Donna Welch > Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Chicago, United States > Lawyer Profile

Combining first-chair trial skills, alongside deep subject knowledge and procedural expertise, Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a popular choice among many leading life sciences companies to defend them against high-stakes product liability disputes throughout the country. Many of these take the form of MDLs/class actions, with the firm excelling in taking on leadership roles as national co-ordinating counsel, as well as handling key hearings – where it shines at explaining complex scientific issues to juries. The firm’s longstanding relationship with Abbott Laboratories recently saw it representing the Chicago-based medical device company in an MDL stemming from allegations regarding its recalled baby formula sickened infants. The firm has also had a key role in the sprawling opiate litigation on behalf of Allergan and continues to defend it against ongoing claims by hundreds of private and public entities that opted out of the recent global settlement. Washington DC-based Mike Brock is ‘a superb trial lawyer across product lines’ and remains particularly active in the life sciences space. Brock is a key member of the team along with Washington DC-based Jennifer Levy  and Donna Welch in Chicago, with all three having a key role in the aforementioned Allergan matter.

‘The best of the best for mass tort litigation’, Kirkland & Ellis LLP regularly has a fulcrum role in class actions and MDLs in major environmental and toxic tort disputes throughout the country. Recognized as the ‘epitome of creative lawyering’, the team, which is more generalist than many in the ranking, has an excellent perspective throughout the litigation continuum, using its feared trial lawyers as effective leveraging tools to achieve beneficial settlements for clients, as well as being dogged and effective advocates in federal and state courts throughout the country. Washington DC-based litigator Mike Brock is a distinguished advocate whose versatile practice has included some high-profile environmental and toxic tort mandates; he continues to act as lead trial lawyer for BP in ongoing cases emanating from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Other recommended lawyers include Chicago-based litigators Renee Smith, Leslie Smith, and Donna Welch, all of whom have experience advising manufacturers and life sciences clients in toxic tort matters.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is well-equipped to support a broad range of companies in matters involving state attorneys general, investigations, and enforcement actions. Split between Chicago and Washington DC, the team routinely engages with some of the largest multistate investigations, covering issues including consumer protection, antitrust, data privacy, and ESG. Chicago-based former Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan is a breakout star with diverse expertise in the fields of consumer protection, data privacy, healthcare, and the environment, while Donna Welch has secured key wins in litigation against pharmaceutical companies. In DC, Reginald Brown provides strategic counsel and crisis management assistance to clients facing complex and significant regulatory, enforcement and reputational matters, and Jennifer Levy is an excellent choice for state AG litigation, particularly with regard to pharmaceuticals and product liability. Brian Benczkowski has significant investigations and enforcement experience, and counts among his strengths healthcare, tech and financial services. Raya Treiser is a key contact for ESG matters, with strong relationships in the energy sector. Mark Filip, who splits his time between both offices, leads on defenses and investigations concerning pharmaceutical, healthcare, and tech companies, while Olivia Adendorff, who also has a base in Dallas, supports on consumer protection, false advertising, antitrust, and ESG claims.