Arnold & Porter acts  for industry leading clients, having litigated in different jurisdictions and serving as national counsel on high stakes toxic tort litigations. The firm represents a broad range of businesses with their operations involving chemicals and contaminating materials including chromium, arsenic, lead PCBs and uranium. Co-Managing partner Michael Daneker  serves as primary defense counsel in class action and mass joinder toxic tort lawsuits across the US, as well as personal injury and property damage actions. William Hoffman has served as national counsel to Bayer for the ongoing litigation involving the legacy Monsanto product Round Up, and Elissa Preheim has been involved in suits related to former manufacturing sites and industrial landfill. Lauren Daniel has been involved in high-profile environmental matters and has experience in litigating under all major federal environmental statutes.

 

Specializing in environmental matters, DLA Piper LLP (US) advises clients on PFA contamination matters matters, as well as seeing an increase in activity from issues including contaminants, benzene, heavy metals, microplastics and climate change generating high-profile litigation. In Dallas, Lyn Pruitt is experienced in defending leading pharmaceutical and medical device clients in trials in multidistrict litigation, as well as representing Fortune 500 companies in consumer class actions and toxic tort matters. Situated in Baltimore, John Wellschlager covers a vast portfolio within litigation ranging from bet the company matters to internal investigations and reviews for health insurance and pharma clients including FDA compliance, and San Francisco based Adam Paul Baas focuses on counseling a broad range of clients in the oil and gas, chemical and pharma industries in environmental and toxic tort matters. In Los Angeles, trial lawyer Jayme Long  is noted for her deep expertise in defending companies in litigation owing to her understanding and experience in science and medicine. Steve Huffaker joined from King & Spalding LLP in September 2024.

Jones Day covers a full spectrum of toxic tort services covering environmental litigation in air emissions and climate change, to workplace issues such as birth defects and worker injuries, to representing clients in mass actions regarding personal injury and property damage. In Atlanta, Stephanie Parker co-leads the business and tort litigation practice and is active in representing pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers, as well as in thought leadership on product liability matters. Situated in New York, Sharyl Reisman specializes in defending and trying toxic tort matters, especially in cases involving health effect allegations, and Rebekah Blake is experienced in pharma and life sciences litigation. Theodore Grossman and Katrina Caseldine are key names.

With backgrounds in engineering and chemistry, the team at King & Spalding LLP acts across a full spectrum of litigation involving product liability, mass tort and cases involving alleged toxic chemicals including ethylene oxide, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and asbestos. Additionally, the practice is skilled in handling bet-the-company litigation involving environmental issues ranging from emissions, to groundwater and wastewater as well as toxic chemicals and wetlands. Based in San Francisco, Matthew Blaschke  focuses on litigation involving scientific and technical issues, and has represented clients in the energy, pharma and chemical industry.  Situated in Houston, Tracie Renfroe  is experienced in groundwater and drinking water contamination from chlorinated solvents, oilfield materials and PCBs, and Elizabeth Taber, also in Houston, represents oilfield services clients in high-stakes environmental litigation.

Latham & Watkins LLP is active in high profile product liability and mass tort mandates, having advised clients in the energy and natural resources sector in matters relating to risk management and defense of nationwide litigation. Chicago-based managing partner Mary Rose Alexander is skilled in representing clients in commercial litigation and trials involving toxic torts, environmental matters and industrial accidents, and is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, having representing Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation in multiple jurisdictions across the US. Situated in New York, Gary Gengel  is a key name.

Leveraging its geographic capabilities and recognized nationally for its expertise in product liability and mass tort matters, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP services clients engaged in the energy and manufacturing sectors in asbestos, chemical, and environmental exposure cases. The firm fields a specialized team including the original thought leaders behind asbestos related bodily injury and property damage litigation. Members, including Philadelphia based Harvey Bartle serve as trial and national coordinating counsel to pharmaceutical and medical device companies in high-profile litigation, as well as acting as lead counsel on mass multi-defendant toxic tort cases. Situated in New York, co-practice leader for legacy liability litigation Jill Berry acts as a trusted advisor to clients on product safety recalls, regulatory inquiries and litigation before regulatory agencies, while Brady Edwards, in Houston focuses on the defense of serial and mass tort litigation, as well as designing and implementing coordinated national defense strategies for companies involved in asbestos and talc litigation. In Pittsburgh, deputy leader of the products, torts and environmental litigation team Wendy West Feinstein represents companies in high profile product liability multidistrict litigation, and Washington DC-based co-leader of the firm’s premiere asbestos litigation practice Nagwa Hultquist specializes in wrongful death and personal injury litigation in state and federal court.

With teams spread across the East and West Coast, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP continues to be engaged in market-defining litigation proceedings often defending matters related to climate change, toxic poisoning, drugs and exposure. In bet-the company litigation, Los Angeles based co-head William Oxley , and New York based Peter Bicks has successfully resolved talc related matters for high profile clients, while James Stengel, also in New York, represents clients in large multi-party class action litigation including actions involving the chemical, building products and medical device industries. Meghan Rohling Kelly co-leads the practice and is a trial lawyer involved in matters across the country. Anne Malik, in Washington DC, focuses on mass torts and product liability, including defending companies in a range of industries against tort suits, as well as advising clients on strategies for solving key state legislative issues.

Baker Botts L.L.P. continues to advise global corporations in a wide variety of services related to class action, product liability and toxic tort litigation, with specialisms in defending tort and nuisance litigation claims arising from a full range of environmental events, claimed exposure to a large variety of alleged toxins and residential contamination of dwellings and neighborhoods. Heading the Houston office, Russell Lewis has litigated for a variety of clients dealing with government investigations and environmental matters, while Benjamin Gonsoulin , also in Houston, covers the full spectrum of defense with regards to tort and nuisance litigation. Gonsoulin is also noted for his assistance provided to energy based clients in crisis responses for major environmental incidents including leaks, spills and explosions. Washington DC-based Joshua Frank handles environmental litigation matters under environmental statutes and regulatory program including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Houston based Kevin Jacobs’ energy space practice covers renewables, power, mid-stream and downstream disputes before courts and regulatory bodies. With prior experience working as a trial lawyer for the environmental department of the Department of Justice, Kent Mayo, who is situated in Washington DC, represents clients in compliance and enforcement matters related to statutes including the Clean Air Act.

Dechert LLP fields a dedicated team of product liability and mass tort specialists that have achieved success before the appellate, federal and state courts in multi-district and state-court litigations for clients in the chemicals, manufacturing and life sciences sectors. Mark S. Cheffo is experienced in serving as national coordinating and trial counsel in product liability, as well as in toxic and environmental exposure suits. Douglas E. Fleming III represents clients in numerous industries including the chemical, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, with his expertise covering both trail and appellate levels throughout the United States. Hayden Coleman  is experienced in litigating federal and state multidistrict litigation, class actions and government actions In Los Angeles, Jay Bhimani has served as trial counsel in a range of federal multi-district litigation. Marina Schwarz and Los Angeles situated Allie Ozurovich are key names.

Spearheaded by seasoned trial lawyer David Weinstein in Tampa, Greenberg Traurig LLP represents clients in mass torts, class actions and multi-district litigation in matters involving alleged soil, water and air pollution, as well as regulatory enforcement actions. Christopher Torres , also in Tampa, is experienced in toxic tort defense, aggregate litigation and environmental litigation for clients including international chemical companies and industrial clients, while Houston based Christopher L Bell covers legislative and regulatory advocacy under all major environmental, health, safety and natural resource laws. Situated in Minneapolis, Libretta Stennes is noted for her expertise in litigating high profile toxic tort matters including involvement in shaping trends in class actions and emerging contaminants, and David G. Mandelbaum , in Philadelphia, is respected for his representation of clients in light of environmental regulations and lawsuits involving water rights and waste management. Alexandra Lizana joined the firm from Downey Brand LLP in April 2024.

With a track record in product liability litigation and mass tort matters including multidistrict litigations and class actions, Kirkland & Ellis LLP is experienced in a full range of disputes and litigation, including bet-the-company disputes for pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies, as well as product liability and mass tort cases in state wide and nation wide matters. Lawyers, such as Chicago-based Lisa Madigan , are experienced in working with and litigating against state attorney generals, and Renee Smith, also in Chicago represents clients in high profile products liability, class action and commercial litigation matters. Also in Chicago, trial lawyer Donna Welch covers a broad practice including public nuisance claims, breach of fiduciary duty and pharmaceutical litigation, and also includes plaintiff side litigation. In Washington DC, Jennifer Levy  and Mike Brock are notable for their litigation coverage, with Levy focusing on mass torts, class actions, MDLs and consumer protection actions while Brock is recognized for his handling of bet the business litigation. Kristen Fournier joined the team in May 2025.

With an experienced team representing clients in high stakes, expansive and high profile product liability and expansive tort liability, Mayer Brown is often retained as national and trial counsel in matters ranging from natural-resource damages and punitive damages related to chemicals. The firm has been on the forefront of major lawsuits involving chemicals and natural resource damages related to PFAS, with Michael Olsen  continuing to represent clients in asbestos litigation and litigation relating to alleged lead contamination. Daniel Ring co-leads the practice and has played a major role in handling matters related to PFAS litigation, including as a member of the defense coordinating committee in the AFFF MDL, while Gina Aiello is an experienced trial lawyer in asbestos litigation. Priya Desai utilizes her knowledge with scientific issues in matters involving products liability and environmental contamination. All lawyers mentioned are based in Chicago.

Noted for its strengths in product liability matters, as well as toxic tort and environmental litigation, McDermott Will & Emery LLP is active in a wide variety of claims ranging from large-scale aggregated litigation in federal and state courts, to litigation within the agrichemical and life sciences sectors. In product liability claims, New York-based James Pardo is sought after for his expertise in claims involving a range of environmental concerns including hazardous waste regulations and clean air laws.  Anthony Upshaw , in Miami and Washington DC, leads the practice group and is a key name, having found success in product liability defenses, class actions and mass torts.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP‘s national practice is experienced in litigating product liability and toxic tort matters state-wide, with the firm benefitting from its ability to serve as both national coordinating counsel and as trial counsel in bellwether cases. Situated in Baltimore, Mike Brown is an active first-chair product liability trial counsel within bellwether cases in toxic tort and product liability matters across the US, while Columbia-based David Dukes  is currently managing the numerous matters that have opened with regards to the firefighting foam ‘MDL’ for Tyco FireProducts and Chemguard. In Charleston, Mark Phillips  is active in asbestos litigation, and Washington DC-based John Kalas is defending Bayer Corporation in cases concerning the Roundup weedkiller. Keith Ameele, Peter Mularczyk, Erika Muse and Madelyn Iulo all joined the firm in May 2024.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on the full gamut of toxic tort matters, including involvement in nation wide litigation concerning issues varying from groundwater contamination to latent disease. The team has been active in high profile matters including representing Vulcan in single plaintiff cases alleging neurological injuries from chronic exposure to legacy dry cleaning chemicals including perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene. Co-head of the practice Brett Young  specializes in defending clients in matters involving catastrophic events and in advising clients who face repeat litigation, as well as having first and second chair trial experience. Devin Wagner is experienced in representing national and multinational companies in the oil and gas industry in environmental litigation and toxic tort defense. Trial lawyer Justin VandenBout has broad experience in representing clients in the federal and state courts in mass tort litigation. All partners mentioned are based in Houston.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP represents clients across a variety of large and complex product liability and mass tort litigation across the country, with key areas including the largest MDL in the US, to PFAS litigation and class actions related to alleged vehicle defects. Co-chair of the national practice Morgan Tovey in San Francisco, is experienced in representing clients across multiple industry sectors and has recently completed his term on the Board of Governors for the Northern California Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL). Situated in Washington DC, co-managing partner Michael Lyle’s expertise lies in his trials experience, having tried to judgement or jury verdict a number of products liability matters, while Adam Wolfson, in Los Angeles practices in both plaintiff and defense matters in matters related to class actions, products liability and environmental tort actions. In Los Angeles, John Bash is active in defending tort claims against the federal government.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP combines its expertise in environmental and toxic tort law to provide clients with representation across all staged of environmental litigation, both and the federal and state level, and as well in compliance matters across the US. The firm regularly engages clients in the energy industry, alongside chemical, utility, aviation and agribusiness and have litigated for them in issues involving multiple substances and alleged exposures. Team members, including co-chair David Erickson in Kansas City, are skilled in providing environmental compliance counseling under statues including the Clean Water Act and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. Also in Kansas City, Tom Grever counsels and litigates across all aspects of environmental law, with his practice including a focus on the Clean Air Act in terms of permitting and in its enforcement, while Brent Dwerlkotte specializes in representing companies in high-stakes litigation and trials for a variety of clients. Jennifer Hackman is noted for her litigation expertise involving emerging substances including PFAS compounds and glyphosate. All partners mentioned are situated in Kansas City.

Well regarded for its full spectrum coverage across a wide range of product liability and mass tort issues, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents high profile global companies in high stakes product liability cases, ranging from consumer product related matters to crisis response and risk mitigation. The team has served as national coordinating counsel, and features experienced lawyers with first chair trial capabilities, such as New Jersey and New York based Diane Sullivan, in bet the company matters that involve issues of first impression and significant damage exposure. In consumer class action work, Silicon Valley based David Singh and Arianna Scavetti, in Washington DC are active in class action litigation defense, having represented consumer product companies as lead counsel in defending claims under state consumer protection statutes.

Active in high stakes multi-district litigation in products liability, Washington DC-based boutique firm Wilkinson Stekloff has been active in a broad range of litigation, from bellwether trials to high profile toxic tort cases including those involving PFAS. Led by both Beth Wilkinson and Brian Stekloff, Wilkinson is well regarded for her service acting as lead counsel in numerous bet the company matters, having been involved in numerous victories in both the federal and state courts, while Stekloff is experienced as a trial lawyer, having served as national counsel for several clients in multi-district litigation and other consolidated litigations including Monsanto in its roundup litigation. Situated in New York, Keri Arnold is noted for her expertise in defending companies in product liability and environmental matters.

Fielding a deep bench with expertise in high stakes tort actions, MDLs, litigation and bet the company matters, Winston & Strawn LLP works with clients in the pharmaceutical, agriculture and chemical sectors in both federal and state courts across the country. The team is noted for its scientific and technical expertise, with members including San Francisco based Sandra Edwards having served as lead trial counsel for MDLs and class actions, and situated in Chicago, George Lombardi has achieved success in obtaining defense verdicts across the pharmaceutical and consumer products industries in bet the company matters. Also in Chicago, Terrence (Terry) Dee and Dan Webb are experienced in product liability matters, with Dee noted for having served as lead counsel in joint defense groups in federal MDL and multi-party litigation, while Webb’s active clientele includes medical device and pharmaceutical clients. Andrew Tauber departed for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisnerin February 2024, and Denise Scofield in July 2024.

Focused on national product liability matters having represented clients across the country in product liability and mass torts litigation, Bowman and Brooke LLP routinely serves as lead and national counsel in a large variety of toxic torts, including chemical exposure, soil and water contamination, asbestos, as well as other chronic and acute injuries relating to various exposures. The firm has a strong focus in handling matters directly related to industrial equipment and industrial products, Roshan Rajkumar, in Minneapolis, having served as national coordinating and lead trial counsel roles for manufacturers defending asbestos and toxic tort litigation, having been involved in one of the nation’s largest MDLs as one of 3M’s case work-up counsel for the Combat Arms Version 2 MDL. William Auther, in Phoenix, co-leads the practice with Larry Ramsey in Los Angeles, with Auther focused on litigating for clients in various industries including chemical and pharma in product liability and toxic tort claims. William Purnell departed the firm in March 2024, while Marisa Trasatti and Robert Scott both joined the firm from Cipriani & Werner in September 2024.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP combines its strengths in product liability litigation and in trial settings to defend against a variety of tort litigations ranging from multi-plaintiff suits, to multidistrict litigation and class actions. In the toxic torts space, trial lawyers have litigated claims involving allegations of cancer, neurological damages and long-latency diseases, while in PFAS litigation, Richmond's Alexandra Cunningham and Boston-based Daniel Stefany are active in litigating PFAS cases around the country in both individual claims and class actions often involving environmental liability and product liability. Cunningham is also active in defending industrial clients in asbestos litigation, having been involved in claims dealing with all forms of asbestos filters. Georgia Lucier in Houston and Tom Waskom in Los Angeles and Richmond are both key names.

Husch Blackwell LLP  is active in toxic tort litigation for a range of companies and private equity firms in defending claims as NCC and trail counsel in PFAS litigation and asbestos related matters. In product liability and product safety, Brandan Mueller leads the team and is experienced in counseling clients through compliance issues and compliance testing, as well as ethical considerations and product warnings. In St Louis, J.Y Miller is active in mass tort litigation, having been involved in defense claims related to asbestos, as well as acting as national coordinating counsel for clients in toxic tort litigation. Joseph Kilpatrick practices from the firm’s virtual office known as The Link and his expertise extends to the defense of claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural plaques and thickening, as well as asbestosis against manufacturers including chemicals and paints. Jennifer Dlugosz, also practicing from The Link specializes in toxic tort matters in the Chicago area. Richard Morgan, Carli Pearson and Doug Pfeifer all joined the firm from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in March 2024.

McGuireWoods LLP handles a plethora of matters within product liability and environmental litigation, having represented clients in bet the company matters, mass tort litigation, cases arising from alleged exposure to toxic substances including PFAs, asbestos and benzene. The team is also active in providing risk management arising from issues with the state and federal regulatory inquiries, with Virginia-based Benjamin Hatch having represented a range of companies including aerospace manufacturers in connection with alleged violations of the RICO statute. Sam Tarry, in Richmond, co-leads the practice and is a commentator on professional ethics in mass tort litigation, while Gregory Evans, in Los Angeles, has negotiated EPA enforcement and CERCLA litigation matters throughout the United States. Also in Richmond, Eugene Mathews is a key name.

Led by experienced trial lawyer Joseph Ortego , Nixon Peabody LLP represents a broad portfolio of clients from industries including product manufacturers in aviation, pharmaceutical, medical device and petrochemical industries. The firm fields specialized trial lawyers who are able to advise clients on the scientific aspects of cases owing to their academic backgrounds, with degrees in biological and pharmacological sciences. Vivian Quinn specializes in all aspects of civil litigation both in the national and regional spheres, while Laurie Bloom is experienced in litigation arising out of environmental issues. Santo Borruso defends a broad range of clients in product liability litigation, and Jeffrey Brenner is a key name. All names mentioned are based in New York.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is able to provide clients with a team of specialists who can navigate a range of services including defense representation wihtin product liability, toxic torts, design defects and health and safety litigation. The firm has also been involved in unique matters including the concussion class action litigation which threatened the sport of American football, with retired players alleging they suffered cognitive impairments from their involvement in the sport. Team members, including Los Angeles based co-chair Kimberly Branscome and Jonathan Tam , both of whom recently joined the firm from Dechert in February 2024, have acted in asbestos related litigation, with Branscome having acted as lead trial counsel for J&J in a product liability litigation alleging that J&J’s talcum-based baby powder products contained asbestos which caused the plaintiff’s to develop mesothelioma. In climate change litigation, Yahonnes Cleary, in New York, also co-chairs the group and has represented major energy companies in state and municipal litigation.