Primarily driven from its East Coast offices but comfortable handling cases throughout the US, Arnold & Porter has a national product liability practice, which has secured favorable results for clients when defending personal injury, property and economic damage claims arising from alleged defective products. Smoking-related cases remain a mainstay of the practice, and following on from the firm’s historical work for Philip Morris on tobacco cases, a team, led by Daphne O’Connor and John Massaro, is acting as national counsel for Altria in the defense of private actions (consolidated in several MDLs) and Attorney General lawsuits alleging damage caused by vaping products manufactured by Juul Labs. The team’s litigation capabilities have also recently been enhanced by the arrival of a six-strong litigation group, including experienced trial and appellate lawyer Frank Cruz-Alvarez from Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, who all have strong product liability expertise. Clients also benefit from deep risk management and pre-litigation prowess, with Eric Rubel noted for his experience helping companies assess their compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations, as well as handling subsequent product recalls and defending CPSC penalty investigations. Other recommended practitioners include Michelle Gillice, who also excels in CPSC-related work; New York-based Lori Leskin, who is adept at devising effective strategies for manufacturers of consumer products in complex litigation; and New York-based Anand Agneshwar, who co-heads the overarching product liability litigation group alongside O’Connor. All named practitioners are based in Washington DC, unless otherwise indicated.

With attorneys possessing core product liability expertise spread across the length and breadth of the country, including many first and second chair trial lawyers, Jones Day has strength-in-depth to handle a varied range and volume of cases involving a variety of product defects. Atlanta-based team head Stephanie Parker has deep product liability and mass tort expertise and is currently acting for core client RJ Reynolds in smoking-and-health litigation across the country. She oversees the firm’s nationwide strategy for the tobacco giant, which has recently secured notable jury victories in high-profile matters, including in ‘Engle progeny’ lawsuits in Florida state courts. The firm has also been at the forefront of the opioid litigation and continues to defend Walmart against novel claims based on public nuisance and RICO, among others. Chicago-based first chair trial lawyer José Isasi has been key to the firm’s successes in numerous tobacco-related jury trials, although his subject matter expertise extends to other product liability-related matters across the consumer space, as well as the pharmaceuticals and medical devices arenas. Other recommended practitioners include Los Angeles-based Celeste Brecht, who has consistently achieved success in jury trials; Atlanta-based trial lawyer John Walker, who has been extensively involved in RJ Reynolds defense work; and New York-based Theodore Grossman, who is highly regarded for bet-the-company litigation.

With product liability litigators spread throughout the country, including many with first chair trial experience, King & Spalding LLP has developed a market-leading reputation for its effective representation of numerous leading brands facing high-stakes, bet-the-company litigation. Under the overarching guidance of Miami-based Ursula Henninger and Charlotte-based Cory Hohnbaum, the team continues to represent RJ Reynolds in tobacco litigation, securing a raft of favorable jury verdicts relating to 'Engle progeny' wrongful-death cases. Led out of Atlanta by Geoffrey Drake, the firm is also acting as national co-counsel to TikTok, one of the defendants, in connection with several hundred high-profile lawsuits that allege harm to underaged users of social media. Work within the food and beverages sector is also a key strength, particularly on the West Coast, with Los Angeles-based attorneys Keri Borders and Dale Giali regularly defending clients in consumer product false advertising matters. In New York, John Hooper employs ‘sound strategies to manage product liability and mass tort litigation’, including matters within the consumer product field. Bruce Hurley in Houston and Shaila Rahman Diwan in New York co-lead the overarching trial and global disputes team, alongside Henninger.

Drawing upon ‘outstanding knowledge’ and deep strategic intuition developed over many years handling high-profile product liability cases, Latham & Watkins LLP provides a ‘first-class client service’ to many leading consumer product manufacturers. Under the expert guidance of ‘master strategist’ Kenneth Parsigian and ‘dogged advocate’ Christine Rolph, the team is particularly noted for acting for Philip Morris in the ongoing defense of various cases brought against the tobacco giant by governments and insurers for healthcare recoupment costs. Boston-based team head Gwyn Williams has deep knowledge of state and federal consumer protection statutes, and regularly handles consumer class actions involving a wide variety of consumer products. Kegan Brown joined Lowenstein Sandler LLP in January 2024.

Led from San Diego by the ‘outstanding’ Erin Bosman following David Fioccola‘s departure for Proskauer Rose LLP in October 2023, Morrison Foerster‘s class action and mass tort group provides ‘business-oriented’ advice to established entities and growth companies on issues throughout the litigation continuum, from risk management advice and product recalls through to motion pleadings, settlement negotiations and representation at trial stage. The firm has deep roots in Silicon Valley and is regularly engaged in product liability mandates for manufacturers of hi-tech products. Bosman has noted expertise in the AI field, and is increasingly advising on product liability litigation involving AI elements. With a focus on the life sciences space, San Diego-based Julie Park‘s work extends to consumer products, where she is praised for her ability to ‘bring a human-centered approach’ to work, spanning product safety compliance and litigation. San Francisco-based William Tarantino is a key member of the team, particularly in light of his CPSC prowess, as is Purvi Patel in Los Angeles, who handles disputes for consumer-facing businesses, including privacy-related class actions brought against social media, e-commerce and tech apps.

Leveraging a wide range of product liability experts spread throughout the firm’s extensive national network of offices, DLA Piper LLP (US) handles a significant range and volume of large-scale disputes involving a variety of consumer products. The group is noted for its one-stop-shop service to clients, which covers regulatory issues, government investigations and private litigation. The team is currently acting for Danone as one of the defendants in the heavy metals baby food litigation, including handling FDA interactions, a congressional investigation and putative class action and product liability suits filed throughout the US. New York and Los Angeles-based practitioners Loren Brown and Angela Agrusa lead on the civil litigation, recently obtaining an excellent victory before a California state judge. New York-based Colleen Gulliver is also involved in large-scale consumer class actions, including as it relates to alleged false advertising. Atlanta-based Christopher Campbell co-heads the mass tort and class action group alongside Agrusa.

Drawing upon a ‘deep roster of capable attorneys’, Greenberg Traurig LLP is well-positioned to represent manufacturers of a range of consumer products in big-ticket class actions and mass torts. Chicago-based Gretchen Miller has wide-ranging expertise in the product liability space, with work spanning risk management issues, CPSC interactions and large-scale litigation, where she is able to ‘deftly handle the complexities of multi district litigation’. ‘Fantastic’ Chicago-based attorney Francis Citera, who co-leads the product liability and mass tort practice along with Miller, is ‘an excellent legal strategist’. Robert Herrington and Stephen Saxl, based in Los Angeles and New York respectively, are also key to the firm’s success at handling class action cases, with Herrington regularly representing Samsung in false advertising and product defect claims involving consumer electronics and home appliances. Los Angeles-based Michael McCarthy is also recommended and regularly represents clients in the consumer electronics, retail, e-commerce, home appliance, transportation and homebuilding industries in consumer class action litigation.

Co-led from New York by Gregory Loss and Benjamin Rubenstein, Herbert Smith Freehills advises manufacturers of a wide range of consumer products on issues throughout the litigation continuum. The team has also gained acclaim for handling international product liability matters, working well with local counsel to achieve favorable outcomes for clients. This is best exemplified by the work that both Loss and Rubenstein continue to handle for British American Tobacco, with both practitioners providing strategic advice regarding healthcare recoupment lawsuits, as well as other smoking-related matters in a range of countries, including South Korea, Canada and Brazil. Joseph Falcone also excels at handling cross-border product liability litigation, as does senior associate Maxwell Herman, who also has niche expertise in ESG litigation.

Recognized as being the ‘epitome of creative lawyering’, Kirkland & Ellis LLP's practice is centered around its Chicago and Washington DC offices, and is particularly noted for its trial skills, regularly acting in bellwether trials and dispositive motions. Renee Smith is ‘superb at trying cases across a range of products’, regularly prevailing in jury trials and multiple federal MDLs. Robert Ellis is a ‘top-notch litigator’ who regularly defends high-profile companies in complex consumer fraud and product liability class actions. Washington DC-based Mike Brock has vast experience in product liability cases and is a key member of the team, which also includes Mark Filip, who splits his time between Chicago and Washington DC and excels in handling matters involving governmental investigations or enforcement issues.

With litigators based on the East and West coasts and in the Midwest who have handled high-profile product liability class actions and mass torts, Mayer Brown is a popular choice among leading manufacturers across a range of consumer products for high-stakes disputes. The group often acts as national, strategic or settlement counsel on MDLs, and has notable procedural and substantive law expertise. The firm is also well placed to handle cases which leverage its white-collar crime and government investigations expertise to good effect. Based in Chicago, Michael Olsen is a well-regarded trial lawyer, who continues to lead on many high-profile product liability matters across a range of industries; he is notably involved in the asbestos litigation and American football concussion litigation. The firm also excels at handling appellate work; ‘whip smart, analytical, and quick on her feet’, Washington DC-based Nicole Saharsky is a key contact in this regard, regularly handling federal and state appeals and trial-level motions. Henninger Bullock and Daniel Ring, based in New York and Chicago respectively, co-lead the team alongside Olsen. Los Angeles-based John Nadolenco, who excels in handling consumer class actions in the technology and automotive spaces, is also recommended.

Product liability work accounts for a significant volume of dispute resolution-focused firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP‘s docket of work, with the firm excelling in representing manufacturers across a range of consumer products. Many of the cases are high-profile class actions and MDLs, with the firm often securing national and regional leadership roles. William Geraghty has exceptional advocacy skills and has tried cases in state and federal courts involving a range of consumer products, including tobacco. As a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Kenneth Reilly has been heavily involved in defending the tobacco industry in class actions, while Kansas City-based Katie Gates Calderon, who excels in product liability litigation, also has deep regulatory expertise within the food and beverages space, regularly counseling clients on FDA and USDA compliance. Hildy Sastre co-heads the product liability team alongside Geraghty and Gates Calderon and is noted for her trial skills in particular. All named practitioners are based in Miami unless otherwise noted.

‘Creative and innovative in approach’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP blends deep subject matter knowledge with exceptional strategic litigation prowess, and is a popular choice for leading consumer brands to handle large-scale product liability actions. As a ‘very effective litigator’, group co-head Diane Sullivan is regularly involved in bet-the-company litigation and has recently worked alongside the firm’s insolvency team to advise clients on exposure to potential tort and product liability claims through the so-called 'Texas Two-Step' bankruptcy legal maneuver. Recognized as a ‘good problem solver’, Theodore Tsekerides has also been involved in high-profile bankruptcy proceedings emanating from product liability claims, and worked with Sullivan in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings of J&J’s talc supplier, Imerys Talc America, which involved indemnity claims relating to talc claims liability. Washington DC-based individual Arianna Scavetti has gained a strong reputation advising manufacturers, including those within the food and beverages space, on consumer protection class actions brought by plaintiffs alleging false or misleading product labeling and marketing. Silicon Valley-based partner David Singh co-heads the product liability and mass tort group alongside Sullivan and regularly handles class actions including the defense of clients against allegations of false and deceptive advertising.

Washington DC-based litigation heavyweight Williams & Connolly LLP has an excellent pedigree for handling a wide variety of product liability and mass tort litigation, acting for manufacturers and retailers across a range of consumer product types. The team is ‘adept at managing complex product liability litigation that has joint defense groups’, including large-scale MDLs and class actions. The firm is best-known for its trial-ready capabilities and boasts an impressive cadre of first and second chair trial lawyers. The ‘exceptionally smart and sharp’ Joseph Petrosinelli has excellent credentials for handling civil and criminal cases in federal and state court, and has secured notable high-profile victories in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices space. Notably, he is currently defending Gerber Products Company as co-defendant in high-profile litigation brought by plaintiffs alleging that high levels of heavy metals in baby food products causes childhood autism and ADHD. Heidi Hubbard is also noted for her strong trial skills and co-heads the product liability team alongside Petrosinelli. Thanks to the expertise of David Forkner, the firm also has a strong presence advising clients in the food, beverages and pet sectors on litigation, regulatory and risk management work, including in relation to class actions regarding alleged deceptive and fraudulent marketing and labeling.

Drawing upon the expertise of lawyers across the US with significant product liability expertise and also leveraging the firm’s overarching litigation pedigree, Winston & Strawn LLP is well-positioned to defend leading manufacturers and brands against high-profile consumer class action and product liability claims in the tobacco, oil and gas, and food and beverage sectors. Vastly experienced Chicago-based duo George Lombardi and Dan Webb are recognized for their versatility, with Lombardi having a particularly strong track record across product liability matters. In Miami, David Coulson has a formidable reputation for defending clients against consumer class actions, including claims in the food and beverages space. In Chicago, the ‘excellent’ Christopher Essig is noted for his ‘collegiate approach’ and is increasingly involved in cases brought against major consumer product companies. San Francisco-based Sandra Edwards chairs the product liability practice, which also includes Washington DC-based John Rosenthal, who is ‘one of the foremost thought leaders in e-discovery’, and Stephanie Clouston, who joined the firm’s Dallas office in June 2023 from Alston & Bird LLP; she is noted for her broad litigation practice.

Product liability and consumer class action work are core areas of focus for litigation firm Bowman and Brooke LLP. Alongside its market-leading reputation advising leading auto manufacturers, the firm regularly acts for consumer product entities in class action and mass tort defense work. Phoenix-based firm chair Paul Cereghini has excellent credentials in the courtroom, where he is particularly skilled at explaining often complex scientific and technological concepts to a jury. Cereghini’s impressive track record has seen him successful in bellwether cases within the auto space as well as claims involving a myriad of other products; he is currently leading the firm’s efforts for sports equipment company Riddell, Inc., which is a defendant in the highly publicized concussion litigation relating to American football helmets. Also based in Phoenix, Amanda Heitz has strong product litigation credentials, both at a trial and appellate level. Jeffrey Warren and Tori Levine jointly lead the firm’s consumer product practice group from Phoenix and Dallas, respectively, with Levine particularly noted for her work within the vaping and e-cigarette field.

Led from Washington DC by ‘absolute rock star’ Matt Howsare, and also able to draw upon ‘incredibly talented attorneys’ in other nationwide offices, Cooley LLP‘s product safety group advises consumer product manufacturers on all aspects of the product life cycle, particularly in a regulatory and risk management context. Much of the firm’s success in this area can be attributed to Howsare, who ‘understands the politics and personalities of the CPSC at the most granular level’. Drawing upon the firm’s overarching technology sector expertise, the team, as well as handling work for established entities including Google, is also very adept at guiding fast-growing early stage companies. The firm is also able to draw upon broader litigation capabilities to handle disputes stemming from product recalls as well as enforcement actions brought by the CPSC. Lauded for his ‘excellent grasp of strategy’ , Washington DC-based Shawn Skolky is also a key member of the team, regularly acting alongside Howsare.

With a deep bench of product liability lawyers based out of the firm’s East and West Coast offices, Dechert LLP has strength in depth to handle large-scale MDLs and class actions centered around a range of consumer product defects; pharmaceutical products and medical devices remain the firm’s primary strength. Los Angeles-based litigator Jay Bhimani has significant courtroom experience in the field, and is acting in the bellwether jury trials for 3M regarding the combat arms earplugs product liability MDL. New York-based practitioner Sheila L. Birnbaum is also very effective at handling life sciences and pharmaceuticals cases in particular, and co-heads the overarching product liability team alongside Bhimani. Kimberly Branscome departed to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in February 2024.

Drawing upon litigators based in Boston, California, New York and Washington DC, Goodwin has a strong track record of representing clients in the tech and life sciences sectors facing product liability and mass tort litigation across the US. New York-based Joanne Gray is particularly effective at representing clients in heavily regulated industries, where her work encompasses litigation, regulatory compliance advice and risk management counseling. She is particularly acclaimed for her work in the food, beverages and dietary supplements arenas, regularly representing clients, including Herbalife, in product liability cases in federal and state courts. Boston-based team head Richard Oetheimer has extensive experience in defending product liability and mass tort claims brought against manufacturers of prescription drugs, medical devices, chemical substances, foods and dietary supplements, cosmetics and consumer products.

Combining ‘deep experience and knowledge of the law’ with a granular knowledge of the underlying subject matter, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP regularly handles high-profile product liability matters, particularly in highly-regulated industries. As well as forging a strong national and international reputation for highly technical and scientific pharmaceutical cases, the team has also gained significant exposure to work in the tobacco space. From Kansas City, James Berger serves as national counsel to RJ Reynolds in the defense of cases concerning exposure to asbestos in cigarette filter material. Also in Kansas City, David Woods is well versed in regulatory issues and litigation affecting tobacco and e-cigarette companies, including acting as trial counsel in Engel Progeny cases in Florida. New York-based lawyers Robb Patryk and James C. Fitzpatrick co-head the product liability team, with both excelling at handling scientifically complex domestic and international pharmaceutical and medical devices matters.

With a nationwide presence that was recently enhanced by the recruitment of a team from Bowman and Brooke LLP, including new offices in Dallas and San Diego, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is increasingly well-positioned to handle cases across the US. ‘Taking the time to truly understand a product from inception to alleged failure’, the team, which is led by Mark Jones and Alana Bassin from South Carolina and Minneapolis respectively, is adept at handling work throughout the litigation continuum, often working across offices, ensuring clients receive a ‘responsive, business-savvy and cost-effective’ service. Alongside its acclaimed work for auto manufacturers, the firm has gained a particularly strong reputation for advising on asbestos-related matters for talc manufacturers, an area in which Baltimore-based trial lawyer Mike Brown is noted. Virginia-based Sandra Ezell, who was one of the new arrivals from Bowman and Brooke LLP, is praised for her ‘outstanding judgment on every aspect of a case’, including product liability matters, acting for manufacturers of consumer electronics products.

Primarily based in the firm's New York and Washington DC offices, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's practice is accomplished at defending consumer products manufacturers, including those within the pharmaceuticals space, in large-scale mass tort and class actions alleging product liability infractions. The firm is also a key contact for MDLs, often assuming the role as national counsel. The team has continues to represent the Product Liability Advisory Council and the US Chamber of Commerce as amici in appeals involving important class action principles. New York-based Allison Brown has a key reputation in relation to both consumer class actions and product liability matters, and has gained notable dispositive motion victories (including Daubert hearings), as well as at final trial stage, including within the pharmaceuticals space. Washington DC-based team head John Beisner is also recommended.

With a team of ‘excellent trial lawyers and smart strategists’, Washington DC-based litigation boutique Wilkinson Stekloff has rapidly gained a strong reputation within the product liability field, frequently handling high-profile trials. With noted experience in the pharmaceuticals and toxic tort arenas, the firm is also adept at handling work for manufacturers of consumer products, including within the tobacco space. Name partner Brian Stekloff is ‘a smart, efficient subject matter expert and a great trial lawyer’, and regularly represents clients in high-profile matters; he recently acted for Altria in a bellwether trial brought by the San Francisco Unified School District alleging that it had engaged in a RICO conspiracy and created a public nuisance by hooking minors on Juul vaping products. As ‘one of the top trial lawyers in the country’, Beth Wilkinson was also engaged in the matter, one of many high-profile consumer class action and product liability trials she has recently handled. Managing partner James Rosenthal is also a key member of the team and has particularly strong insight into tobacco cases.

Primarily located in Washington DC, Crowell & Moring LLP‘s practice is adept at representing consumer product manufacturers throughout the product life cycle, handling issues ranging from risk management strategies and product safety regulatory issues through to class action litigation. Drawing on deep insight gained from her former role as General Counsel at the CPSC, the ‘fantastic’ Cheri Falvey is pivotal to the firm’s success on the product safety regulatory front (including reporting obligations), and is often involved in subsequent product liability litigation brought by the regulator and civil class actions. First-chair trial lawyers Andrew Kaplan and Daniel Campbell co-head the mass tort, product liability, and consumer litigation group; both have considerable experience in jury trials relating to alleged defects in consumer products, including those involving misleading product labeling and advertising claims.

Drawing on the expertise of a deep bench of litigators, including many with significant product liability and consumer class action prowess, Dentons is well placed to assist consumer product manufacturers with all aspects of their business, from ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and managing product recalls through to evaluating litigation risks and defending against lawsuits. In San Diego, the ‘fantastic’ Sarah Carlson heads up the firm’s consumer product safety and advertising regulatory compliance offering, regularly going ‘the extra mile’ to acts for manufacturers, distributors and retailers of consumer products in litigation and regulatory matters involving the CPSC and consumer product safety laws. Based out of New York, team head Sandy Hauser has broad litigation experience in trial and appellate courts, including handling a notable volume of consumer fraud and false advertising claims. In Los Angeles, Michael Duvall is also recommended as a result of his defense work for clients from the food and beverage, diet and nutrition, and personal care and beauty product industries in relation to product labeling, false advertising and so-called 'greenwashing' class actions.

Led from Virginia by Justin Howard and Samuel Tarry, McGuireWoods LLP handles single plaintiff, mass tort, and class action product liability actions brought against a range of consumer product manufacturers including brands within the auto, electronic devices, and food and beverage spaces. The scope of the firm’s work runs the gamut from risk management counselling and product recall matters, through to notable litigation brought in state and federal courts relating to alleged product defects, as well as other broader consumer protection infractions.

Co-led from Washington DC and Boston respectively by Thomas Locke and Joseph Orzano, and aided by litigators in other core offices in the Midwest and on the West coast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides a notable service to consumer product manufacturers including those within the cosmetics space, defending against product lawsuits throughout the US. The firm is adept at fending off putative class actions, including through a demonstration of lack of personal jurisdiction and through class certification denial, as well as providing advice on risk management strategies to prevent future litigation. Kristine Argentine heads up the consumer class action group from Chicago and is accomplished at defending companies across a range of consumer issues, including as it relates to the TCPA, consumer fraud and false advertising.