Bowman and Brooke LLP > Phoenix, United States > Firm Profile

Bowman and Brooke LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport Tier 1

With a growing nationwide reach following the recent opening of three additional offices in New York, Orange County and Charlotte, product liability litigation specialist firm Bowman and Brooke LLP has the strength-in-depth and geographical diversity to handle a wide array of mandates. The automotive sector is a well-established and core source of work for the team, with it regularly acting for many of the world’s largest manufacturers, including Toyota, Ford, Hyundai and Yamaha, in their high-profile disputes. The firm is noted for its procedural and trial skills, as well as its product knowledge and firm grasp on the technical aspects of the sector. Arizona-based firm chair Paul Cereghini recently successfully defended Honda in a novel Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) ‘failure-to-equip’ case, with the jury finding that there was no defect in the system following an almost five-week trial. San Jose-based Vincent Galvin is also an accomplished litigator having led on more than 30 catastrophic injury and wrongful death trials, including acting as lead counsel for Tesla in 2022 in its first automotive product liability trial in the country. In Detroit, Thomas Branigan is also recommended, with a trial practice that sees him active defending auto companies in cases involving products as simple as seat belt buckles to cutting-edge technology like electronic throttle control systems and fully autonomous driving technology. Minneapolis-based Bard Borkon co-heads the automotive practice group alongside Branigan.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

As one of the core industry groups within litigation boutique Bowman and Brooke LLP ‘s acclaimed product liability defense offering, pharmaceutical and medical devices work accounts for a significant volume of work for lawyers  throughout its national network of offices. The firm’s roles run the gamut from regional and local counsel, through to trial and national co-ordinating positions, with a collaborative style of working that is a great advantage on large-scale cases involving co-counsels and co-defendants. Drawing upon deep and longstanding expertise within the space, Minneapolis-based Kim Schmid has taken multiple cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, and as well as handling product liability class actions and MDLs in conventional matters – including as it relates to mesh products and breast implants – is also driving the firm’s efforts in relation to emerging litigation involving virtual clinical trials and biologics. Austin-based Randall Christian , who co-heads the team alongside Schmid, is also well-versed in trying traditional product liability cases in the space, as well as having niche expertise defending pharmaceutical companies in pricing and third-party payor litigation.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 3

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.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 3

Bowman and Brooke LLP is best known for its product liability litigation prowess, defending manufacturers in toxic tort matters. The team, which has offices throughout the length and breadth of the country, has experience in federal and state courts throughout the US, regularly acting as national, regional and trial counsel on large-scale mass torts relating to exposure and contamination claims regarding myriad toxins. Drawing upon the firm’s overarching automotive sector knowledge, the team regularly handles toxic tort work for leading automotive manufacturers, including Ford, where under the leadership of experienced Dallas-based trial lawyer Tori Levine, it is defending the automotive giant in relation to injury or wrongful death matters where plaintiffs allege injuries due to exposure to asbestos at a Ford facility. Larry Ramsey and William Auther co-head the team from Los Angeles and Phoenix, respectively.