (E.D. La. MDL No. 2047). Minor was also lead counsel for Bob Dean in various class actions related to the Hurricane Ida evacuations of Mr. Dean’s nursing homes. These matters were settled in a class settlement that required a contested fairness hearing.
Minor is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, Member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Past President of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, Past President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, past Treasurer of the Louisiana State Bar Association and past member of the Louisiana State Bar Association's Nominating Committee. Minor was selected as a member of the inaugural class of Leadership LSBA. Minor currently serves as Co-Chair of the Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School Committee. His community involvement includes working with Hogs for the Cause through Team Fleur de Que and numerous non-profits in the area.
PRACTICE AREAS
EDUCATION
FAMILY
Minor is married to Jill McKay and has three children, Henry, Charlie, and George.
EXPERIENCE
HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Arthur Brown is head of the firm's New York office. He has a broad practice, with deep experience representing and advising clients on mass tort and product liability issues, commercial litigation disputes, significant class actions, investigations by federal and state authorities, and inquiries from Congress.
Arthur is a nationally recognized leader in the product liability arena, serving as national counsel and national coordinating counsel representing pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pfizer, and Novartis, in bet-the-company mass tort product liability actions. Arthur plays a central, hands-on role directing and implementing overall litigation and trial strategy, preparing high-level executives for testimony, and developing the medical and science defense. Arthur also has extensive experience representing and advising clients on class action litigation for clients like Samsung, and on strategic litigation and settlement decisions. Mr. Brown also advises many Fortune 500 companies on litigation avoidance, in product liability and commercial litigation, and white collar investigations.
Arthur is also an experienced commercial litigator who regularly represents and advises clients in complex securities and fraud cases, government investigations, and significant arbitrations, including his representation of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Society.
From 1994 to 1997, Arthur served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's office, where he prosecuted a wide range of cases involving street crime, conspiracy, fraud, and embezzlement.
Arthur Brown is head of the firm's New York office. He has a broad practice, with deep experience representing and advising clients on mass tort and product liability issues, commercial litigation disputes, significant class actions, investigations by federal and state authorities, and inquiries from Congress.
Arthur is a nationally recognized leader in the product liability arena, serving as national counsel and national coordinating counsel representing pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pfizer, and Novartis, in bet-the-company mass tort product liability actions. Arthur plays a central, hands-on role directing and implementing overall litigation and trial strategy, preparing high-level executives for testimony, and developing the medical and science defense. Arthur also has extensive experience representing and advising clients on class action litigation for clients like Samsung, and on strategic litigation and settlement decisions. Mr. Brown also advises many Fortune 500 companies on litigation avoidance, in product liability and commercial litigation, and white collar investigations.
Arthur is also an experienced commercial litigator who regularly represents and advises clients in complex securities and fraud cases, government investigations, and significant arbitrations, including his representation of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Society.
From 1994 to 1997, Arthur served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's office, where he prosecuted a wide range of cases involving street crime, conspiracy, fraud, and embezzlement.
Jay Edelson is the founder and CEO of Edelson PC. He is considered one of the nation’s leading plaintiff’s lawyers, with his firm having helped secure over $45 billion in settlements and verdicts on behalf of classes, individuals, and governmental entities. Law360 recognized Jay as a “Titan of the Plaintiff’s Bar” in 2014, 2021, and 2023.
Jay has been recognized as one of “America’s top trial lawyers” in the mass action arena, with his firm serving as lead trial counsel in the Portland Wildfire Litigation, securing class-wide liability and punitive damage findings and, according to the defendant, paving the way for as much as $25 billion dollars to the class.
He has been called “probably the best known, and most innovative, consumer privacy lawyer on the planet,” with he and his firm holding records for the largest trial verdict in a consumer privacy case ($925m), the largest single-state consumer privacy settlement ($650m) and the largest TCPA class settlement ($76m).
Jay has been appointed to represent state and local regulators on some of the largest issues of the day, ranging from opioids suits against pharmaceutical companies, to environmental actions against polluters, to breaches of trust against energy companies and for-profit hospitals, to privacy suits against Google, Facebook, and others.
Other commentators have similarly singled out Jay’s willingness to tackle problems other lawyers shy away from and his creativity in finding winning strategies that were not readily apparent. He successfully litigated cases of first impression against the national banks in the wake of the housing collapse, leading to the reinstatement of over $3 billion in home credit lines. Through his privacy cases, he has “fostered a reputation for his uncanny ability to come up with creative standing and damages arguments” leading to “momentum-shifting rulings in challenges to the data security and information-gathering practices of companies.”
The American Bar Association recognized Jay as one of the “most creative minds in the legal industry.” Law360 noted that he has “taken on some of the biggest companies and law firms in the world and has had success where others have not.” Yet another put it even more simply, explaining “when it comes to legal strategy and execution, Jay is simply one of the best in the country.”
Jay has received special recognition for his success in taking on Silicon Valley. The national press has dubbed Jay and his firm the “most feared” litigators in Silicon Valley and, according to the New York Times, tech’s “babyfaced … boogeyman.” Chicago Lawyer Magazine dubbed Jay “Public Enemy No. 1 in Silicon Valley.” Fortune Magazine has also singled out Jay’s work in the privacy space. In the emerging area of privacy law, the international press has called Jay one of the world’s “profiliertesten (most prominent)” privacy class action attorneys. The National Law Journal has similarly recognized Jay as a “Cybersecurity Trailblazer” — one of only two plaintiff’s attorneys to win this recognition. LawDragon named him one of the top Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in the country for his work against Silicon Valley companies.
Jay is a frequent speaker and writer on class, mass, and governmental action issues, the practice of law more generally, and training and law firm management. In recognition of the fact that his firm runs like a start-up that “just happens to be a law firm,” Jay was recently named to “Chicago’s Top Ten Startup Founders over 40” by Tech.co and was recognized by The Unicorn in the Room’s “The 45 Over 45: Entrepreneurs Over Age 45 Who Are Disrupting the Way We Do Business.” In 2022, Jay was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”
Jay has taught privacy litigation at UC Berkeley School of Law and class actions and negotiations at Chicago-Kent College of Law and has guest lectured at law schools throughout the country, including Harvard Law School, the University of Chicago Law School, Northwestern Law, Georgetown Law, and many others. He has written a blog for Thomson Reuters, called Pardon the Disruption, where he focused on ideas necessary to reform and reinvent the legal industry and has contributed opinion pieces to TechCrunch, Quartz, the Chicago Tribune, Law360, and others.
Jay is also the leading voice of the “reform wing” of the Plaintiff’s Bar, bringing suits, pushing for legislation, and speaking out about critical issues needed to reform plaintiff’s litigation.
Jay is also the host of the Non-Compliant podcast and is the head of Edelson Creative, which recently put out the music video “We don’t talk about claims rates (A “Bruno” parody).
Laura Lively is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s Los Angeles office.
Laura represents clients in high-stakes litigation across a broad range of civil and criminal matters in both federal and state court, including on appeal. Laura has significant trial experience including preparing witnesses for examination, conducting witness examination, and preparing opening and closing statements. She has briefed cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts across the country, as well as authored dispositive and pre-trial motions and other briefs in trial courts. Laura has presented oral argument in the Ninth Circuit.
Laura also manages internal and governmental investigations of entities and individuals. Prior to joining the firm, she was a managing associate on an all-women team led by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, that conducted a year-long independent investigation into abuse and misconduct in women’s professional soccer.
Laura clerked for Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas of the Ninth Circuit. While in law school, Laura successfully briefed and argued a case in the Ninth Circuit on behalf of a client who was denied necessary medical care while in prison. She worked as Research Assistant to Dean & Distinguished Professor of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky, for two years and she was President of the Student Bar Association, a Style Editor for the UC Irvine Law Review, and Co-Chair of the Women’s Law Society. At graduation, Laura received Pro Bono Honors in recognition of her advocacy work for veterans, victims of domestic violence, and children with disabilities.
Laura maintains a robust pro bono practice and serves on the Board of the California Women’s Law Center.
Amul R. Thapar serves as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His judicial career began in 2007 when President George W. Bush nominated him to serve on the Eastern District of Kentucky, making him the first South Asian Article III judge in American history. In 2017, he became President Donald J. Trump’s first appellate court nominee.
Before joining the bench, Judge Thapar served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. While United States Attorney, Judge Thapar worked on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (“AGAC”) and chaired the AGAC’s Controlled Substances and Asset Forfeiture subcommittee. He also served on the Terrorism and National Security subcommittee, the Violent Crime subcommittee, and the Child Exploitation working group.
Judge Thapar has worked in private practice, at Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Southern District of Ohio and the District of Columbia. Judge Thapar received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating, Judge Thapar worked as a law clerk to the Honorable S. Arthur Spiegel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Judge Thapar is the author of The People’s Justice: Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories that Define Him. He has also published law review articles in the Yale Law Journal, Michigan Law Review, and Catholic University Law Review. He teaches courses on originalism, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, habeas corpus, and legal writing at Notre Dame Law School, the University of Virginia School of Law, and Vanderbilt Law School.
Viola Trebicka is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles and New York offices and the co-chair of the firm's Data Privacy and Security Practice. Viola maintains a diverse complex commercial litigation and trial practice, with particular emphasis on data privacy and security matters, antitrust litigation, intellectual property disputes, and class actions.
On the data privacy front, Viola is lead counsel for technology companies in state and federal courts across the country, defending high-profile data privacy class actions regarding cutting edge technologies. She has delivered major wins for clients, including a summary judgment win for Google in the Calhoun v. Google data privacy class action, which the Daily Journal featured as one of the Top Verdicts in 2022.
Viola also regularly represents clients in data breach litigation, and has secured motion to dismiss victories for her clients in this space. Viola is equally experienced in addressing data breach incidents, including by leading the incident response, liaising with law enforcement, and addressing regulator and government concerns.
In recognition of her experience and victories, Ms. Trebicka was ranked by Legal 500 USA in the Data Privacy and Data Protection field (Media, Technology, and Telecoms).
Chris T. Hellums earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business from the University of Alabama in 1990 and graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1993.
Throughout his career, Chris has handled complex civil litigation across the country. His practice has included litigating individual, class action and mass action cases in the areas of antitrust, securities fraud, insurance fraud and bad faith, product liability, commercial disputes, and data privacy. Chris also represents and consults publicly traded companies in large-scale multijurisdictional litigation.
Chris has been appointed to various leadership positions in the following MDLs: MDL 1985, In re Total Body Formula Products Liability Litigation; MDL 2406, In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation; MDL 2441, In re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation; MDL 2595, In re Community Health Systems, Inc., Customer Data Security Breach Litigation; MDL 2734, In re Abilify (Aripiprazole) Products Liability Litigation; and MDL 2885, In re 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation.
OVERVIEW
Alyson serves as Practice Group Leader for our Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. Frequently called upon to assemble teams and manage both coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases, Alyson represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability litigation across the country. She has “considerable MDL experience,” “continues to impress as the result of her aptitude at handling coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases,” and is “attuned to understanding the underlying business implications.” The Legal 500 US Editorial (2021, 2022 and 2023). She is well-versed in MDL procedures, having represented major companies in high-profile MDL proceedings. Her recent experience includes serving as lead counsel successfully obtaining summary judgment in favor of a medical device manufacturer in the Middle District of Florida and serving as co-lead MDL counsel for a major pharmaceutical company in litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of New York. She has also served as MDL defense liaison counsel for another major pharmaceutical company in litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and lead counsel for national litigation in multiple jurisdictions across the country for a medical device company.
PRACTICE AREAS
INDUSTRY
Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare
ABOUT
Adept at coordinating national and local teams of attorneys and non-attorney partners in order to successfully defend against mass torts, Alyson understands the big picture and business implications for her clients, in part due to a three year secundment with a major pharmaceutical company. Her experience involves overseeing and managing all aspects of mass tort litigation including MDL representation, management of bellwether selection, oversight of local counsel, oversight of all pleadings, defensive discovery, and expert development. In addition to her mass tort management capabilities, she has served on numerous trial teams, including Jackson v. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Case No. ATL-L-880-13, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, named one of CVN’s Top 2015 Defense Verdicts. Alyson also serves as discovery counsel in major pieces of pharmaceutical litigation.
In addition to being recognized by The Legal 500 US as Next Generation Partner, Alyson has been selected by Law360 as a Rising Star (2019), Lawdragon 500 (Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Litigation and Class Action Litigation), Mid-South Super Lawyers, Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars, and Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 (2014). In 2017, she was selected to PORTICO 10, a group of promising attorneys who have made significant accomplishments in their career. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Leadership Class (2014) and a graduate of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy.
Alyson obtained her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Tennessee and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Mississippi. She is admitted to practice in Mississippi and Tennessee.
EXPERIENCE
MDL and Mass Tort Management
Trial Team Support
Additional Experience
DISTINCTIONS
BAR ADMISSIONS
EDUCATION
PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
Judge R. David Proctor was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and received his commission on September 22, 2003.
Judge Proctor received his undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman College in 1983. He earned his law degree with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1986. After graduating from law school, Judge Proctor served as a law clerk to United States Circuit Judge H. Emory Widener, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 1987, he moved to Birmingham to take a position as an associate with Sirote & Permutt P.C. In 1993, he became a founding shareholder of the labor and employment boutique firm of Lehr, Middlebrooks & Proctor P.C.
Judge Proctor served on the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation from 2014-2020. He currently serves on the Civil Rules Advisory Committee and chairs the MDL Rules Subcommittee. He has taught Complex Civil Litigation at Cumberland School of Law and the University of Alabama School of Law, and Multidistrict Litigation at the University of Georgia School of Law, the University of Tennessee School of Law, and the Miami School of Law. He also regularly teaches and serves as a panelist for various programs. Judge Proctor is a member of the American Law Institute, the Alabama Law Foundation, and the Birmingham Bar Foundation.
Brian Glasser, a Rhodes scholar and Harvard law graduate has tried cases in 16 different states, including two mass actions and four class actions. He served as counsel to creditors in seeking dismissal of both the first LTL/J&J bankruptcy and the 3M/Aero earplug bankruptcy. He is currently counsel to a class of claimants suing J&J for abuse of process in bringing two bad faith bankruptcies.
You can find the decision on several of the cases mentioned below on the firm website at: baileyglasser.com/lawyers-brian-a-glasser
Chad Hutchinson is an experienced trial attorney who has defended clients in the products, pharmaceutical and medical device industries the majority of his career. He has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict in first chair trial roles and assisted teams in multi-district litigation and various state courts all over the country. Chad has previously been selected as a winner of the Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award by The Burton Foundation for his published work. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers® and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Chad serves as national/regional counsel in the defense of various manufacturers and distributors in both commercial and product liability litigation. He also handles catastrophic loss/high exposure tort matters around the country for several insurers. As part of his medical device practice, Chad routinely prepares and defends company witnesses and 30(b)(6) representatives. His work with expert witnesses focuses on the fields of biomaterials, polymer science, chemistry, toxicology and epidemiology. He has deposed numerous Plaintiffs’ experts in these fields, several of which concluded with successful Daubert/Frey challenges that limited or excluded the admissibility of their opinions. He has also presented to judges presiding at court- ordered Science Days, as well as led all work-up phases for experts, including selection, preparation, defending their depositions, and directing their testimony at trial.
In 2018, a client selected Chad as its “Attorney of the Year.” He graduated from the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy. In 2019, Chad served as a faculty member of the trial academy. Chad is active in several industry organizations, including IADC, where he serves as Vice Chair of Programs and Projects within the Drug, Device & Biotechnology Committee. Chad is also a member of the Trial Attorneys of America.
Chad obtained a J.D., cum laude, from Mississippi College. He obtained both an M.A., cum laude, in Taxation and a B.A., cum laude, in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.
EDUCATION & HONORS
Fall 2008.
Sarah Ruane is a partner and Chair of the Litigation Management Committee at the Kansas City- based Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. Sarah has served as trial counsel, including lead counsel, in 10 jury trials in federal and state court, nearly all of which were cases involving drugs, medical devices, and health care services. As Chair of her firm’s Litigation Management Committee, she assigns and manages teams of lawyers and staff for all of the firm’s national mass tort and class action cases to ensure optimal, efficient performance for the firm’s clients.
Sarah has gained broad experience in pharmaceutical and medical device cases under the supervision and leadership of Tom Cartmell, who has served as plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel and co-lead trial counsel in several large MDLs that resolved successfully. Sarah worked extensively on trials and in discovery over the past decade in the national Pelvic Mesh Repair System Products Liability Litigation, which included In Re: C.R. Bard, Inc., MDL No. 2187; In Re: American Medical Systems, Inc., MDL No. 2325; In Re: Boston Scientific Corp., MDL No. 2326; and In Re: Ethicon, Inc., MDL No. 2327. In these cases, Sarah assisted in general causation expert reports, briefed and argued Daubert motions, defended case-specific depositions and deposed case-specific physician, sales representative and expert witnesses. Sarah also second-chaired the first (and only) pelvic mesh jury trial against the defendant Coloplast, which resulted in a $2.5 million verdict for the plaintiff.
In the National Opioid MDL No. 2084, Sarah helped build the liability case against the Teva defendants. She performed all aspects of discovery in the MDL, from ESI negotiation and document review to taking depositions of corporate witnesses. She also represented Buchanan County, Missouri, which had one of the highest rates of opioid prescriptions in the country.
Sarah’s entire career has been with Wagstaff & Cartmell, which has grown during her tenure to 34 attorneys and 52 other employees. The firm handles complex litigation nationwide in the areas of product liability, consumer fraud, class actions, antitrust, corporate malfeasance, professional liability, and representation of public entities.
Sarah is a current member of the District of Kansas Bench-Bar Committee. In this role, she works with six sitting judges from the District of Kansas to study and consider the Rules of the Court and serves as a liaison among the court, its bar and the public. Sarah has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Lawyers Association of Kansas City – Young Lawyers Section and Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance. Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Spanish and Sociology from Wake Forest University in 2003. She graduated from The University of Kansas School of Law in 2006. She speaks frequently at seminars which focus on trial advocacy.
Jim's practice focuses on the defense of pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer product litigation in state and federal courts nationwide, particularly consolidated mass torts and multi-district litigations.
In Chambers, clients describe Jim as having "[a]n incredible ability to synthesize complex scientific issues into very persuasive arguments that can be used both in court and in negotiations with the other side."
He serves as national coordinating counsel and MDL counsel for consolidated litigations across the U.S. involving thousands of plaintiffs as well as in numerous single-plaintiff cases involving pharmaceuticals, consumer products and medical devices. In conjunction with those roles, Jim emphasizes efficient discovery and manages significant mass tort e-discovery undertakings for his clients.
Jim has also coordinated the resolution of some of the largest, mass torts of the last decade.
Jim also counsels clients on product liability due diligence related to potential acquisitions and divestitures.
Regarding pharmaceutical and biologic manufacturers, Jim's experience includes:
Regarding medical device and consumer products manufacturers, Jim's experience includes:
Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for 28 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts.
Jonathan served on the Board of Directors of Equal Justice Works, where he and his family also founded the Selbin Voting Rights Fellowship which funds a rolling two-year fellow working to ensure fair access to voting. He also serves on the Board of the Beyond #MeToo Working Group on Corporate Governance, Compliance, and Risk.
Jonathan was a Finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2021 Litigator of the Year, a National Law Journal 2021 “Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazer,” a Law360 2020 “Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar,” and a New York Law Journal “2020 Litigation Trailblazer.” In February 2020, Modern Counsel profiled Jonathan, highlighting his lifelong legacy of fighting for consumer and civil rights in “Jonathan Selbin Levels the Playing Field.”
Jonathan is a 1993 magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and a 1989 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan. He clerked for the Honorable Marilyn Hall Patel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California from 1993-1995 prior to joining Lieff Cabraser.
Lieff Cabraser partner Sarah London is a true leader in the plaintiffs’ bar and a determined, skilled, and experienced advocate for the injured, employees, and consumers. Sarah has risen to national prominence as a result of appointments to and success in leadership roles in multiple pivotal lawsuits, including as Co-Lead & Liaison Counsel for plaintiffs in the aggregate litigation against Uber in federal court in San Francisco arising from sexual harassment, physical attack, sexual assault, and battery committed by Uber drivers, as well as Co-Lead & Liaison Counsel for plaintiffs in the Juul injury/predatory marketing MDL, where her work led to four historic settlements announced in late 2022 with defendant Juul as well as a comprehensive and historic $235 million settlement that was reached between additional defendant Altria and plaintiffs in the midst of a subsequent JUUL bellwether trial. In 2020, Sarah was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the Gilead HIV Drug Kidney & Bone Injuries Litigation, and in 2019, Sarah was named Subclass Settlement Counsel in In re Flint Water Cases. Sarah also serves in lead roles in multiple women’s health cases, including as Liaison Counsel in the state court coordinated proceedings involving the destruction of hundreds of frozen eggs and embryos at San Francisco’s Pacific Fertility Center.
Michael is a highly experienced trial lawyer who has represented clients in class action and complex litigation matters, including cases related to economic product defects, unfair competition, false and deceptive advertising, business torts, privacy, entertainment and intellectual property. He has defended consumer protection actions and investigation initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. Department of Justice, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as numerous state enforcement agencies. A client states that Michael is “a very smart lawyer and a very good strategist; he’s really excellent.”
For more than 20 years, Michael has been at the forefront of representing clients in significant consumer protection matters, including:
He regularly counsels clients on marketing and advertising issues, and has substantial experience in the automotive, fashion retail, dietary supplement, telemarketing, electronic mail marketing, consumer products and payment processing industries.
He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including recognition by Chambers USA in the categories of California Litigation: General Commercial, and Product Liability: Consumer Class Action, and The Legal 500 United States in Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, mass torts and class actions: automotive/transport and consumer products. Law360 named him one of the “Transportation MVPs of the Year” in 2018, and a “Privacy & Consumer Protection MVP” in 2012. BTI Consulting Group recognized him as a “BTI Client Service All-Star” in 2012. Southern California Super Lawyers has honored him for Class Action/Mass Torts, Business Litigation and Civil Litigation Defense. Michael also has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Michael also has served as outside counsel to the State Bar of California on issues related to its member programs. Before joining Shook, he was a partner with Sidley Austin, where he was the co-leader of the firm’s Consumer Class Action Defense practice. He also is an avid marathoner, triathlete and four-time Ironman, completing competitions in Maryland (2018), Vineman (Sonoma County, California, 2016), Cozumel (2015) and Boulder (2014).
Partner Virginia E. Anello was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana, and currently heads up the firm’s New Orleans office. She attended Louisiana State University on an honors scholarship. Ms. Anello graduated from LSU magna cum laude and received a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Italian. She went on to attend the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU where she received her Juris Doctor Degree and her Bachelor of Civil Law Degree, graduating in the top 30% of her class. Ms. Anello is admitted to practice law in the States of New York, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. She is also admitted to practice law in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York, the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana, the District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Since obtaining her law degree, Ms. Anello has devoted her entire career to always representing injury victims and consumers, primarily in mass tort and class actions. Her practice areas in the law have always focused on, and continue to focus on, products liability litigation and complex litigation, with an emphasis on consumer fraud and mass tort litigation. Consistent with the firm’s philosophy, she is dedicated to ensuring that an underdog can be heard.
Ms. Anello joined Douglas & London in 2007 and she focuses her work primarily on representing individuals nationwide who have been injured as a result of defective pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices and vaccines. Currently, Ms. Anello is actively involved in representing individuals who have been injured as a result of the prescription drugs Elmiron and Belviq. Regarding Elmiron, Ms. Anello was appointed in January 2021 by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Martinotti as co-lead counsel in the action styled as In Re: Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2973), pending in the District Court of New Jersey. This consolidated action involves hundreds of individual plaintiffs claiming severe eye injuries as a result of ingesting Elmiron to treat interstitial cystitis. In her role as co-lead counsel, Ms. Anello is involved in all aspects of pre-trial discovery and management, retention of experts and motion practice, as well as oversight of a Plaintiff Steering Committee of 24 other lawyers.
With respect to Belviq, a weight loss drug, Ms. Anello is actively pursuing individual lawsuits across the country on behalf of individuals who have suffered cancer as a result of their ingestion of the drug.
Before commencing her work with Elmiron and Belviq, Ms. Anello was actively involved in multidistrict litigation involving the diabetic drug Invokana pending in the District Court of New Jersey, where she served on the science, law and briefing and discovery committees. In July 2017, Ms. Anello was just one of two lawyers asked to present at Science Day before Judge Martinotti, defense counsel, and other plaintiffs’ counsel from across the country about the then-current state of medical and scientific knowledge regarding Invokana, including how it works and how it causes the injuries alleged (diabetic ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and amputations). This litigation ultimately resolved through individual confidential settlements.
In addition to her work identified above, Ms. Anello is actively involved in the firm’s vaccine litigation department, which she currently manages. Since 2007, she has represented children and adults who have been injured by vaccinations and has handled numerous cases in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Many of these cases have settled or been successfully adjudicated on the merits within the Vaccine Program.
In 2018, Ms. Anello began litigating cases specific to a Shingles vaccine, Zostavax, which is not covered by the Vaccine Program. Because of the multitude of cases that have been filed relating to this particular vaccine, a multidistrict litigation was created in the District Court of Pennsylvania before the Honorable Judge Harvey Bartle, and, in September 2018, Ms. Anello was formally appointed by Judge Bartle as a member of the Plaintiff Executive Committee charged with the responsibility of overseeing and assisting with the national ligation. Ms. Anello represents hundreds of injured individuals in this endeavor.
Other nationwide pharmaceutical and medical device litigations in which Ms. Anello has been involved and worked on through settlement include those relating to hip replacement systems (DePuy ASR, DePuy Pinnacle, Biomet M2A, Wright Conserve, and Stryker Rejuvenate), proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix,) the acid concentrate Granuflo, the prescription pain drug Vioxx, the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Lead Wire, and the Contaminated Heparin litigation.
In addition, Ms. Anello works alongside firm partner, Michael A. London, in representing women who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of their in utero exposure to the drug Diethylstilbestrol (‘DES’).
While proud to represent individuals from across the country in the products liability arena, Ms. Anello is equally as proud of her legal efforts focused on issues of importance to New York City and the surrounding areas, where she spend her early career. She is actively involved in representing individuals who have been injured as a result of their exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site following September 11, 2001. She originally represented these victims in the World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation pending before the Honorable Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and she oversaw the firm’s settlement of that matter. Since Congress reopened the September 11, 2001 Victims’ Compensation Fund in 2010 and continued it in 2015, Ms. Anello has been directing her efforts at ensuring that these injured individuals, as well as those injured as a result of their working, living and going to school in the Lower Manhattan area, are compensated under the Act.
Additionally, in her role in the Firm’s class action litigation department, Ms. Anello represents New York residents who lost power due to the grossly negligent conduct of the Long Island Power Authority and its managing contractor, National Grid, prior to and following Superstorm Sandy. A proposed class action is currently pending in Nassau County Supreme Court.
As a class action attorney, Ms. Anello represents consumers and union health funds and other insurers who have been deceived and misled by product manufacturers. She is particularly involved in all of the firm’s class action work, including the firm’s class action against Bayer in which it was alleged that Bayer falsely represented to consumers that its over-the-counter combination aspirin drugs, Bayer Women’s Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium and Bayer with Heart Advantage delivered certain health benefits, which they, in fact, did not. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, as well as that of the firm, the Bayer combination aspirin class action settled for $15 million. Ms. Anello and Douglas & London are always investigating new class actions.
Ms. Anello is an active member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and American Association of Justice (AAJ). Since 2014, Super Lawyers has selected Ms. Anello as a Rising Star in New York, and, in 2018, she was selected by Peer Recognition as one of Best Lawyers in New York City as published in the Wall Street Journal, and this status continues today. Most recently, in 2021, Ms. Anello was selected as one of the Top Women Attorneys in New York.
Ms. Anello attributes her success to her parents, who raised her with a strong work ethic, did whatever they could to promote her thirst for knowledge, and instilled in her a sense of integrity to stand up for and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
A founding partner of Seeger Weiss, Christopher A. Seeger is widely recognized as a highly innovative and accomplished plaintiff attorney. Chiefly known for multidistrict mass torts and class actions involving drug injury, toxic injury, and personal injury, Chris’ versatile practice also includes product liability, property damage, antitrust, and third-party payer litigation, as well as consumer, insurance, and securities fraud. Chris has led some of the most complex, groundbreaking, and high-profile litigations in the U.S. at the state and federal levels. He has received more multidistrict litigation (MDL) appointments than any other lawyer between 2016 and 2019, according to a 2020 ALM study.
Chris served as co-lead counsel in the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Litigation, having been chosen by Judge M. Casey Rodgers from a pool of nearly 200 other applicants to represent more than 250,000 service members and veterans who suffered hearing injuries while using 3M earplugs. After more than four years of litigation, Chris secured a landmark settlement worth over $6 billion in August 2023, successfully resolving the largest mass tort in American history.
Appointed by Judge Joy Flowers Conti to lead the Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level Pap, and Mechanical Ventilator Litigation, Chris represented patients impacted by the company’s recall of more than 10.8 million devices. He was the lead negotiator for an uncapped class action settlement worth a minimum of $479 million that was announced in September 2023, resolving economic loss claims of users and payers impacted by the recall. After receiving final approval for the economic loss settlement, Chris negotiated additional agreements in April 2024 to resolve plaintiffs' personal injury claims for $1.075 billion and medical monitoring claims for $25 million, providing compensation to patients who suffered significant physical injuries caused by the recalled machines.
In the National Prescription Opiate litigation, Chris was appointed to the Executive and Settlement Committees by Judge Dan A. Polster. In 2022, he played an instrumental role in securing settlements worth more than $15 billion with Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, and Kroger. Also, in 2022, a $6.6 billion settlement was reached with pharmaceutical manufacturers Teva and Allergan (AbbVie). Previously, in July 2021, the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the federal opioid litigation formally announced the terms for a $26 billion global settlement agreement with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the “Big Three” drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. To date, Chris has been involved in over $50 billion in settlements through the National Prescription Opioid Litigation.
Chris serves as co-lead counsel in the Proton-Pump Inhibitor Litigation on behalf of patients who suffered kidney injuries while using proton-pump inhibitor drugs. On October 3, 2023, he announced a $425 million settlement with AstraZeneca and additional agreements with GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, and Takeda, bringing the total value of the resolution to $590.4 million.
Chris’s unprecedented run of recent settlements adds to his impressive legacy of resolving major cases and obtaining billions in compensation for injured plaintiffs. This includes a $4.85 billion landmark global settlement with Merck on behalf of patients who suffered heart attacks and strokes while taking Vioxx, a $21 billion-plus settlement with Volkswagen and Audi over the “clean diesel” scandal—the largest consumer auto industry class action settlement in U.S. history, a $1.5 billion settlement for farmers impacted by Syngenta GMO seed contamination—the largest agricultural settlement in U.S. history, and a $1 billion-plus uncapped settlement for retired NFL players and their families in the historic NFL concussion case.
After starting his career as a corporate defense lawyer representing the interests of big business, Chris was struck by the imbalance of power between corporations and the individuals harmed by them. As a result, he left to become a plaintiff attorney. The son of a union carpenter who worked his way through school, Chris is a former amateur boxer and a current Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Now, whether working on a class action involving thousands of people against a multinational conglomerate or an individual case protecting one client’s rights, he fights with the same passion and conviction.
Chris has been recognized for his outstanding work and unmatched success in leading complex federal cases. He has received the National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award, been named a Lawdragon Legend, a Law360 Titan of the Plaintiff Bar, and been inducted into both the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He is consistently named to annual award lists, including Chambers USA Tier 1 for Product Liability, Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, and Best Lawyers in America. Regularly quoted by the press regarding his work on nationally and internationally prominent cases, Chris has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Reuters, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, and ESPN.
Jayne Conroy is a named partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy and oversees practice areas in the Complex Litigation Department. Under her leadership, the firm has become one of the country’s largest plaintiff law firms dedicated to helping those injured by corporate wrongdoing.
With a legal career spanning more than three decades, Jayne has earned a superb national reputation as an elite trial lawyer, skilled strategist and decisive negotiator. She has consistently helped secure billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for thousands of individuals, families and communities in numerous courtrooms nationwide.
“We are a threat to defendants because we are everywhere,” Jayne said while talking about the depth of experience in her department. “They know they have to deal with us, and we are prepared to try cases.”
Jayne focuses her practice on helping plaintiffs exclusively in mass torts, class actions, product liability, pharmaceutical and sexual abuse litigation. She serves or has served on dozens of court-appointed leadership committees in complex legal actions of national scope. These complex mass tort cases, called multidistrict litigations or MDLs, involve thousands of cases originating from state courts around the country and consolidated before a single federal judge.
Jayne’s most recent MDL appointment includes the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee in the In re: Camp Lejeune Water Litigation in the North Carolina Southern Division which alleges drinking may have been contaminated with toxic chemicals that can cause multiple types of cancer, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease and more. She has also been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee Leadership in the In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, which alleges social media platforms encourage addictive behavior in adolescents and the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the multidistrict litigation against McKinsey & Company in the In re McKinsey & Co Inc National Prescription Opiate Consultant Litigation, Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which alleges McKinsey knowingly engineered marketing tactics that caused an avalanche of opioid addiction.
Other high-profile appointments include serving:
“Terrible things have happened to my clients that I can’t change, but what I can do is try to get them the justice they deserve,” Jayne said. “We are the best at doing that.”
The results Jayne has helped secure for her clients underscore the quality of her legal work. Her vast experience orchestrating large and multifaceted multidistrict litigations has resulted in multiple, significant settlements for her clients and thousands of others nationwide.
Jayne’s legal track record demonstrates her stature as one of the preeminent litigators of the nation’s plaintiffs’ bar. National legal publications and well-respected legal organizations recognize this fact. In 2022, Law360 named her a Titan of the Plaintiffs’ Bar. Previous honors include induction into the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, election as a member of the exclusive American Law Institute, recognition as an Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar Winner by The National Law Journal, and the American Association for Justice’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jayne and the firm are at the forefront of unprecedented litigation that seeks to resolve the ongoing opioid epidemic. The litigation seeks to secure meaningful funds for communities that incurred millions in costs related to dealing with the estimated 400,000 opioid-related deaths since 1996.
“Every one of those communities has a story about how the opioid epidemic has devastated the families who live there,” Jayne said. “The opioid litigation allows us to get some relief to these communities faster, which could actually help someone who has not been hurt yet.”
Jayne has a long track record of holding opioid manufacturers accountable for misleading marketing. In 2003, she and Partner Paul Hanly, who served as co-lead of the ongoing opioid MDL, represented more than 5,000 individuals against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin.
By implementing a successful discovery plan, Jayne and her legal team uncovered evidence proving the full extent of Purdue’s criminality and its fraudulent marketing campaign designed to persuade physicians that OxyContin was not addictive. Following a 3-year battle, which included Jayne, Paul and the firm filing more than 1,200 cases in various courts across the country, Purdue Pharma settled the litigation for a significant confidential settlement in 2007.
The litigation also led to a Department of Justice investigation that resulted in Purdue Pharma paying more than $600 million in fines. Three of its executives also pled guilty to criminal charges that they misled regulators, doctors and patients about the drug’s risk of addiction and personally paid millions of dollars in fines.
After Paul Hanly’s untimely passing in early 2021, Jayne took over as co-lead counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee (PEC) that leads the ongoing National Prescription Opiate MDL. After years of advocating for their over 3,000 community clients, Jayne and the PEC endorsed a $26 billion global settlement with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the “Big 3” drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.
As part of the MDL, in November 2021, Jayne and her legal team secured the first nationwide jury verdict in an opioid case, holding pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic in Lake and Trumbull County in Ohio. In August 2022, U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster ordered them to pay $650.5 million in abatement fees over a 15-year span.
The opioid team also won a key verdict in San Francisco in 2022; in the first bench trial to decide in the plaintiff’s favor in the national opioid litigation, a federal judge found Walgreens liable for contributing to the epidemic in the city. In May 2023, Walgreens reached a $230 million settlement with San Francisco over the company’s role in the opioid epidemic, which may be the largest award to a local jurisdiction against an opioid defendant nationwide.
In addition to her work on the national opioid MDL, Jayne served as lead counsel for Suffolk County in the New York State opioid trial, whose defendants encompass the entire opioid supply chain.
As part of the New York State trial, Jayne and her team secured over $1.7 billion in settlements from multiple major opioid manufacturers and distributors for Suffolk and Nassau County as well as the state of New York, its counties and New York City. The NY trial plaintiffs were the first to finalize the Big 3 and J&J settlement, serving as a catalyst for the remainder of the country.
Building upon that success, Jayne and her team secured a landmark verdict in December 2021 that found the remaining defendants, opioid manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals and distributor Anda, liable for their role in the opioid epidemic.
This was the first opioid case to be heard before a jury and is considered to be one of the largest and longest jury trial proceedings in New York history.
Jayne has helped hundreds of victims of sexual abuse secure justice from the institutions responsible for their abuse. In 2019, she helped achieve a landmark $60 million class action settlement on behalf of 170-plus Haitian boys harmed by a convicted pedophile and former school administrator associated with a Jesuit school in Connecticut. In 2013, the same defendants paid $12 million to settle similar claims brought by 24 other young men victimized when they were children.
Jayne previously served on the Plaintiff Executive Committee in the DePuy Pinnacle federal litigation involving more than 9,000 patients injured by Johnson & Johnson’s metal-on-metal hip replacement device. As a member of the trial team, she secured three consecutive 9-figure bellwether trial verdicts, including a $1 billion result for six families. In early 2019, amidst a retrial led by Jayne and her legal team, Johnson & Johnson agreed to a significant global settlement to resolve all pending litigation.
A member of the Volkswagen MDL Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, Jayne has been on the front lines of helping thousands of VW and Audi diesel owners impacted by the emission scandal. The litigation recently resolved with VW agreeing to pay more than $16 billion in fines and buybacks to thousands of car owners impacted by the company’s deceitful actions. Jayne also leads the firm’s efforts in representing dealers who were in competition with Volkswagen and lost sales as a direct result of the company’s misleading advertising efforts and falsified emissions reports.
Whether in or out of the courtroom, Jayne is instantly recognizable by her vintage couture style and can often be seen wearing beautifully constructed suits from the 1940s in the courtroom and around the New York office where she is based. She credits her innate sense of style to her mother, as well as her grandmother, a master seamstress who made most of her clothes growing up. Jayne currently resides in New York City and Cape Cod.
Fidelma Fitzpatrick represents people and communities in toxic tort and environmental matters, including property damage and personal injury claims. Her experience with complex civil litigation has led her to represent other victims of corporate malfeasance, including thousands of women who suffered health problems after receiving medical devices such as Essure®, pelvic mesh/sling products and IUDs, as well as people harmed by consumer products such as chemical hair straighteners.
In addition to her toxic tort and medical casework, Fidelma also represents states, cities, counties and townships in litigation against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies in their claims the companies engaged in deceptive marketing and over-distribution of highly addictive opioids, creating and fueling the deadly opioid crisis.
In 2023, Honorable Mary Rowland appointed Fidelma as co-lead counsel for MDL 3060 In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Plaintiffs in the MDL developed uterine cancer and other illnesses after using certain chemical hair relaxers. They assert defendant manufacturers failed to adequately test the products and warn customers about potential harms. Fidelma is also lead counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for the coordinated Essure® litigation in California against Bayer Corp., and she serves on the PEC for Paragard® IUD multidistrict litigation filed in the Northern District of Georgia for women who suffered severe effects linked to the birth control devices. She also serves as co-lead counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for a Philadelphia mass tort filed for farmers, railroad workers and others who developed Parkinson’s Disease after using Paraquat weed killer.
In 2012, Fidelma was appointed co-lead counsel of the pelvic mesh MDL In re American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation in the Southern District of West Virginia. She also holds leadership roles in pelvic mesh state court litigations, including serving as liaison counsel in the American Medical Systems cases consolidated in Delaware and the Boston Scientific cases consolidated in Massachusetts. She continues to represent women who experienced complications after receiving pelvic mesh/sling products. Filed cases are against defendants including Boston Scientific, C.R. Bard, Inc., and Ethicon.
In addition to her leadership appointments in various mass tort actions, Fidelma regularly serves as trial counsel in varied product liability and medical device cases on behalf of Plaintiffs. She was co-lead trial counsel in the lead paint pigment case, The People of California v. Atlantic Richfield Company et al., in which Motley Rice represented 10 California cities and counties against national lead paint pigment manufacturers. In January 2014, the court ruled Sherwin-Williams Company, NL Industries, Inc., and ConAgra Grocery Products Company created a public nuisance by actively promoting lead for use in homes despite knowing that it was highly toxic. The parties subsequently reached a $305 million settlement that established an abatement fund to remove toxic lead paint from homes and protect the health and safety of thousands of California children.
Fidelma also held a central role in the state of Rhode Island's trial against former corporate manufacturers of lead paint pigment. She continues to litigate cases seeking to hold the lead paint pigment industry accountable for the childhood lead poisoning crisis and provide restitution and compensation to affected children and families. As a result of her work for lead poisoning victims, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court became the first to recognize the legal rights of poisoned children to sue lead paint pigment manufacturers.
Fidelma began working with Motley Rice attorneys in 1997 on the Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island lawsuits against the tobacco industry. She serves on the Board of Regents at Canisius College and frequently speaks on environmental and mass tort topics at conferences for federal and state court judges, attorneys, academic professionals and law students.
Please remember that every case is different. Although it endorses this lawyer, The Legal 500 United States is not a Motley Rice client. Any result we achieve for one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 20 years.
Corporate Legal Times reported that national defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation's “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ lawyers in corporate America.” As the article notes, "For all his talents as a shrewd negotiator ... Rice has earned most of his respect from playing fair and remaining humble.”
Joe was recognized by some of the nation’s best-regarded defense lawyers as being “the smartest dealmaker they ever sat across the table from,” Thomson Reuters has reported. Professor Samuel Issacharoff of the New York University School of Law, a well-known professor and expert in class actions and complex litigation, has commented that he is “the best strategic thinker on the end stages of litigation that I’ve ever seen.”
Since beginning to practice law in 1979, Joe has continued to reinforce his reputation as a skillful negotiator, including through his involvement structuring some of the most significant resolutions of asbestos liabilities on behalf of those injured by asbestos‐related products. He negotiates for the firm's clients at all levels, including securities and consumer fraud, anti-terrorism, human rights, environmental, medical drugs and devices, as well as catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.
Joe is co-lead counsel in the National Prescription Opiate MDL aimed at combatting the alleged over-distribution and deceptive marketing of prescription opioids. Joe, as Chair of the opioid Negotiating Committee, worked with the committee and the Attorney General Committee to reach over $50 billion in settlements for communities nationwide with defendants in the opioid supply chain. Motley Rice continues to represent dozens of governmental entities, including the first jurisdictions to file cases in the current wave of litigation.
Joe served as one of the lead negotiators in the $15 billion Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Fraud class action settlement for 2.0-liter vehicles, the largest auto-related consumer class action settlement in U.S. history, as well as the 3.0-liter settlement. Under his leadership, Motley Rice also helped negotiate a pair of Takata bankruptcy resolutions that secured funds for victims who were harmed by the company’s deadly, explosive airbags. Joe also serves as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for In re General Motors LLC Ignition Switch Litigation, and was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Ecodiesel Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation.
Joe led negotiations on behalf of thousands of women who allege complications and severe health effects caused by transvaginal mesh and sling products, including litigation that has five MDLs pending in the state of West Virginia. He is also a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the Lipitor® MDL, filed for patients who allege the cholesterol drug caused their Type 2 diabetes.
Joe served as a co-lead negotiator for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in reaching the two settlements with BP, one of which is the largest civil class action settlement in U.S. history. The Economic and Property Damages Rule 23 Class Action Settlement is estimated to make payments totaling between $7.8 billion and $18 billion to class members. Joe was also one of the lead negotiators of the $1.028 billion settlement reached between the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., for Halliburton’s role in the disaster.
Joe held a crucial role in executing strategic mediations and/or resolutions on behalf of 56 families of 9/11 victims who opted out of the government-created September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. In addition to providing answers, accountability and recourse to victims’ families, the resulting settlements with multiple defendants shattered a settlement matrix developed and utilized for decades. The litigation also helped provide public access to evidence uncovered for the trial.
As lead private counsel for 26 jurisdictions, including numerous State Attorneys General, Joe was integral to the crafting and negotiating of the landmark Master Settlement Agreement, in which the tobacco industry agreed to reimburse states for smoking-related health costs. This remains the largest civil settlement in U.S. history.
Joe held leadership and negotiating roles involving the bankruptcies of several large organizations, including AWI, Federal Mogul, Johns Manville, Celotex, Garlock, W.R. Grace, Babcock & Wilcox, U.S. Gypsum, Owens Corning and Pittsburgh Corning. He has also worked on numerous Trust Advisory Committees. Today, he maintains a critical role in settlements involving asbestos manufacturers emerging from bankruptcy and has been recognized for his work in structuring significant resolutions in complex personal injury litigation for asbestos liabilities on behalf of victims injured by asbestos-related products. Joe has served as co-chair of Perrin Conferences’ Asbestos Litigation Conference, the largest national asbestos-focused conference.
Joe is often sought by investment funds for guidance on litigation strategies to increase shareholder value, enhance corporate governance reforms and recover assets. He was an integral part of the shareholder derivative action against Omnicare, Inc., Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust v. Gemunder, which resulted in a significant settlement for shareholders as well as new corporate governance policies for the corporation.
Joe serves on the Board of Advisors for Emory University's Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims, which facilitates bipartisan discussion of ways to improve the civil justice system through the hosting of judicial seminars, bar conferences, academic programs, and research. In 1999 and 2000, he served on the faculty at Duke University School of Law as a Senior Lecturing Fellow, and taught classes on the art of negotiating at the University of South Carolina School of Law, Duke University School of Law and Charleston School of Law.
In 2013, he and the firm created the Ronald L. Motley Scholarship Fund at The University of South Carolina School of Law in memory and honor of co-founding member and friend, Ron Motley.
Building upon his experience in complex asbestos cases, the historic tobacco lawsuits and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks litigation, Don Migliori is a multifaceted litigator who can navigate both the courtroom and the negotiating table. He represents victims of defective medical devices and drugs, occupational diseases, terrorism, aviation disasters, antitrust, and securities and consumer fraud in mass torts and other cutting-edge litigation that spans the country.
Don serves in leadership roles for a number of multidistrict litigations, including being a key member of Motley Rice’s team that represents dozens of cities, towns, counties and townships in the National Prescription Opiate MDL against opioid manufacturers and distributors. He also represents states in similarly filed litigation. He played a significant role in negotiations on behalf of tens of thousands of women allegedly harmed by pelvic mesh/sling products and served as co-liaison counsel in the N.J. Bard pelvic mesh litigation in Atlantic County. Hundreds of cases have been filed in federal and state courts against multiple defendants.
He is also co-lead counsel for In re Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re Bard IVC Filters Products Liability Litigation, as well as the Depuy® Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR™ and Pinnacle® Hip Implant MDLs. Don has litigated against both Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, and C.R. Bard previously in pelvic mesh litigation and also against C.R. Bard in the Composix® Kugel® hernia mesh multidistrict litigation, In re Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Products Liability Litigation, the first MDL before the federal court of Rhode Island. Don also serves as co-lead plaintiffs’ counsel and liaison counsel in the federal MDL, and as liaison counsel for the Composix® Kugel® Mesh lawsuits consolidated in Rhode Island state court on behalf of thousands of individuals alleging injury by the hernia repair patch.
As liaison counsel for all wrongful death and personal injury cases in the September 11th aviation security litigation, Don played a central role in the extensive discovery, mediations and settlements of more than 50 cases of aviation liability and damages against numerous defendants. He also represented families of the victims who opted out of the Victim Compensation Fund to seek greater answers, accountability and recourse. Additionally, he manages associated litigation as a lead attorney for In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, MDL #1570, a groundbreaking case designed to bankrupt the financiers of al Qaeda.
Don contributed his experience in connection with the commencement of and strategy for shareholder derivative litigation brought on behalf Chiquita Brands International, Inc., alleging the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by paying bribes to terrorist organizations in violation of U.S. and Columbian law. He also served as trial counsel for PACE Industry Union-Management Pension Fund in a securities case against Forest Laboratories, Inc., and was involved in the initial liability discovery and trial strategy in an ongoing securities fraud class action involving Household International, Inc.
Don began working with Motley Rice attorneys in 1997 on behalf of the State Attorneys General in the historic lawsuit against Big Tobacco, resulting in the largest civil settlement in U.S. history. He tried several noteworthy asbestos cases on behalf of mesothelioma victims, including the state of Indiana’s first contractor liability verdict and first premises liability verdict for wrongful exposure to asbestos. He continues to manage asbestos cases and actively litigates mesothelioma lawsuits and individual tobacco cases in the courtroom.
Don is a frequent speaker at legal seminars across the country and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, as well as in print media to address legal issues related to terrorist financing, aviation security, class action litigation, premises liability and defective medical devices. A "Distinguished Practitioner in Residence" at Roger Williams University School of Law for the 2010-2011 academic year, Don taught mass torts as an adjunct professor for more than 10 years. Don is an AV® rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell®.
MA, MN, NY, RI, SC
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Fourth, and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, District of Massachusetts, and Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
M.A./J.D., Syracuse University, 1993
A.B., Brown University, 1988
Co-chair of the Product Liability practice group, Kim Branscome is a nationally renowned trial lawyer and litigation strategist who focuses on complex litigation and trials involving product liability, professional liability, environmental and toxic torts, and securities matters. She has secured several high-profile product liability trial victories on behalf of leading multinational corporations across a broad range of sectors, including the pharmaceutical, consumer products, energy and automotive industries. Kim is widely regarded as one of the most talented and respected lawyers in the product liability and mass tort litigation area, with clients describing her as “one of the leading lawyers in this space” and as “someone clients trust to try their cases.”
Kim has deep experience litigating in federal and state courtrooms across the country, with a particular emphasis on the most high-profile mass torts and product liability matters, as well as high-stakes securities class actions and other complex civil litigation. Kim’s representations include:
Kim is widely recognized by leading publications and legal directories for her trial accomplishments and expertise. The American Lawyer named Kim to its 2022 list of “West Trailblazers,” which recognizes lawyers in the western states who have moved the needle in the legal industry. Chambers USA has recognized Kim in the Product Liability & Mass Torts (USA) category for the past four years, describing her as a “well-regarded trial lawyer who has amassed a broad range of experience in mass torts and class actions.” The Legal 500 US also recognizes Kim in its Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action-Defense categories across consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices and toxic torts, describing her as a “strong practitioner with excellent strategic smarts.” The Daily Journal recognized her as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers” in California in 2019 and one of the “Top Women Lawyers” in California in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Forbes recognized Kim on its inaugural 2024 “America’s Top 200 Lawyers” list. The Los Angeles Business Journal named Kim to its “Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers” and “Most Influential Women Lawyers” lists in 2019 and Law360 named her a “Rising Star” in 2017.
Ty Hudson litigates complex commercial cases in federal and state courts nationwide. He represents individual, corporate, and public entity clients in a wide range of civil matters, focusing on antitrust, business torts, contract disputes, fraud, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty, and professional liability. He is particularly experienced in developing and successfully prosecuting antitrust and civil RICO cases and representing whistleblowers. He has tried cases in state and federal courts, as well as JAMS, AAA, and FINRA arbitration. He has also successfully argued cases before various appellate courts.
Listed in Lawdragon’s 2024 guide of the nation’s Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, Ty has represented victims of corporate wrongdoing in high-stakes disputes against some of the largest pharmaceutical, tobacco, and financial services companies in the U.S., as well as major private equity firms and banks. He leads the firm’s class action practice which according to Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, is “[k]nown for its expertise in complex commercial and antitrust class actions.” As class counsel, he has helped to recover more than a billion dollars for class members and has been appointed by judges to leadership positions and played key roles in class actions and MDLs across the country. For more than a decade, he has been selected to Super Lawyers, which is limited to no more than 5% of the attorneys in each state. He also has earned recognition as “Best of the Bar” by the Kansas City Business Journal.
Prior to joining Wagstaff & Cartmell, Ty was a Senior Counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement in Washington D.C., a litigator in the trial practice group at the Washington D.C office of Jones Day, and a law clerk to the Honorable John W. Lungstrum, then-Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. He is a graduate of Baker University, magna cum laude, with a degree in accounting. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law, magna cum laude, where he was a member of the Law Review, the National Moot Court Team, and Order of the Coif.
Ms. Relkin, whose practice focuses on medical device and pharmaceutical product liability, as well as toxic tort matters, has represented thousands of plaintiffs injured by defective medical products for more than three decades. She has been appointed by numerous federal and state judges to serve as the leadership counsel running large, consolidated litigations. She was most recently appointed as co-lead counsel in the multidistrict litigation In Re: Exactech Polyethylene Orthopedics Product Liability Litigation in the Eastern District of New York. She is co-lead counsel of the In Re: JUUL Labs, Inc. Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, where she helped negotiate settlements on behalf of consumers and government entities of over $500 million dollars with defendants for their conduct in creating a vaping epidemic. She has served as the co-lead counsel of the In Re: DePuy ASR multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Ohio, resulting in a global settlement. She played a key role in negotiating settlements exceeding $2.5 billion. She also served as court appointed co-lead counsel in the In Re: Farxiga (Dapagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation that was venued in the Southern District of New York.
On the state court front, she has been court-appointed lead and liaison counsel in the New Jersey state court multicounty litigations: In Re: Stryker Rejuvenate & ABG II Modular Hip Implant Litigation; In Re: Stryker LFit CoCr V49 Femoral Heads Litigation; and, previously, in the In Re: Yaz Product Liability Litigation. In addition to roles as lead counsel of litigations, she has been court appointed to the Executive Committees in the multidistrict litigations, In Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation; In Re: Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation, In Re: Invokana (Canagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation; and In Re: Ortho Evra Product Liability Litigation.
Ms. Relkin, who is Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney, is an elected member of the American Law Institute, as well as the Summit Council, and an invited member of the American Bar Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Advisors of the RAND Kenneth R. Feinberg Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Compensation. She is an active member of the American Association for Justice (past chair of its Toxic, Environmental, and Pharmaceutical Torts section); the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, where she serves on the Board of Governors and is co-chair of its Mass Tort Committee; and the New Jersey and New York Bar Associations, and the American Bar Association. She is also former President of the Roscoe Pound Civil Justice Institute, now known as the National Civil Justice Institute. She is a frequent lecturer nationally at continuing legal education programs. She has published law review articles in the Cardozo Law Review and the Dickinson Journal of Environmental Law and Policy; the chapter on Failure to Warn in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Mass Tort Litigation in the treatise New Jersey Mass Torts and Class Action published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education; and numerous other legal publications.
She has been consistently named as a ”Super Lawyer” in both New York and New Jersey for the past several years, “Best Lawyer” in New York, and has been AV rated by Martindale Hubble for more than two decades.
Judge Beth Labson Freeman is a Judge on the Federal Court in the Northern District of California, appointed by President Obama in 2014. Judge Freeman sits in the San Jose Division, hearing a broad array of cases including antitrust, civil rights, consumer class actions, commercial litigation and technology cases including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret cases. She serves on the Northern District’s patent local rules and jury instruction committees. Judge Freeman previously was a Superior Court Judge in San Mateo County, California from 2001 to 2014. Judge Freeman served as Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge of the San Mateo Court.
Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2001, Judge Freeman was deputy county counsel in San Mateo County, and an associate attorney at Lasky, Haas and Cohler in San Francisco and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson in Washington, D.C. Judge Freeman is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and University of California, Berkeley.
Judge Beth Labson Freeman is a Judge on the Federal Court in the Northern District of California, appointed by President Obama in 2014. Judge Freeman sits in the San Jose Division, hearing a broad array of cases including antitrust, civil rights, consumer class actions, commercial litigation and technology cases including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret cases. She serves on the Northern District’s patent local rules and jury instruction committees. Judge Freeman previously was a Superior Court Judge in San Mateo County, California from 2001 to 2014. Judge Freeman served as Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge of the San Mateo Court.
Judge Rita F. Lin is a U.S. District Judge in the Northern District of California. Prior to her appointment to the federal bench, she served as a Superior Court Judge in San Francisco for five years. She presided over felony trials involving crimes ranging from murder to rape to child sexual abuse, as well as a variety of criminal calendars, including mental health court and preliminary hearings. Before becoming a judge, Judge Lin was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California in the Criminal Division. She investigated and prosecuted public corruption, illegal opioid prescriptions, organized crime, money laundering, and narcotics trafficking, among other crimes. Before that, she was a litigation partner at Morrison and Foerster, where she practiced complex commercial litigation principally involving class actions and intellectual property, and maintained an active pro bono caseload. In 2012, the Daily Journal named her one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in California, and in 2017, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association named her one of the Best Lawyers Under 40. Judge Lin is the first Chinese American woman to become a District Judge in the Northern District. She began her career as a law clerk for Judge Sandra Lynch on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Judge Lin is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School
Judge Jeffrey Graham joined the bankruptcy bench for the Southern District of Indiana in 2014 and became Chief Judge in 2021. Prior to joining the bench, he was a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP’s Indianapolis office where he was a member of the firm’s bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and insolvency practice groups. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable S. Hugh Dillin, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, before joining Taft. Judge Graham graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and summa cum laude from Valparaiso University School of Law.
Alexandra “Cookie” Echsner-Rasmussen received her B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Saint Louis University, Madrid. She received her J.D. and a certificate in International Law from Florida State University College of Law Cum Laude. She is trained as a 200-hour yoga hatha teacher and graduated with her M.S. in Counseling and Psychology with a certification in addiction counseling from Troy University. She completed training in EMDR therapy in the spring of 2022 and is currently a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern in the State of Florida.
Alexandra has worked on a vast array of pharmaceutical product and medical device mass tort cases. She has considerable experience preparing for depositions of key witnesses in mass tort litigations. She was a trial team member for a Xarelto bellwether jury trial in Jackson, Mississippi, and in Pennsylvania state court. The results of the trials ultimately led to a global settlement of the Xarelto MDL.
Additional litigations that Alexandra has worked on include the representation of women who suffered personal injuries from the birth control implant Essure and consumers and businesses in claims against Skanska for damages sustained from the destruction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. She has worked on the national multidistrict litigation against the manufacturers of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). Alexandra currently works on the Social Media Addiction and Hair Relaxer litigation.
Alexandra is and has been an active member of the Mental Health and Wellness Committee of the Florida Bar since Summer 2018. Alexandra is the Secretary of the Mindfulness in Law Society and Chair of the Florida Chapter of the Mindfulness in Law Society. She is a member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, the C. Roger Vinson American Inn of Court, the American Association for Justice, Women En Mass, and the Society of Women Trial Lawyers. Alexandra is a huge proponent for providing trauma-informed legal services and therapy. She has written extensively about lawyer and law student well-being, mindfulness, trauma-informed communication, and has had various speaking engagements and CLE courses on the topic.
Rachel Bloomekatz was confirmed as a judge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in July 2023. Prior to joining the court, Judge Bloomekatz had an accomplished career in public interest lawyering, focusing on appeals and complex litigation issues. She was a solo practitioner at Bloomekatz Law, which she founded in 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Previously, she was a principal at Gupta Wessler, an associate at Jones Day, and an assistant attorney general for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Judge Bloomekatz also served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall on the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and Judge Guido Calabresi on the Second Circuit. She received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 2008 and her A.B. from Harvard University in 2004.
Judge Bloomekatz is an active member of the community in Columbus, Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two children. She has served as an adjunct professor teaching Federal Courts and Community Lawyering at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law and on the board of Jewish Family Services of Central Ohio, which helps to provide services and training for low-income individuals in central Ohio.
Christopher G. Paulos is a shareholder at Levin Papantonio. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 2000 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts and Sciences, with an emphasis in Argumentation and Advocacy, as well as Cinema/Television Critical Studies.
In May 2010, Mr. Paulos received his Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. In law school, Mr. Paulos was President of the Student Bar Association during which he oversaw the activities of more than 40 student organizations and represented the student body in consultations with the American Bar Association, faculty, administration, and local community organizations. He was also the president of the Entertainment Law Society. Mr. Paulos was also member of both the Moot Court Honor Society and Mock Trial Team, competing and prevailing in both national and regional competitions that included topics such as medical malpractice, wrongful death, criminal law, entertainment law, and copyright and trademark disputes.
From 2008 to 2010, during a clerkship at the San Diego County Office of the Public Defender, Mr. Paulos worked closely with the Felony Trial department on cases involving violent crimes, drug crimes, and financial wrongdoing. Transitioning to private practice, Chris went on to work for several of San Diego’s most well-known and respected criminal defense attorneys handling motion and appearance work, and participating in the resolution of international discovery disputes, the representation of parties accused of violations of international and offshore gaming regulations, high intensity drug trafficking conspiracies, healthcare fraud, and professional malpractice.
Mr. Paulos joined Levin Papantonio in February 2011 and has developed a diverse practice that includes pharmaceutical, medical device and environmental mass torts, as well as catastrophic personal injury, qui tam/false claims cases, and counter-terrorism/human rights litigation. Chris was a member of the MDL Yaz bellwether Trial Team in Sims v. Bayer, conducted apex corporate deposition discovery in the GranuFlo MDL, and was a member of the trial team in all four DuPont C8 MDL bellwether trials. Chris has handled the day-to-day litigation of the Yaz, NuvaRing, Zimmer NexGen, GranuFlo, and Abilify mass tort cases, and also oversees the daily operation of the qui tam and counterterrorism departments.
Mr. Paulos has significant expertise in the handling of evidence and issues of admissibility at trial. He has written and argued numerous legal briefs to address complex legal issues, and has routinely published articles on various issues related to litigation and jury trials. He is a frequent lecturer at national mass tort and trial lawyer conferences.
Jennifer M. Hoekstra is a partner with Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Columbia College, Columbia University in the City of New York. She relocated to Louisiana to attend Tulane Law School, where she earned her J.D. while also completing a certificate in Environmental Law.
Jennifer has been involved in complex litigation cases of all forms since 2007. Her passion and expertise lies in Electronically Stored Information and coordinating discovery across multiple defendant litigations. She has earned a solid reputation and plays an integral role in multiple complex litigation cases, practicing in the areas of Pharmaceutical Mass Torts, Defective Device Mass Torts, and other complex litigation.
Ms. Hoekstra is currently on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee for the MDL 3060 Hair Relaxer and MDL 2789 Proton-Pump Inhibitors Products Liability Litigations. Additionally, Jennifer is a passionate litigator and has been central to the successful outcome in dozens of MDL bellwether trials over the course of her career with more than $11 Billion in trial verdicts to her credit. Most recently in 2021 and 2022, she served as trial counsel and/or as an integral member of the trial team in all of the sixteen 3M Earplug trials securing more than $300 Million in compensatory damages for military veterans.
Amir is the National Co-Chair of Shook’s Class Action Practice Group and co-leads Shook’s Automotive Industry Group. Amir's practice is primarily dedicated to defending companies in class actions and aggregated litigation.
Amir has led the defense of class actions of all types, including automotive, food, beverage, pet food, cosmetics, personal care products, and insurance. He has also defended companies in regional and specialty class action roles.
Beyond traditional class actions, Amir has served in lead roles in mass and aggregated litigation, including JCCP and MDL proceedings, and in managing class opt-out litigation and mass arbitrations.
Gary is an accomplished litigator who represents clients in a broad range of commercial, multi-district, mass tort, and class action disputes. He has extensive trial experience, having organized, handled, and argued cases before judges and juries in state, federal district, and appellate courts in multiple jurisdictions and courts in the US. In recognition of his abilities, he has been appointed by federal judges as special master for multidistrict litigations involving various mass torts.
Among other matters, Gary was appointed special master for the In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2299, a nationwide pharmaceutical MDL and was appointed by the parties as special master to handle a $2.4 billion settlement involving more than 10,000 claims. Gary was appointed settlement master in In re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation assisting in the development of settlement protocols and drafting of the master settlement agreement as well as handling appeals from claims administrator decisions. Gary has also handled allocation of settlement funds in various matters, including claims in In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, In re: Roundup, and Karl Storz Power Morcellator, and the court-appointed co-mediator In re LTL Management, LLC, 1 and 2 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey. Gary was appointed by the chief judge of the Western District of Louisiana as special master in flood claims for the 2016 flood. He has also been involved as liaison counsel and served on committees in various multi-district litigation and class actions, including In re: Apple iPhone 3G Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2045, In re: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2047 and In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon," MDL No. 2179. Gary has received a host of awards and honors, including Martindale’s AV Preeminent rating, and is listed in Best, to name a few.
In the complex and ever-evolving realm of mass tort litigation, expertise and insight are paramount.
As someone deeply immersed in this dynamic field, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. With a comprehensive understanding of the intricate legal landscape, a keen awareness of the latest trends, and a track record of successfully assisting firms on acquiring mass tort cases, he has established himself as a trusted authority in this specialized area.
HEIDI LEVINE is a global co-leader of the Product Liability and Mass Torts practice, member of the firm’s Executive Committee, serves on Sidley’s Global Life Sciences Leadership Council, and is a firmwide co-chair of the firm’s women’s initiative. She has defended companies in a wide variety of product liability and mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, environmental toxic torts, and other products. Heidi also advises clients on risk management, analysis and prevention, as well as conducts pre-litigation assessments and due diligence.
Heidi most often acts as lead national litigation counsel in the mass tort context, representing clients in federal actions, typically in multidistrict litigation proceedings, as well as in coordinated state court actions and related litigation outside the U.S. As national counsel, Heidi formulates and implements the pre-trial, trial and/or end-game strategy with her clients and leads the strategy on all other aspects of the engagement, including coordination relating to regulatory, patent, and business issues. Heidi also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution, designing and implementing innovative resolution programs for companies faced with complex litigation.
Advocacy on behalf of clients has earned Heidi notable awards and acknowledgement in numerous industry publications, including:
As a partner in Keller Rohrback’s nationally recognized Complex Litigation Group, Cari Laufenberg maintains a national practice representing consumers, employees, and institutions in complex class actions involving corporate fraud, data privacy, breach of fiduciary duty, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).Since joining Keller Rohrback in 2003, she has played a key role in obtaining multi-million-dollar recoveries for consumers, employees, and shareholders in many of the firm’s largest and most complex cases, including cases involving Meta Platforms, Inc., T-Mobile, Anthem Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Marsh McLennan Companies, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., HealthSouth Corporation and The Williams Cos.
While having excelled in the realms of corporate fraud, fiduciary duty, and ERISA, Cari has also developed an excellent reputation litigating data privacy cases by securing meaningful relief for her clients and class members. She has been instrumental in the foundation and growth of the firm’s data privacy practice group. In that effort, she has served as Co-Lead Counsel in a number of high-profile data breach cases for which she and the KR team have achieved outstanding results: In re T-Mobile Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 3019 (W.D. Mo.) (obtaining the second largest data breach settlement to date); In re 21st Century Oncology Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 2737 (M.D. Fla.) (securing a meaningful settlement despite the company declaring bankruptcy), and as Class Counsel in Fox v. Iowa Health System (W.D. Wis.) (securing a favorable settlement for approximately 1.4 million victims of the UnityPoint Health data breach).
She also currently serves as Co-Lead Counsel in several other multidistrict data breach cases including In re 23andMe, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL No. 3098 in the Northern District of California—a case concerning the exposure of highly sensitive personal and genetic information for 6.9 million customers and In re T-Mobile 2022 Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL 3037, in the Western District of Missouri—a case involving a November 2022 data breach impacting 37 million customers of U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile.
Cari has served in leadership positions in other prominent consumer class-action cases as well, including as Interim Lead Class Counsel in In re EpiPen ERISA Litigation (D. Minn.) and her appointment to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In re Oral Phenylephrine Marketing and Sales Practice Litigation, MDL No. 3089 (E.D.N.Y.).
She also played a fundamental role in the In re Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, MDL No. 2843 (N.D. Cal.), in which, together with co-lead counsel, KR achieved a $725 million settlement—the largest recovery ever achieved in a private data privacy class action and the most Meta has ever paid to resolve a private class action.
Over the past almost 20 years, Cari’s background in nonprofit management and public administration has served her clients well. She is adept at organizing large complex cases, working collaboratively with other counsel, and developing a cogent strategy which achieves short-term goals and long-term successes. Before joining Keller Rohrback in 2003, Cari served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Barbara Jacobs Rothstein of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences on class actions, identity theft and privacy, and other complex litigation topics.
Jean Sutton Martin is a lead attorney in Morgan and Morgan’s Complex Litigation Group. For more than 20 years, Ms. Martin has concentrated her practice on complex litigation, including consumer protection and defective products class action. She has a unique background having handled individual personal injury and mass tort cases as well as managing large consumer class actions.
Jean has considerable experience in data breach cases, including appointments as interim co-lead counsel in In re Morgan Stanley Data Security Litigation, 1:20-cv-05914 (S.D.N.Y.), In re Warner Music Group, Case No. 1:20-cv-07473-PGG (S.D.N.Y.), In Re: Ambry Genetics Data Breach Litigation, No. 20-cv-00791 (C.D. Cal), In re Brinker Data Incident Litigation, 18-cv-686 (M.D. Fla.), and Gordon, et al. v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.,17-cv-01415 (D. Colo.) She is also a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and bellwether trial team in In re: Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, No. 17-md-2775 (D. Md.) and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In re: Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, No. 19-md-2921 (D. N.J).
Recognizing the growing importance of ESI issues, Jean obtained eDiscovery certification from the eDiscovery Training Academy at Georgetown Law Center in 2017. She is often called upon by other members of her firm to negotiate ESI protocols, establish document review protocols and procedures, and select appropriate ESI vendors tailored to the specific litigation.
In 2016, Jean was selected by her peers as the top Litigation attorney in the State of North Carolina for Business North Carolina Magazine’s Legal Elite, gaining membership in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame. Since 2012, she has been selected to the Super Lawyers list for North Carolina in the areas of mass torts and class actions, with additional selection to the Top 50 Women North Carolina list.
Jean has been honored with the prestigious “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. In
2015, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a prestigious trial lawyer honorary society comprised of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. For upholding the highest principles of the legal profession and for outstanding dedication to the welfare of others, Ms. Martin has also been selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honorary legal organization whose membership is limited to one-third of one percent of lawyers in each state.
Jean received her Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law,
where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Wake Forest Law Review and a member of Moot Court. Ms. Martin graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics and earned a Master of International Business from the University of South Carolina.
Prior to her legal career, she worked in Munich, Germany on the finance team of a global computer company focusing on the company’s expansion into the Eastern European market after the fall of the Berlin wall. Ms. Martin also worked as a marketing manager for an international candy manufacturer where her responsibilities included product development, brand licensing, market research, and sales analysis.
Ms. Martin is a member of the North Carolina bar. She is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina.
Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., chair of Duane Morris’ Workplace Class Action group, has nearly four decades’ experience of practicing law and has defended some of the most significant bet-the-company cases ever filed against corporate America. Mr. Maatman has represented companies, executive teams and boards across the country in class action litigation, ranging in size from thousands to hundreds of thousands of claims by employees. Among his accomplishments, he defended and defeated the largest systemic enforcement action ever brought in the history of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the first Attorney General prosecution of a Wall Street company for workplace discrimination and harassment, and the largest wage & hour class and collective actions ever brought in Florida and New York. While he is known to be a fierce litigator, he also helps his clients anticipate large-scale litigations risks before they happen to prevent issues that could turn into litigation. Mr. Maatman pioneered the process of conducting employment-practices audits to assist employers in structuring effective and practical personnel policies and protocols. Profiled in The Wall Street Journal, these audits are designed to minimize the incidence of employment-related class action litigation and to maximize management discretion and workplace productivity. He has served as a legal commentator on PBS, NPR, MSNBC, CNBC and U.S. talk radio, and his comments have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Business Insurance, USA Today, Fortune and Forbes.
Mr. Maatman also writes and lectures extensively on class action and employment litigation topics. He has authored six books on employment law topics and has spoken to employer groups throughout the United States, as well as in Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico. Mr. Maatman is the author and editor of a widely circulated, highly regarded industry class action report, published yearly since 2003. The report, called by EPLiC Magazine "the bible on class actions that no corporate counsel should do without," is widely praised for its sharp analysis backed by comprehensive research, helps corporate employers navigate an increasingly volatile class action landscape. Mr. Maatman is recognized regularly by legal publications for his excellent work on behalf of clients. He is a 2021 Law360 MVP for Employment Law, which is his sixth such honor from Law360 since 2013. Winners of this accolade have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing impressive successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals. Overall, Mr. Maatman has received more Law360 MVP awards than any other attorney in the United States.
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business selected Mr. Maatman as one of the nation’s leading class action defense lawyers in its 2006 to 2023 rankings of U.S. lawyers. In its rankings, Chambers stated that “Maatman is absolutely phenomenal” and is “one of the top class action minds in the country.”
In nine of the last 11 years, BTI Consulting selected Mr. Maatman as one of the top attorneys in the Unites States in terms of client service and by distinguishing him as a Client Service All-Star. In 2014, American Lawyer selected him as “Litigator of the Week” relative to his back-to-back victories in EEOC v. Sterling and EEOC v. Kaplan, the two biggest pattern or practice lawsuits brought by the Commission in the last 10 years. In 2021, Mr. Maatman was inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame in recognition of his continued excellence in representing clients in class actions.
Mr. Maatman is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law (J.D. 1981) and Washington and Lee University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1978). He has served as an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern for more than 30 years.
Dena Sharp is dedicated to finding common-sense solutions in even the most complex litigation. She recently served as co-lead counsel in the In re Juul Labs Inc. multidistrict litigation, which resulted in recoveries of nearly $2 billion for individual consumers, school districts, municipalities, and Native American tribes. The last of the Juul settlements—for $235 million with Altria (formerly Philip Morris)—was reached after Dena and her co-lead trial counsel rested the plaintiff’s case in a bellwether jury trial against the tobacco giant.
Dena currently serves as co-lead counsel in In re Xyrem Antitrust Litigation and In re Google Digital Advertising Antitrust Litigation, as well as in leadership positions in various life sciences and statutory damage matters. She also serves as a member of the End-Payer Steering Committee in the massive In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation. Dena previously led a team to a $104.75 million recovery on the eve of trial in a certified “pay-for-delay” antitrust class action concerning the drug Lidoderm, which delivered the largest recovery for a class of end-payers in similar federal litigation in more than decade.
Dena tries cutting-edge cases. In a first-of-its-kind jury trial in 2021, Dena and team represented clients whose eggs and embryos were in a freezer tank at a fertility clinic that failed. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a $15 million verdict for the plaintiffs, leading to a global resolution with the tank manufacturer for the dozens of households represented by Girard Sharp.
Outside the courtroom, Dena chairs the board of directors of the Impact Fund, a public interest nonprofit. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute, sits on the board of advisors of the Center for Litigation and the Courts at the UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and serves on the executive committee of the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Dena co-wrote a chapter in the ABA’s “Class Action Strategy and Practice Guide,” and the widely-cited Sedona Principles: Best Practices and Principles for Electronic Document Production (Third Edition). She is the immediate past co-chair of the Northern District of California’s Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council.
Dena has twice been recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco for Plaintiffs’ Mass Tort / Class Action Litigation by Best Lawyers in America (in 2023 and 2024), and was selected as a “Titan of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 in April 2023. She recently received the prestigious “California Lawyer Attorney of the Year” (CLAY) Award for the JUUL litigation, recognizing its major impact on society and the law. Dena has three times been named to the National Law Journal’s “Elite Women of the Plaintiffs’ Bar,” honoring her as one of only a handful of lawyers nationwide who has “consistently excelled in high-stakes matters on behalf of plaintiffs.” The Daily Journal has also recognized her as one of the “Top Antitrust Lawyers in California” and “Top Women Lawyers” in California. In 2023, Dena was selected as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Northern California, and since 2020 she has been recognized by San Francisco magazine as one of the “Top 50 Women Attorneys in Northern California.”
Dena is a graduate, cum laude, of the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University, where she graduated magna cum laude. A first-generation American, Dena is fluent in Spanish and German.
Shelley Hutson focuses her practice on product liability, mass tort litigation, pharmaceutical, and personal injury litigation. She began her career in Houston, Texas as an assistant district attorney, trying a wide variety of cases with a greater than 95% success rate. Afterwards, Shelley began focusing on medical/legal cases in the civil litigation arena. Shelley is nationally recognized for her specialized talent in locating world-renowned medical and scientific experts across all litigations. Additionally, she prepares and oversees the development of liability and medical causation strategies and the building of damage models for every client. Shelley's relentless attention to the medical issues, her work with treating physicians, and her expert development has resulted in settlements for tens of thousands of clients.
Shelley was appointed as co-lead counsel in the 3M Combat Earplug Litigation. On August 29, 2023, the MDL settled for $6 billion dollars. Prior to resolution, Shelley obtained a 55 million dollar verdict for her client, Ronald Sloan against Defendant 3M on January 27, 2022.
Shelley also obtained verdict as lead counsel in the Southern District of Florida on behalf of four clients who suffered injuries from Boston Scientific's Pinnacle Pelvic Floor Repair Kit. The Pinnacle mesh kit is implanted for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. (Amal Eghnayem, et al. v. Boston Scientific Corporation).
As lead counsel in the second Topamax case to be tried in the country, Shelley obtained a verdict ranking 1st in product liability cases in PA that year (Gurley-Powell v. Janssen, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas) in the amount of $10.9 million dollars. As co-counsel in the first Topamax trial, Shelley obtained another verdict for her client (Czimmer v. Janssen, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas) in the amount of $4.2 million dollars.
In addition to her active litigation practice, Shelley devotes time training and educating law students on how to become effective advocates for their clients. She gives back to her law school, South Texas College of Law, by participating in their moot court and mock trial programs. While participating in these programs herself during law school, Shelley won Best Speaker in the Nation award at the American Bar Association moot court competition.
Shelley graduated from Texas Tech University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science and a double major in English and French. She then attended graduate school at Texas Tech University studying French literature and graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1993.
In her 31 years of practice, Shelley has proven to be a ferocious advocate on behalf of those who have been injured by corporations that look out for their profits instead of the health and welfare of the public consumer.
Paul Cody is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York State and has over 25 years of experience in the private equity and financial services arenas. As President and CEO of Counsel Financial, Paul has overseen more than $1.5 billion in legal funding transactions ranging from traditional law firm loans to complex debt and equity structures. In addition to financing. Counsel Financial has assisted in law firm mergers and acquisitions, succession planning and law firm valuations, among other initiatives.
Prior to joining Counsel Financial as President in 2008, Paul was a General Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Seed Capital Partners, a private equity fund with a focus on early-stage investments, and JoRon Management, a closely held private equity fund with investment interests ranging from non-recourse plaintiff funding to commodity-based financial products. In that capacity, he oversaw portfolio investment activities, led dozens of complex equity and debt transactions and frequently assumed operating roles within portfolio companies.
Paul’s career began at KPMG LLP, one of the world’s largest accounting firms. He has been a recipient of Business First’s “40 under 40 Award” in recognition of his record of professional success and community involvement. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and has served as an adjunct faculty professor at its School of Management.
Genevieve presently serves as court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in MDL 2666: In re Bair Hugger Products Liability Litigation. Genevieve was trial counsel in the only MDL bellwether trial. The Bair Hugger MDL includes claims brought by patients who allege the Bair Hugger patient warming system caused deep joint infections following total hip and total knee replacement surgeries.
Genevieve is also Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in MDL 2775: In re Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Products Liability pending in the District of Maryland. The MDL includes claims brought on behalf of patients who required revision surgery as a result of defective Smith & Nephew hips. Plaintiffs successfully defeated motions to dismiss based on preemption and tried the first MDL bellwether case in July 2021. After a three-week trial, the jury agreed Smith & Nephew was negligent for its false or misleading communications to orthopedic surgeons. Since the trial, nearly all of the cases in the MDL have settled, and the remaining cases are in the process of being remanded as the MDL winds down.
In October 2019, Genevieve tried the first defamation case against a conspiracy theorist who wrote a book titled “Nobody Died at Sandy Hook”. Together with her husband Jake, she represented Lenny Pozner, who was defamed by James Fetzer’s book. By all accounts, Fetzer was the original source for the absurd contention that Sandy Hook was a “false flag” operation by the so-called Deep State aimed at taking away gun rights, and it was Fetzer’s willfully false information that Alex Jones and Infowars.com amplified nationwide. In her closing argument Genevieve told the jury “truth matters, saying false things about somebody matters.” The jury returned a verdict in favor of Mr. Pozner in the amount of $450,000.
Since 2013, Genevieve has served as a court-appointed member of the Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel Committee for MDL 2441: In re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, and is also one of four attorneys appointed to the Settlement Committee for the Stryker MDL. Total settlements in the global resolution programs exceed $2 Billion.
Genevieve was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee of the 3M Combat earplug litigation MDL (2019), the PSC in In re Taxotere (2016) and In re Biomet MDL (2014), and some of her past work includes helping heart defibrillator patients after a Guidant recall in 2006, helping patients who suffered serious injuries and death following use of the recalled prescription drugs Vioxx and Yaz, hip implants dating back to 2001 manufactured by nearly every company from Sulzer to St. Gobain to Zimmer, DePuy, Stryker, Wright, Smith & Nephew and Exactech.
During 2007-2009, Genevieve spent nearly 75% of her time providing pro bono legal services to the survivors and families who lost loved ones as a result of the I-35W Bridge Collapse. The consortium was successful in obtaining recoveries exceeding $75 million.
Genevieve serves the community through ongoing pro bono work where she has represented victims of domestic violence seeking to obtain court orders for protection, immigrants seeking to update immigration documents, and high school students seeking protection of their first amendment rights to equal access to school facilities.
Genevieve is a member of the Local Rules Committee for the District of Minnesota, Minnesota Lawyer “Attorney of the Year” in both 2019 and 2021, Past President of the Minnesota Association for Justice, and has served on the Board of Governors since 2009. MAJ named her “Member of the Year” in 2012, and “Star Award” recipient in 2021. She is a past member of the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice. Genevieve has been rated by SuperLawyers as a Super Lawyer since 2014.
On a personal note, Genevieve volunteers and raises money for scholarship funds for her alma mater, St. Paul Central High School. A noted and enthusiastic “food gatherer”, Genevieve loves travel, skiing, recreational marathons, and discussing the finer points of music by The National and Taylor Swift with her teenaged daughter and son.
Dana Rager is managing director of Western Alliance Bank’s Juris Banking Group.
Ms. Rager epitomizes the bank's culture and focuses on providing exceptional service to her portfolio of legal industry clients nationwide with high-touch service. She is an expert in escrow and distribution solutions for large qualified settlement funds and providing customized banking services for attorneys and law firms.
Ms. Rager’s industry knowledge and expertise of the entire life cycle of large settlements assures attorneys and claims administrators that the banking process will be smooth and unique to the needs of the class.
She is committed to providing legal experts and related businesses managing class actions and mass torts educational content covering the latest key topics and trends impacting the industry. Ms. Rager plays a vital role in developing insightful resources, such as Western Alliance Bank’s annual class action research report , the renowned annual Class Action Law Forum along with free CLE-eligible webinars featuring in-depth perspectives from leading practitioners.
Ms. Rager, who has been an integral member of Western Alliance Bank since 2006, previously held management positions within two other financial institutions.
She is based out of San Diego but provides services nationwide. She is active in the community and serves as Vice-Chair and Founding Member of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace Alumnae Council.
Stacy Hauer represents clients who have been injured as a result of defective drugs or faulty medical devices. Since she began practicing law, she has focused much of her practice in this area on large national cases including: Baycol, Zyprexa, Medtronic Defibrillators, Guidant Defibrillators, Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads, Digitek, and Transvaginal Mesh. Ms. Hauer’s extensive background in science and medicine make her uniquely qualified for drug and device litigation.
Ms. Hauer graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. She also received a Masters Degree from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. Stacy also received her Bachelor degrees in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Finally, Stacy has a background working in the health care industry and caring for patients which has given her a compassionate perspective in advocating for clients who have been injured by defective drugs and medical devices.
Sherry Knutson co-chairs the Tucker Ellis Health & Life Sciences Group.
Appreciated by clients as “a fantastic trial partner,” Sherry has tried cases to verdict in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, and West Virginia. In one trial, the presiding judge commented that Sherry could teach a master class in effective cross examination. Clients also describe her as “an exceptional attorney” with “a knack for understanding very complex scientific and medical issues and making them easy to understand to both clients and a layperson on the jury.”
Sherry has over 25 years of experience in product liability and toxic tort cases, with an emphasis on defending pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Sherry’s practice ranges from multi-plaintiff, multi-jurisdiction litigations to single plaintiff cases. She has served as national coordinating counsel in multiple pharmaceutical mass torts. Sherry also has served as lead counsel in several coordinated proceedings in Chicago.
Ranked in Chambers USA 2022 in the area of Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide), Sherry is recognized as “understand[ing] the big-picture issues and themes, while also somehow knowing the most minute details of the case. She is strategic, practical, calm, and persuasive.” Clients praise Sherry as “hard-working, a consummate professional and extremely well prepared,” “an amazing trial attorney who has great presence,” and “creative, thoughtful and smart.” According to Who’s Who Legal, where she is recognized in both “Life Sciences – Product Liability” and “Product Liability Defence,” Sherry is celebrated as “one of the best national strategic thinkers, advocates and trial attorneys” and highly recommended as “one of the best national coordinating counsel and trial counsel” who “absolutely belongs on the list.” Described as “superbly qualified, knowledgeable,” she has “a keen ability to develop sophisticated strategies which bring excellent results on a consistent basis and in an efficient and cost effective manner.”
Early in her career, Sherry clerked for the Honorable N. Patrick Crooks of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, who reinforced integrity and civility in the law – values Sherry has carried with her throughout her career.
Paige Sharpe's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, primarily mass torts and product liability actions involving consumer products and prescription drugs. She represents major U.S. companies in defending against personal injury claims in state and federal court and at both trial court and appellate court levels, and she also advises clients on their response to government investigations. She also has defended companies in class action litigations. Her experience includes counseling clients on litigation risks, coordinating discovery and trial strategies across multiple jurisdictions, and helping manage the litigation and regulatory matters that arise out of product safety issues.
Paige maintains an active pro bono practice and has worked on a range of matters, including a wrongful death suit against city and state police officers, representation of tenants fighting wrongful eviction, and the appeal of a Fourth Amendment gun possession case to the D.C. Court of Appeals. She also has represented death row inmates asserting religious liberty claims against a state prison system, which has included appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Before starting law school, Paige worked on the copydesks of two Southeastern newspapers.
Experience
The chair of Lieff Cabraser’s Economic Injury Product Defect Practice Group, partner Jason L. Lichtman has extensive experience leading multidistrict and large class action litigation on behalf of consumer plaintiffs. With a practice focused on consumer protection, data privacy, and damages, Jason recently recovered more than $122 million in economic value for coffee farmers in the Kona region who sued nearly two dozen companies for selling “Kona coffee” that was not coffee from Kona. The Court described Jason as conducting one “of the most impressive class action cases I have dealt with in my time on the federal bench,” adding that his results in the litigation were “great for justice” because this was a case with “a real result that makes people whole again.”
Numerous other courts have also appointed Jason to leadership positions in large consumer protection cases, in which he has recovered more than $500 million for his clients, including the exploding Samsung Top-Loading Washing Machines case (Co-Lead Counsel); the Whirlpool Corp. Front-Loading Washer products liability litigation (Co-Lead Counsel); and the Dover v. British Airways airline overcharging case (Class Counsel). In the Whirlpool Defective Washers Products Liability litigation, Jason served as Co-Chair of the Law and Motion Committee, one of the trial counsel, and Lead Settlement Counsel, achieving a nationwide settlement strongly favorable to plaintiffs following a bellwether trial, multiple appeals to the Sixth and Seventh Circuits (all won by plaintiffs), and multiple petitions for certiorari (all defeated by plaintiffs). Jason has also secured major victories as counsel of record before numerous federal appellate courts.
Jason’s practice also includes a focus on complex damages issues, including in the Anthem Data Breach Litigation and Marriott Data Breach litigation, leading plaintiffs’ work with damages experts, including the development of highly technical, comprehensive experts reports, defending depositions of plaintiffs’ experts, and taking defendants’ experts’ depositions. The Marriott case remains pending, but Jason’s work contributed heavily to the groundbreaking settlement for plaintiffs of $115 million in Anthem, as well as significant injunctive relief targeting deficient Anthem’s cybersecurity practices. Jason also serves on the board of directors for Public Justice Foundation and is past Chair of the Public Justice Class Action Committee. Public Justice is devoted to standing up for consumers against unscrupulous payday lenders, reckless polluters, dangerous food producers, and other bad corporate actors. A multiple-year “Super Lawyer” for the New York area, he also served on the Law360 Privacy and Consumer Protection Editorial Advisory Board, providing feedback on Law360’s news coverage, including case updates, policy developments, and trends in various industries.
Sara K. Thompson is Chair of the firm's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation Practice. She concentrates her practice on defense of products liability litigation, with an emphasis on representing manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other consumer products in state and federal courts nationwide. Sara has experience managing individual, nationwide and mass tort litigation matters involving a variety of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as class action and mass litigation involving personal care products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals in both coordinated and consolidated proceedings and Multi-District Litigations (MDLs). Sara also regularly counsels manufacturers regarding review and drafting of appropriate warning language for product labeling, recalls and reporting, Consumer Products Safety Commission recalls and compliance, and other pre-litigation matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Sara spent four years as a litigation associate with two prominent law firms in Boston, Massachusetts.
Concentrations
Sara has litigated a variety of cases across the State of Alabama, including premises liability, motor vehicle negligence, wrongful death and trucking cases. Sara began her legal career as a civil defense attorney and has worked for some of the preeminent litigation firms of the State. She is now excited to have the opportunity to utilize her litigation skills to help those who have been injured and their families.
Sara is an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at Cumberland School of Law and also serves as a coach for Cumberland School of Law’s nationally ranked mock trial teams.
Education
Memberships
Awards & Recognition
ERIN COPELAND currently serves as the court-appointed Lead of the Paragard (birth control) MDL pending in the Northern District of Georgia and Co-Lead of the Suboxone MDL pending in the Northern District of Ohio. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee of the Hair Relaxer MDL pending in the Northern District of Illinois.
Previously, from 2017 to 2022, Erin served on the Executive Committee for the Essure consolidated state litigation in California, where she and her team oversaw the claims of thousands of women who suffered severe and permanent injuries as a result of the Essure permanent sterilization birth control device. In August 2020, she helped to negotiate a $1.6 billion settlement with Bayer to resolve the Essure litigation. Erin also served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the various female pelvic mesh MDLs pending in the Southern District of West Virginia as well as the Pradaxa litigation pending in the Southern District. In the Pradaxa litigation, Erin served as State-Federal Liaison Counsel to the cases pending in St. Clair County, Illinois.
Erin is often invited to speak on a variety of legal issues at both judicial and general legal conferences. She also serves on the board of several legal organizations, including the American Association for Justice and Texas Women Rainmakers.
Erin is a native Houstonian and practices with the Houston-based law firm of Fibich Leebron Copeland & Briggs. Erin and her family split time between Houston and Colorado where her son was a competitive snowboarder before turning to golf school.
Danielle Ward Mason is a personal injury attorney specializing in claims involving dangerous drugs and medical devices. Ms. Mason was the first black woman to be named partner at two major national law firms and is a leading litigator on cases impacting women’s health, including toxic hair relaxers, hormone replacement therapy, transvaginal mesh, and talcum powder ovarian cancer. Danielle is a leading lawyer in the country for litigation related to toxic hair relaxers primarily used by women of color.
Ms. Mason is one of the country's most successful talcum powder litigation attorneys, securing nearly $1 billion in verdicts against Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn about ovarian cancer risks. In addition to this talcum powder work, Ms. Mason's civil litigation experience has focused primarily on claims that impact and highlight important issues in women's health, a cause that she is proud to advance. In January 2020, Ms. Mason was appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (PSC) in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) over Janssen Pharmaceuticals' drug Elmiron. Previously, in 2017, Ms. Mason was appointed to the PSC of the Invokana MDL.
In the sixteen years that she has practiced law, Danielle has achieved numerous awards and has been recognized extensively for her legal advocacy, detailed on the awards page. Danielle is an active member of the American Association for Justice, where she has been the chair of the Talcum Powder/Ovarian Cancer Litigation Group since its inception in 2016. She is active in both the Minority Caucus and the Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus, and currently holds several key committee appointments. She has held numerous leadership positions in Alabama legal organizations, including serving as president of the Alabama Lawyers Association and president of the Montgomery County Association for Justice. Additionally, her insightful contributions have earned her recognition, with her Article Featured in AAJ Trial Magazine showcasing her expertise and commitment to advancing legal discourse.
Danielle was born and raised in historic Montgomery, Alabama, where she currently resides with her husband, Dwan, and their sons, Jordan and Jaxon.
Jonathan Orent litigates for people alleging harm by defective medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs, including all aspects of discovery and expert development. He represents women suffering from painful side effects associated with pelvic mesh/sling products, hernia patients harmed by mesh repairs, as well as military service members suffering from hearing loss due to allegedly defective earplugs.
Jonathan was appointed lead counsel of hernia mesh litigation In re Atrium Medical Corp. C-QUR Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL #2753. He serves as co-lead and co-liaison counsel in the largest consolidated hernia mesh litigation in the country, In re Davol/C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh Multi-Case Management Coordination. Jonathan previously served as co-liaison counsel in the In re Bard Litigation in New Jersey state court and as state court liaison counsel in Massachusetts. He is a member of the litigation team that successfully tried the Barba case to a $100 million verdict in Delaware (later reduced by appeal to $10 million). Jonathan also led the successful appeal to the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, which allowed key evidence relating to Boston Scientific’s alleged knowledge of the potential harm caused by its products. Jonathan is co-chair of the AAJ Hernia Mesh Litigation Group.
In addition to his leadership in hernia mesh litigation, Jonathan is also a member of the Science & Experts Subcommittee for multidistrict litigation filed for U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2015 and suffered hearing loss or tinnitus after using allegedly defective earplugs manufactured by 3M and its predecessor Aearo Technologies.
Jonathan also represents communities and people facing personal injury, property damage and economic loss as a result of negligence, environmental hazards or groundwater and soil contamination. In 2008, he litigated against a large New England utility company on behalf of more than 100 Tiverton, R.I., residents who claimed they suffered damages resulting from environmental contamination of their residential property. More recently, Jonathan played a role in the settlement of contamination litigation between members of the Tallevast, Fla., community and a major aerospace defense contractor involving property damage and emotional distress claims resulting from the alleged release of trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE) and other chemicals into the groundwater.
Jonathan has worked on complex litigation against the lead paint industry on behalf of government entities in California, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as lead poisoning cases for individual children and families against property owners. He also assists with discovery and trial preparation of the firm’s asbestos cases.
Prior to joining Motley Rice in 2005, Jonathan served as a law clerk with the Missouri State Public Defender Youth Advocacy Unit and a legal intern for Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. Recognized as an AV® rated attorney Martindale-Hubbell®, he has made numerous presentations on a variety of legal matters involving medical device litigation and environmental law. He served on the Rhode Island Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, a group whose mission is to address key community issues and discrimination matters, such as foreclosure scams and the disparate treatment of minority youth. Jonathan is President of AG Bell Rhode Island, as well as a member of the Rhode Island Early Intervention Work Group, a group that reviews early intervention services provided to deaf or hard of hearing children between the ages of 0-3 in Rhode Island.
Tom Pirtle is a nationally acclaimed trial lawyer renowned for his groundbreaking achievements in personal injury, wrongful death, defective product, and commercial dispute cases. With an exceptional track record in the courtroom, Tom has secured numerous landmark verdicts. Additionally, he has displayed his commitment to representing the rights of injured individuals through leadership positions in significant multi-district litigations, including:
Tom graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin University in 1987, where he was awarded Most Outstanding Graduate by the Board of Regents. He went on to graduate from South Texas College of Law in 1990.
Alexandra Walsh is a nationally recognized trial attorney with extensive experience trying and winning cases in courts throughout the country. In 2021, after years of defending corporate clients, Alex launched Walsh Law to fight for plaintiffs seeking justice in the nation’s courts. More recently, Alex brought the team she built at Walsh Law to Anapol Weiss where she will join an already elite group of litigators and help the firm expand its trial and product liability practices to the national level.
Alex currently holds leadership positions in national litigations concerning sexual assault in rideshare vehicles, teenage social media addiction, toxic contamination of baby foods and the adverse effects of GLP-1 medications.
Before beginning her law practice, Alex was honored to serve as law clerk to two of the country’s top jurists: the Honorable Merrick B. Garland, then a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and the Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Alex earned her law degree at Stanford Law School and received her undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College.
Alex currently serves on the board of D.C.’s Legal Aid Society, the city’s oldest and largest civil legal services organization and represents Legal Aid clients in landlord-tenant disputes. Alex is also a board member the for LIFT-DC, a national non-profit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for families with children through targeted career, education, and financial coaching.
Kate Charonko is a thought leader and pioneer in the field of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) and is Bailey Glasser’s ESI group’s Practice Group Leader. Kate is a Certified e-Discovery Specialist (CEDS).
In her role as ESI Practice Group Leader, Kate designs ESI strategies that provide structured and conceptual analytic functionality for numerous aspects of e-Discovery, including document review strategy, use of technology and technology assisted review (TAR), collection and preservation strategy, ESI protocols, and training and implementation of e-Discovery practices.
In addition to her e-Discovery practice, Kate serves as part of Bailey Glasser’s multidistrict litigation (MDL) teams focusing on product liability actions across the country. Serving in various leadership and liaison positions, Kate focuses her MDL practice on complex discovery and e-Discovery matters.
Kate frequently speaks on various e-Discovery topics, including ESI, TAR, AI and legal ethics. In 2019, she was invited to share her “lessons learned” about her path to becoming a lawyer in Nora Riva Bergman’s book, “50 Lessons for Women Lawyers From Women Lawyers.”
Chambers USA, USA-Nationwide-Product Liability: Plaintiffs (2024)
2024 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, Electronically Stored Information
National Trial Lawyers Top 100, West Virginia (2024)
National Trial Lawyers Top 100, "Top 40 Under 40,” West Virginia (2023 and 2024)
Best Lawyers - Ones to Watch, Technology Law (2021)
Best Lawyers, Women in the Law (2021)
Adam Levitt is one of the nation’s leading advocates for plaintiffs in complex, multidistrict, class action, public client, mass tort, and commercial litigation. Drawing on his extensive experience pursuing and obtaining justice for those who have been wronged by powerful defendants, he co-founded DiCello Levitt to create a top-tier complex issues and trial firm founded on excellence, trust, and respect—where every team member’s voice and talents are valued.
In his decades-long career, Adam has scored numerous significant and precedent-setting victories, delivering more than $20 billion in recoveries to clients in biotechnology, financial services, securities, insurance coverage, consumer protection, automotive defects, agricultural products, and antitrust disputes. His reputation for innovatively taking on tough cases has led to his appointment to leadership positions in many historic and headline-grabbing litigations, including three of the largest biotechnology class actions in U.S. history, where he served as co-lead counsel, helped recover more than $1.7 billion on behalf of plaintiffs, and created a game-changing economic model to measure crop contamination damages that set the modern industry standard. He was also retained by multiple State Attorneys General to hold some of the world’s largest chemical companies accountable for widespread environmental contamination from their “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Also, as part of a leadership group characterized as a “class action dream team,” Adam helped secure a $16 billion settlement in litigation arising from Volkswagen’s emissions scandal, and, in a rare class action trial, he and his fellow co-lead counsel secured a milestone $102.6 million jury verdict against General Motors for hiding engine defects from consumers.
Adam is also a leader in the legal profession and a frequent speaker on multidistrict litigation, consumer protection, automotive litigation, biotechnology, corporate governance, securities litigation, and internet privacy. Nationally recognized as an authority on class action litigation, Adam writes a monthly class action column in The National Law Journal, has testified before the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee on class action practice, and chairs an annual class action litigation conference in Chicago.
As a founding partner of DiCello Levitt, Adam has cultivated a diverse roster of skilled litigators to advance the cause of justice for individuals, businesses, and public clients. The firm’s attorneys are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases and have secured billions of dollars in recoveries for their clients through class action, business-to-business, whistleblower, personal injury, civil rights, and mass tort litigation. They have worked on some of the highest-profile securities actions ever filed, developed game-changing legal theories to secure landmark wins against tech giants that misused and exposed massive troves of personal data, and held some of the world’s largest corporations accountable for endangering and harming American consumers. With a long history of working with public clients, Adam and his partners understand the wants and needs of government officials and their teams, and, as experts in trial practice and jury persuasion, they consistently achieve best-in-class results for their clients.
Adam’s own groundbreaking work on behalf of plaintiffs has been recognized locally and nationally in prestigious ranking directories, including Chambers USA, where he has received a Band 1 ranking for Mainly Plaintiffs Litigation in Illinois for three consecutive years. Chambers USA also ranked Adam in Illinois for General Commercial Litigation and nationwide for Product Liability Litigation, where the editors describe him as the “go-to plaintiffs’ attorney in the class actions space.” In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Benchmark Litigation named Adam a National Litigation Star and Securities and Litigation Star in Illinois. According to The National Law Journal, Adam is a “pioneer” in technology litigation. Crain’s Chicago Business has named him a Notable Litigator and Trial Attorney and a Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting, Consulting, and Law, and Lawdragon has named him one of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers and one of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in the United States.
An elected member of the American Law Institute and the Economic Club of Chicago, Adam considers the formation of DiCello Levitt in 2017 to be a pivotal moment in his distinguished legal career. With a shared vision and commitment to helping people and businesses use the legal system to have their voices heard, he and his partners intend to maintain their industry-wide influence for years to come with a steadfast resolve for justice in all its dimensions.
Attorney Justin Presnal is a partner in the Complex Litigation Department at Simmons Hanly Conroy, based in College Station, Texas. Justin’s cases involve dangerous drugs, medical devices, and other complex litigation matters.
Justin has practiced law since 1993, working on a wide array of cases. He has represented individuals and businesses in trial and appellate courts throughout the country, often involving complicated jurisdictional and choice of law issues.
“The Complex Litigation Department at Simmons Hanly Conroy is on the cutting edge of high stakes litigation, constantly looking at novel legal theories to help the clients we represent,” Justin said. “No case is too complicated or difficult for us to handle, and we have the experience and resources needed to creatively and strategically win hard cases.”
Careful Analysis & Compelling Writing
Justin works on the analytical and strategic components of the firm’s cases. Along with other attorneys in the firm, and frequently with co-counsel from other firms, he analyzes potential cases and develops case strategies. He takes the lead on preparing the papers that are filed with trial and appellate courts and has a passion for writing and the law.
Justin had an early introduction to working on complex and unusual cases, working on cases that were international in scope and often involved unusual legal questions — such as the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the Warsaw Convention, federal and state application of the forum non conveniens doctrine, and federal preemption in pharmaceutical, medical device, automobile, and other product liability cases. He once told one of his early mentors, Mike Maloney of Houston, “Mike, every one of your cases is like a law school exam question.”
That early experience was instrumental in Justin learning to find ways to prosecute complicated cases using creative but legally sound strategies, and the importance of not just winning in the trial court but making sure you can preserve that win on appeal.
Justin was fortunate to work alongside some of the finest legal writers in Texas early in his career. That experience inspired him to develop a writing style that is plain and direct, rather than the “legalese” found in so much legal writing. Most issues are decided based on the papers provided to the court, often without having an oral hearing on motions, which puts an emphasis on the quality and persuasiveness of those papers.
Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
Justin currently represents the interests of Simmons Hanly Conroy’s many governmental clients in the massive and far-reaching litigation involving the pharmaceutical industry’s improper promotion and distribution of prescription opioid medications. He is a member of the Law and Briefing Committee in MDL 2804, In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of Ohio; he was part of the trial team representing the firm’s clients in the coordinated New York state court litigation, Index No. 400000/2017, In re: Opioid Litigation, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk.
Opening statements for the New York opioid trial began in June 2021, marking the start of the first opioid case in the United States to be heard before a jury and, ultimately, the longest jury trial in the history of the New York State Supreme Court. The trial included over 800 exhibits and 9,000 filings.
Leading up to the trial’s opening arguments, several original defendants, including Johnson & Johnson and the pharmacies CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Wal-Mart, settled and were severed from the trial. Additional defendants settled for significant amounts during the seven-month trial, which concluded with a plaintiffs’ verdict in December 2021 against opioid manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries, and the distributor Anda Manufacturing.
Key results from the trial totaled more than $1.7 billion in settlements, including:
These settlements provided recoveries for Suffolk and Nassau counties, the State of New York and numerous other New York counties the firm represents.
In addition to the national opioid MDL pending in the Northern District of Ohio (MDL 2804), Justin works with the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in MDL 2996, In re: McKinsey & Co., Inc. National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of California, which seeks to hold global consulting giant McKinsey & Co. responsible for its role in helping opioid manufacturers like Purdue Pharma develop strategies to aggressively promote the use of dangerous prescription opioid medications, which contributed to the opioid epidemic that has ravaged so many communities and affected so many lives.
San Francisco Opioid Trial
In May 2022, as part of the fourth bellwether case in the federal prescription opioid litigation, Justin served on the trial team that helped secure a $230 million settlement with Walgreens for the city of San Francisco over the company’s role in the opioid epidemic, which is believed to be the largest award to a local jurisdiction against an opioid defendant nationwide.
After an 11-week liability trial, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer found Walgreens liable for contributing to the opioid epidemic and creating a public nuisance in the city. Walgreens was the last remaining defendant in the trial, after several leading opioid manufacturers and distributors had already settled for over $120 million.
Protecting Rights of Patients Injured by Hip Implants
Justin was appointed to the Law and Motions Committee in MDL 2244, In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., Pinnacle Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He was part of the trial team that obtained jury verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs in that MDL resulting from injuries caused by the “Pinnacle” metal-on-metal hip implants sold by Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, DePuy Orthopaedics:
In addition to these trials, Justin was a part of the team that handled the appeal from the Aoki trial, In re: DePuy Orthopaedic, Incorporated, Pinnacle Hip Implant Product Liability Litigation, No. 16-11051, published at 888 F.3d 753 (5th Cir. 2018). That decision from the conservative Fifth Circuit decided several important issues that were significant not only for other cases in the Pinnacle MDL, but will also impact product liability cases involving medical devices and other products in other courts:
Justin was also appointed by the Court to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in MDL 2391, In re: Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. In addition to working on behalf of all the plaintiffs in the MDL as a member of the PEC, he represented numerous individual plaintiffs, most of whom were not eligible for the global settlement that Biomet announced in 2014.
Along with the other PEC members in MDL 2391, Justin helped develop a strategy for getting cases in the MDL remanded to their home courts so they could be tried, and helped develop a “trial package” for lawyers representing other Biomet plaintiffs to use in those trials. This led to a wave of additional settlements on behalf of Biomet plaintiffs all over the country, and two trials in federal court in Iowa and Missouri where the plaintiff’s prevailed on their product liability claims. Both of those verdicts were held on appeal.
Additionally, Justin was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in MDL 3044, In re Exactech Polyethylene Orthopedic Products Liability Litigation, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. That case involves recalled hip and knee implant devices that have forced thousands of patients to undergo “revision” surgeries to replace the defective devices. He is part of the Law & Briefing Team in that litigation and is also helping prepare the first bellwether cases for trial, which are scheduled for Fall 2024 and Summer 2025.
Legal Background
Justin graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in 1990, and graduated with honors from Baylor University School of Law in 1993. He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the United States Supreme Court, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Texas, the District of Colorado, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He is board-certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is a member of the American Association for Justice, and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Representative Cases Include
BRYAN L. CLOBES is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland. After clerking on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, Mr. Clobes served as Trial Counsel to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C, where he prosecuted investment fraud cases in federal courts throughout the country. Mr. Clobes has served as lead counsel in hundreds of class cases covering all areas of the firm’s practice, recovered tens of billions of dollars for clients and class members, and is nationally recognized as an expert in all phases of class action litigation. Mr. Clobes has authored numerous briefs filed with the Supreme Court and law review and journal articles, served as a panelist for class action, consumer and antitrust programs, sustained and maintained the highest rating, AV Plus, from Martindale- Hubbell, and been named a “Super Lawyer” each year for over the past twenty years. Mr. Clobes is admitted to the bars in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and admitted to practice in many federal district and circuit courts.
Michael Moreland represents people injured by pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other products, and has done so for almost two decades. He practices in federal and state courts across the country, ranging from California to Pennsylvania and Florida, and including many of the states in between. Michael was nominated and elected to the Texas Bar Foundation as a Fellow. Michael received a rating of "AV Preeminent" from the national Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating Service.
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
Education
Representative Cases
Honors and Awards
Professional Associations and Memberships
Adam Paris is a member of S&C’s Litigation Group and has been a partner of the Firm since January 2006. Prior to joining S&C, Adam was a Law Clerk to Judge Pamela Ann Rymer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and, before that, to Chief Judge Marilyn Huff of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
Adam has more than twenty years of experience advising clients on a variety of complex business litigation matters, with particular concentration on antitrust/unfair competition matters, trade secrets litigation, mergers & acquisition litigation and securities litigation. He regularly appears in federal and state courts throughout the country, has first-chaired civil jury and bench trials and handled domestic and international arbitrations through hearings on the merits. Adam’s antitrust practice has included the defense of private class action litigation, criminal investigations by the Department of Justice, and merger clearances (including four multi-billion dollar transactions) before the Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice.
Highly regarded as one of the country’s leading litigators, Adam is regularly recognized by such authorities as Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. He has also been repeatedly named a BTI Client Service All-Star, an award which honors lawyers who have “mastered the art of superior client service.” In 2020, Adam was recognized by the National Law Journal as a “Litigation Trailblazer” for delivering successful outcomes in some of S&C’s highest-stakes antitrust and competition cases, including serving as lead trial lawyer in a crucial court battle for Pabst Blue Ribbon, which ended in a settlement favorable to his client. Adam is also a member of Law360’s Competition Editorial Advisory Board (2022).
Professional Activities and Community Involvement
Adam has an abiding commitment to pro bono legal and community services. In addition to litigating a number of pro bono matters throughout his career at S&C, Adam serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations committed to providing legal, educational and cultural services to disadvantaged and underserved communities in Los Angeles.
Adam is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Mary Liu joined AWKO in 2012. After graduating from the University of Florida in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science, Mary spent the first 13 years of her career in management consulting, executive coaching, and human resources. In 2010, Mary graduated Summa Cum Laude while earning her J.D. from the Nova Southeastern University School of Law, ranking in the top 2% of her graduating class.
Mary focuses her practice on sexual assault, social media addiction, medical device, and pharmaceutical litigation. Mary is leading AWKO’s nationwide sexual assault and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children litigations. Mary represents clients against various institutions that have perpetuated such abuse, such as churches, schools, youth groups, and detention facilities. Mary is passionate about representing victims and survivors, and giving them a strong platform to have their voices heard.
Further, Mary was Court-appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Social Media Addiction Litigation for both the Northern District of California and the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where she helps lead hundreds of lawsuits against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube.
Prior to joining AWKO, Mary served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida, representing the state in civil prosecutions of cases involving child abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Mary also founded a successful family law practice, representing clients in cases involving the dissolution of marriage and domestic partnerships, child custody and support, and grandparent visitation disputes. In addition to her extensive experience as a practicing attorney, Mary also served as an Assistant Professor of Law at Irvine University College of Law, where she taught courses in Civil Procedure and Community Property.
Mary is licensed to practice law in Florida and California. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Child USA, the national think tank for child protection. Mary is also serving as a co-chair for the American Association for Justice’s CDA Section 230 litigation group, which is dedicated to representing victims and survivors of online exploitation.
