Arnold & Porter represents pharma and medical device companies in complex litigation, including class actions, multi-district litigations (MDLs), and state-coordinated proceedings, as well as multinational disputes. The firm defends clients in product liability litigation and develops strategies to resolve entire litigation portfolios. Known for navigating complex scientific, regulatory, and technical issues, the team has secured favorable outcomes in some of the country’s most challenging jurisdictions. The practice is co-chaired by New York’s Anand Agneshwar, who represents pharma companies as national, strategic, trial, and appellate counsel; having, for example, served as co-lead counsel in Sanofi’s Zantac MDL. Anand also advises on litigation risks and the litigation and compliance impact of potential legislation. Also in New York, Arthur Brown serves as national and coordinating counsel in bet-the-company litigations. Washington DC-based Daphne O’Connor, who also co-chairs the practice, focuses on managing and trying complex scientific and medical product liability and mass tort cases. Paige Sharpe, also in DC, has extensive experience defending clients against personal injury claims in state and federal court, at both trial and appellate court levels.

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s product liability team is a trusted defender of global pharma and medical device companies, having successfully handled numerous high-stakes disputes. It has defended or ended several mass torts through resolution, dispositive preemption, Daubert hearings, and other motions. Leveraging its cross-practice expertise, the team collaborates closely with appellate, regulatory, and life science partners. Atlanta-based Christopher Campbell, co-chair of the product liability group, leads high-profile matters such as Bayer’s global Essure litigation and its phenylephrine cough-cold MDL litigation. Ilana Hope Eisenstein, chair of US litigation based in Philadelphia, specializes in complex issues, developing and managing legal strategy. In New York, Loren Brown chairs the wider US disputes practice and leads the firm’s representation of Novo Nordisk as national trial counsel in litigation related to diabetes and obesity medications Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsu. Boston-based Matthew Holian is another key figure in the practice, frequently serving as national counsel in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. ‘Client-focused’ Katie Insogna, also in Boston, is ‘outstanding at managing the intricacies of a day-to-day high-stakes mass tort’, while New York’s Lucas Przymusinski leverages his medical background to drive legal strategy. Meanwhile, Steve Huffaker, who joined the Austin office from King & Spalding LLP in September 2024, focuses on mass tort coordination and strategy, early case resolution, group settlements, litigation risk strategy, and fact and expert witness development and discovery.

Litigation boutique Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP handles major product liability, mass tort, class action, antitrust, intellectual property, and other high-stakes cases for leading pharma and medical device companies. Its lawyers are recognized not only for their experience in trying complex litigation cases but also for their deep scientific and technical expertise. The practice is led by Chicago-based Tarek Ismail, who has extensive experience as lead trial counsel in a variety of high-profile matters, including bet-the-company cases. Dallas-based Joe Tomaselli serves as national counsel for Merck in the product liability MDL regarding the Gardasil HPV vaccine; Chicago-based Shayna Cook, Rami Fakhouri, and Emma Ross are also key figures in the matter. Santa Monica’s Ken Baum leads the firm’s representation of Eli Lilly as lead science counsel in litigation concerning its GLP-1 dulaglutide and tirzepatide products. ‘Collaborative and client-focused’ Jennifer Greenblatt, based in Dallas, and Chicago’s Brian O’Donoghue are recognized for their creativity in developing trial strategies. Joining the Chicago team from Mayer Brown, Craig Woods has extensive experience organizing multidisciplinary expert teams, defending against expert testimony admissibility challenges under Daubert and Frye standards, and translating complex medical and scientific concepts into compelling litigation strategies.

Renowned for its excellence in trial work, Kirkland & Ellis LLP has vast experience handling bet-the-company litigation for generic pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies involving complex technical and scientific issues. The practice serves as primary counsel on a wide range of product liability and mass tort matters, including multi-district litigations, class actions, defect/recall investigations, and appeals. Mike Brock is a seasoned litigator based in Washington DC specializing in representing pharma and life sciences companies in product liability and mass torts. In Chicago, trial lawyer Donna Welch spearheads the firm’s representation of Gilead in multiple matters regarding its Covid-19 antiviral drug Veklury – including product liability action related to alleged manufacturing negligence and class action regarding its marketing and promotion. The team saw significant expansion in January 2025 with the addition of Allison Brown, Jessica Davidson, Geoffrey Wyatt, Nina Rose, and Christopher Cox from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Kim Bueno joined the team in May 2025 from King & Spalding LLP.

Leveraging its trial expertise, Williams & Connolly LLP consistently secures favorable settlements for major pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and medical distributors in product liability litigation. The firm’s broad practice encompasses all aspects of legal strategy, also serving as national strategic, resolution, and appellate counsel. Practice co-chair Joseph Petrosinelli, a seasoned trial lawyer with experience in civil and criminal cases across federal and state courts, plays a key role in representing clients in national and international litigations; this includes serving as co-lead and coordinating counsel for defendants in Pfizer’s Zantac multi-district litigation (MDL). Heidi Hubbard and Neelum Wadhwani have significant experience trying cases in state and federal courts, serving as lead trial counsel in multiple MDLs. Experienced in managing MDLs and coordinating proceedings in state courts, Paul Boehm currently serves as trial strategy and motions counsel for Merck in litigation concerning the Zostavax vaccination. All lawyers mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Product liability boutique Bowman and Brooke LLP represents pharma and medical device clients in individual and mass tort actions, with ongoing involvement in several multi-district litigations in federal courts and state-coordinated proceedings. The practice is led by Minneapolis-based Kim Schmid, a seasoned trial attorney who has tried multiple cases in both state and federal courts, including bellwether cases in medical device mass torts, and Texas-based first chair trial lawyer Randall Christian, who led the firm’s representation of Daiichi Sankyo as national counsel in the Injectafer litigation. Chris Carton, in the New York, New Brunswick, Philadelphia and Baltimore offices, serves as lead trial and national coordinating counsel for Patheon Manufacturing Services in the federal Zantac MDL. The team recently expanded with the addition of Joan Anderson in Charlotte from McGuireWoods LLP, who focuses on defending high-profile product manufacturers, and Baltimore-based Marisa Trasatti from Cipriani & Werner, bringing significant local and national lead counsel experience.

Dechert LLP has secured favorable outcomes for pharma and medical device clients in appellate, federal, and state courts, handling complex multi-district and state-court product liability litigations. Notably, the firm has achieved significant victories through persuasive dispositive motions, often reducing or eliminating plaintiff pools. The product liability and mass torts practice is co-chaired by Los Angeles’ Jay Bhimani, an experienced trial lawyer, including in high-stakes bellwether cases. New York-based co-chair Douglas E. Fleming III’s extensive litigation experience includes examining and preparing witnesses for deposition, Daubert hearings, and trial and legislative testimony. New York-based Mark Cheffo, who co-chairs the global litigation practice, leads complex, high-profile pharma litigations, managing all stages from negotiation, through pre-trial proceedings to trial. Cheffo has been a key figure in the firm’s representation of GlaxoSmithKline as lead national counsel in the Zantac mass tort litigation. Also in New York, special counsel Sheila L. Birnbaum has vast experience representing leading pharma companies in complex product liability and mass torts litigation.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP has extensive experience defending pharma and medical device companies in product liability and mass tort defense throughout the US and internationally. The firm is recognized for its ‘exceptional ability to manage complex cross-border litigation’ ensuring ‘seamless coordination across jurisdictions’ and developing ‘complex legal strategies’ with a ‘comprehensive understanding of both global and local legal nuances’. The practice is led by James C. Fitzpatrick and Charles Cohen, both ‘technically very astute and able quickly to master complex technical and scientific details at the level of an expert’, as  well as skilled in preparing and presenting trial witnesses. William Beausoleil  is ‘excellent at briefing and oral argument, as well as overall litigation strategy’, having led the defense of the New York Blood Center. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

King & Spalding LLP represents clients in every segment of the life sciences industry in high-stakes product liability, class action, and mass torts. Leveraging its cross-practice expertise, the team collaborates closely with appellate, regulatory, and life science lawyers. It regularly serves as national and regional coordinating counsel, and its strategic resolution team has favorably resolved large litigations. The practice is led by Atlanta’s Andy Bayman, who serves as lead counsel for Boehringer Ingelheim in litigation involving Zantac; and Houston’s Tracie Renfroe, who represents clients in federal and state civil jury trials, MDLs, and class actions. TaCara Harris, in Atlanta, chairs the firm's pharmaceutical & medical device litigation practice group. Shaila Rahman Diwan departed the team in May 2025.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as trial and national coordinating counsel to pharma and medical device companies in large-scale litigation, including MDLs. The team also advises clients on product safety recalls, regulatory inquiries, and litigation before regulatory agencies. Pittsburgh’s Wendy West Feinstein is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer, skilled in developing and executing strategies to navigate and resolve large-scale, high-profile crisis and repetitive litigation, and serving as lead trial and coordinating counsel for Philips RS in the CPAP MDL. Dallas- and Houston-based Nancy Patterson, who has deep trial experience, served as lead counsel for Teva Pharmaceuticals and affiliates in multiple matters concerning the national opioid litigation.

Morrison Foerster is active on behalf of harma and medical device companies in product liability matters, providing ‘high-level litigation strategy’, such as in mass torts and class actions, and 'efficient day-to-litigation counsel’. The team also provides regulatory compliance guidance, including advising clients on product recalls and how product liability law applies to cutting-edge products, such as those driven by AI. Co-chairing the practice from San Diego and San Francisco, seasoned litigator Erin Bosman defends clients in high-stakes mass tort cases and helps them navigate complex, company-threatening product liability crises. Notably, Bosman represented McKesson in MDL and state court proceedings related to alleged permanent hair loss after breast cancer treatment with Taxotere. A key figure in the practice, Julie Park is experienced in managing complex, multijurisdictional litigation in both state and federal courts, while also guiding clients through product recalls.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s growing practice defends global pharma and medical devices companies in product liability litigation. With dedicated teams on both coasts, the firm regularly serves as lead trial counsel in bellwether cases and as national coordinating counsel in multidistrict litigation. In South Carolina, David Dukes led the firm’s defense of Merck in the Gardasil HPV vaccine MDL. Atlanta-based Richard North is national lead for Beckton Dickinson and its subsidiaries in litigation regarding C. R. Bard’s inferior vena cava filter, currently handling cases in federal courts throughout the country. Washington DC’s Terri Reiskin brings extensive experience in class action defense and mass torts. The broader litigation group is led by South Carolina’s Mark Jones, who has acted as counsel in nationwide pharma litigation, and Minneapolis-based Alana Bassin, who has served as national and lead counsel for global medical device manufacturers in consolidated actions and mass torts.

Venable LLP is recognized for its ‘broad, deeply experienced’ pharma and medical device product liability team, with attorneys serving as lead counsel for manufacturers in federal MDLs and statewide coordinated proceedings. The team has also defended clients against international mass tort claims, while similarly representing them in nationwide consumer class actions, frequently defeating class certification in federal courts. The practice is led by Baltimore-based Kathleen Hardway – who is ‘very skilled in the scientific and medical aspects of pharmaceutical litigation, particularly offensive and defensive expert work’ – and Jason Rose, who currently serves as deputy co-national counsel to Takeda in litigation related to its proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications. 2024 saw the team expanding with the addition of three experienced litigators from Steptoe LLP – Jeremy Goldkind and Derek Smith in Chicago, and Joo Cha Webb in Los Angeles.

Jones Day handles pharma and medical device product liability matters at all stages, from pre-litigation counseling to discovery, jury trials, and appeals. Its partners are experienced in developing class action strategies, leading MDLs and state-coordinated proceedings, and serving as nationwide coordinating counsel to ensure consistency and efficiency in defense strategies. The firm leads Walmart’s defense in all aspects of the nationwide opioid litigation, managing the MDL, state court cases, Department of Justice civil litigation, and all related appeals. The product liability practice is led by Atlanta-based Stephanie Parker, recognized for her extensive experience trying and leading ‘bet-the-company’ litigation.

Mayer Brown represents in high-profile product liability defense for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. New York-based Henninger Bullock, a seasoned life sciences litigator, has great experience in disputes in state and federal courts at both trial and appellate levels. With extensive MDL experience, he defends GlaxoSmithKline against innovator liability claims. In Chicago, Daniel Ring brings experience across personal injury litigation and class actions, while frequently coordinating virtual law firm teams in complex cases and challenging jurisdictions. Co-leading the practice with Bullock and Ring, Chicago-based Michael Olsen is skilled in toxic tort and medical devices litigation.

McGuireWoods LLP’s seasoned litigators bring decades of success in defending leading companies in complex product liability and mass tort litigation. Recognized for its innovation, the team immerses itself in clients’ products, businesses, objectives, and regulatory landscapes to craft strategic defenses. The practice is co-led by Justin Howard, based in Richmond and Raleigh, with varied experience defending manufacturers and distributors in product liability claims, and Samuel Tarry, in the Tysons and Washington DC offices, who serves as lead trial and coordinating for pharma and medical devices companies in a variety of litigation. Another key team member, Richmond-based Davis Walsh, brings expertise across all phases of medical device litigation, having served in several capacities during trial.

Norton Rose Fulbright is renowned for its proficiency in pharmaceutical product liability cases and spin-off economic loss litigations. Dallas-based practice head D’Lesli Davis is vastly experienced leading high-stakes litigation in some the country’s most difficult jurisdictions; indeed, she is a key figure in the firm’s representation of Takeda as lead counsel in a national RICO economic loss putative class action arising from allegations of the company’s failure to warn of side effects, pending in Los Angeles federal court. Along with Houston’s Ellie Norris, Davis also represents McKesson Corporation in the Sartan MDL. New joiner Josh Lee arrived from Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila to co-head the litigation and disputes practice from Chicago.

With longstanding trial experience, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP is a trusted defender of pharma and medical device companies in product liability litigation. The firm handles class actions that target entire industries, serves as lead and coordinating counsel in MDLs, and represents clients in bellwether trials and precedent-setting cases. Beyond its trial expertise, the firm’s lawyers employ strategic discovery, pretrial motions and alternative dispute resolution to secure favorable outcomes, supported by in-house research analysts. Both leading trial lawyers with cross-jurisdictional experience, Miami-based Hildy Sastre and William Geraghty co-chair the practice. The team saw significant expansion in 2024, with Steven Weisburd joining the Houston team from Carlton Fields, Alycia Degen arriving in the Los Angeles office from Sidley Austin LLP, and Boston’s Lisa Oliver White arriving from Murphy & Riley.

Boasting a team of litigators with ‘deep industry expertise’, Sidley Austin LLP is active in national mass tort litigation, strategic planning and handling of MDLs, and success in high-stakes trials withing the most challenging jurisdictions. Its ‘skilled and knowledgeable’ partners also offer pre-litigation counseling and conduct risk assessments during product development, proactively addressing potential challenges before they escalate into litigation. The practice is led by New York’s Heidi Levine, ‘an experienced lead lawyer’, and ‘talented and tenacious’ Jennifer Saulino, based in Washington DC. Chicago’s Michelle Ramirez is a trial lawyer and litigation strategist ‘with extensive subject matter expertise’.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a trusted defender of pharma companies in product-related litigation, with extensive experience serving as lead counsel in product liability, class actions, and mass tort cases, often acting as national coordinating counsel. Diane Sullivan, who splits her time between New Jersey and New York, is a seasoned trial lawyer known for handling ‘bet-the-company’ cases in jurisdictions across the US, having defended GlaxoSmithKline in individual plaintiff product liability jury trials related to the Zantac prescription drug. Silicon Valley-based David Singh’s broad experience includes representing a major pharma and healthcare company in Lanham Act false advertising consumer class actions.