Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP continues to solidify its reputation as a powerhouse in the products liability arena. The firm maintains a deep bench, across key jurisdictions such as California, Texas, New York, and Florida, allowing the team to manage high-stakes toxic tort and product liability mandates nationwide, frequently acting as lead trial counsel in critical bellwether cases and as national coordinating counsel in MDLs. The practice is particularly lauded for its deep industry penetration within the automotive and transportation sectors, serving a blue-chip client roster that includes Ford, Honda, Kia, and Toyota. The practice is led by Columbia-based Mark Jones. In Richmond, Sandra Ezell is a prolific trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience, frequently serving as first-chair national trial counsel in high-exposure matters. Washington DC-based Terri Reiskin is noted for her leadership in complex MDLs and consumer class actions, particularly in the automotive and medical device sectors. Kurt Kern, based in Plano, is a veteran trial lawyer, specializing in comprehensive defense for international manufacturers. Additionally, Robert Wise provides significant value as an appellate and advanced motions specialist, coordinating legal strategies for nationwide putative class actions.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Rob Wise is one of the best legal writers I know.'
- 'We work with the automotive product liability team at Nelson Mullins, though they have many resources throughout the firm that are available to lend assistance to unique or novel challenges as they arise.'
- 'Sandra Ezell is a leading trial lawyer who combines solid intuition, a commanding courtroom presence, technical product expertise and a unique ability to solve for minutia while seeing its impact on the big picture.'
- 'Heather Fine has handled some very challenging cases for us in very challenging jurisdictions with incredibly aggressively opposing counsel, and she does so with disarming poise and confidence.'
Key clients
- American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
- Crown Equipment Corporation
- FCA US LLC
- Ford Motor Company
- General Electric Company/Global Aerospace Inc.
- Hyundai
- Kia America, Inc.
- Kubota Tractor Corporation
- Michelin North America, Inc.
- Mitsubishi Motors North America
- Mercedes-Benz USA
- Navistar, Inc.
Work highlights
Secured a unanimous defense verdict for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in a challenging automotive product liability trial in Dallas County, Texas. The plaintiff claimed a design defect in a 2018 Honda Accord led to a fatal crash, but after a complex, multi-week trial, the jury sided with Honda. This victory comes shortly after a successful appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in another Honda matter which had overturned a previous multi-million-dollar judgment and set a new precedent for automotive product liability cases in Texas.
Defending Ford against 16 related warranty and consumer protection actions filed in Delaware. The plaintiffs claim that defective transmissions in their Ford vehicles affected drivability. Previously succeeded in having these claims severed and dismissed in a larger case in late 2024 in federal court in Michigan. Plaintiffs have now refiled their complaints in smaller groups, alleging violations under multiple state laws. Filed an omnibus motion to sever the claims and require individual complaints. Briefing on this issue is finished, and a hearing is scheduled for early 2026.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Kurt Kern
Terri Reiskin
Practice head
Mark Jones
Other key lawyers
Robert Wise; Kurt Kern; Sandra Ezell; Terri Reiskin;