The Legal 500

Within Product liability and mass tort defense: automotive/transport , Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP is a second tier firm,

Denver-based Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP is a single-office civil litigation firm that serves as national and regional counsel to a number of big-name clients across various industries. In the automotive space, the group advises automobile manufacturers, tire companies and rail operators, and clients describe the team’s high quality, responsiveness and good value. The practice has served as national trial and appellate counsel for product liability litigation for Ford, Kubota Tractor, Nissan and Toyota. Recent highlights include obtaining a favorable settlement in Colorado for a California-based manufacturer of industrial automotive equipment. In the case of Morgan v Ford, a rollover crash case in which shattered glass caused serious injury, the firm won summary judgement for Ford when the Supreme Court of West Virginia dismissed an appeal on a federal preemption precedent. Founding partner Malcolm Wheeler is ‘a leader in this area’ and ‘very well reputed’. Also recommended are fellow founder John Trigg, managing partner Hugh Gottschalk, Edward Stewart and Michael Williams.

Within Product liability and mass tort defense: consumer products (including tobacco), Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP is a third tier firm,

The attorneys at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP are ‘leaders in class action defense’ and are ‘a cut above when it comes to product liability litigation’. The one-office Denver firm represents good value for clients and has grown steadily from a civil litigation boutique to a fuller-service model that is attracting and expanding its work for major clients. Clients include Crocs, for which it is national counsel relating to its footwear, and Sears, which has hired the firm as regional trial counsel for class action and product liability litigation. The firm is also national trial counsel for Whirlpool, and recently acted for the company in a putative nationwide class action involving top-loading washing machines wherein the US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed all claims against the client. The firm also acts for PepsiCo on a regional basis. Malcolm Wheeler is ‘a Renaissance man in the law who has no equals – he fully understands business and what businesses need’. Michael Williams is ‘a brilliant legal mind and a great trial strategist’. John Trigg and Michael O’Donnell are also thoroughly recommended.

Within Product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP is a third tier firm,

Denver-based Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP undertakes ‘a lot of high-quality work in the pharmaceuticals arena’ as part of its wider product liability practice. In 2010, the firm was added to Pfizer’s Legal Alliance, a select group of firms that handle the company’s product liability litigation. Part of its remit has been acting as national trial counsel for cases relating to Zoloft and Neurontin. Other recent work includes representing Advanced Bionics in litigation relating to cochlear implants, and GE Healthcare in relation to gadolinium-based contrast agents. The group also has regional roles for Abbott Laboratories and for Merck & Co in the Vioxx litigation. Malcolm Wheeler is an ‘excellent lawyer’, with James Hooper, Michael O’Donnell and Craig May also recommended.