Kirkland & Ellis LLP fields a formidable mass torts and product liability practice, regularly entrusted with bet-the-company MDLs, class actions, and coordinated state proceedings. The team recently secured a defense verdict in the first bellwether trial in In re Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation in the Northern District of California, overcoming complex evidentiary issues and significant pre-trial publicity. It also achieved a landmark appellate win for General Motors LLC before the Sixth Circuit, decertifying 26 statewide classes comprising over 800,000 drivers and reinforcing stringent certification standards. Chicago-based partner Renee Smith is noted for jury trial successes across federal MDLs and nationwide courts for major corporates including 3M and Abbott. Since joining from King & Spalding in early 2025, New York-based Kristen Fournier has co-led several national dockets and is recognized for coordinating uniform defense strategies across coordinated federal and state dockets in high-exposure matters, including talc and asbestos litigation and the bellwether trials.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Key clients
- GATX Corporation
- General Motors Company
- Uber Technologies Inc.
Work highlights
Serving as lead coordinating and trial counsel for Uber in a nationwide mass tort alleging Uber failed to implement appropriate safety precautions to protect passengers against the risk of sexual assault or misconduct by drivers. On September 30, 2025, secured a defense verdict in the first nationwide bellwether trial.
Representing GATX Corporation and a GATX subsidiary in class action and CERCLA litigation arising from the February 2023 derailment of Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, and the resulting damage. In 2025, after nearly four weeks of trial, an Ohio jury unanimously cleared GATX Corporation of liability.
Representing General Motors in class action litigation involving alleged defective transmissions in certain GM vehicles. Successfully obtained reversal of class certification order.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Other key lawyers
Renee Smith; Kristen Fournier