Mary-Alice Barrett – GC Powerlist
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United States Rising Stars 2014

Mary-Alice Barrett

Assistant general counsel, senior counsel specialist – litigation | Roche Group

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United States Rising Stars 2014

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Mary-Alice Barrett

Assistant general counsel, senior counsel specialist – litigation | Roche Group

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Overseeing litigation teams across multiple jurisdictions, Mary-Alice Barrett has drawn particular notice through her handling of one of the US’s largest mass-tort cases. Comprising nearly 8,000 individual cases and several alleged class actions, the matter has been ongoing for 15 years; six of them on Barrett’s watch. Under her leadership, there have been several positive outcomes for Roche, including its first verdict in favor and a series of successful appeals. Because of the sheer scale of proceedings involved, one of Barrett’s most crucial contributions to the situation’s ongoing resolution has been developing an efficient system for managing the multi-firm defense teams, through ‘innovative’ initiatives such as a ‘virtual firm’ model, ensuring effective collaboration and information-sharing between all parties involved. ‘A number of my peers have used a “virtual firm” model – but I think ours is among the most dynamic and successful,’ Barrett says, ‘in part because it is not as formally hierarchical as some others (each firm has direct access to me), in part because we’re willing to break down the strict (and conventional) “firm-by-firm” organizational model’. According to one private practice source, ‘These efforts have resulted in remarkable degrees of collaboration, interdependence, and collegiality among her firms while also allowing for many of the efficiencies the model typifies’. Barrett is also active in developing the careers of junior team members through a ‘rewards and recognition program’. Her remit includes governmental investigations, commercial, environmental and employment issues; Roche also encourages her to broaden her non-contentious expertise, she explains, as a way of furthering her professional development.

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