Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP‘s Chicago office specializes in product liability and mass tort litigation, handling multidistrict litigations, class actions, defect investigations, and environmental claims. The firm frequently serves as national or regional counsel in matters involving substantial personal injuries or billion-dollar claims, and is highly experienced in litigation involving state attorneys general, with senior lawyers such as Lisa Madigan , former Illinois Attorney General. Known for their trial expertise, the firm has a strong track record in defending high-stakes cases involving complex technical and scientific issues, recently representing Abbott Laboratories in multidistrict litigation related to the 2022 recall of powdered infant formula. Litigation continues against non-settling entities alleging fraud, public nuisance, and misrepresentation in opioid marketing. A final notable client is pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, whom the firm represents in products liability litigation related to blockbuster medicines, Trulicity and Mounjaro, as well in putative class actions and related nationwide lawsuits challenging pricing practices by insulin manufacturers. Prominent attorneys of the practice include Renee Smith, who has won defense verdicts for major corporations like Dow Chemical and Juul Labs in federal MDLs and high-stakes mass torts, Donna Welch , recognized for her success in public nuisance and pharmaceutical litigation, and Hariklia Karis , noted for leading landmark trials, including the BP oil spill litigation and nationwide opioid MDLs. All lawyers mentioned are based in Chicago.