Latham & Watkins’s practice advises domestic and international clients spanning jurisdictions such as Brazil and Korea. In Boston, practice head Gwyn Williams handles product liability and consumer class actions, including personal injury claims involving employee uniforms alleged to cause health effects and property damage through dye transfer, false advertising claims concerning nutritional products marketed as beneficial for children, and tobacco-related class actions. In Washington DC, Christine G. Rolph focuses on international tobacco litigation, representing defendants in claims brought by health providers seeking reimbursement for the alleged costs of treating tobacco-related diseases. Based in Chicago, Mary Rose Alexander advises on complex cross-border product liability disputes. Also in Boston, Shlomo Fellig defends manufacturers in litigation alleging deceptive pricing practices, including false reference pricing and app-based e-commerce claims, as well as misleading advertising involving sleep and food products. In Chicago, Mark S. Mester handles false advertising and labeling disputes involving plant-based products and electric vehicles, including alleged failures to disclose safety risks. In the Bay Area, Nicole Valco advises on warranty, repair, and product service disputes involving technology devices and consumer services.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The team is the global master of tobacco litigation, with Christine Rolph at the helm. In addition to having massive institutional knowledge, the team is very strategic, great brief writers, and always puts on an A+ defense.’
'Christine Rolph is a brilliant lawyer and strategist, and very down-to-earth and easy to work with.’
‘The team is composed of the fee earners who are experienced and have expertise in the product liability cases. They understand the technical issues well and set up strategies that best suit the client's needs.’
‘Christine Rolph is a capable and very smart partner we worked with. She is diligent, digests details of the case, and comes up with very practical solutions. She is also very good at working with experts in various fields, resulting in highly persuasive expert reports.’
‘The product liability practice stands out for a rare combination of technical excellence and genuine collaboration with local co-counsel. The team demonstrates discipline in managing complex matters, with well-defined workflow and appropriately distributed accountability aligned with each task.'
‘Christine Rolph consistently stands out for the combination of sharp technical competence, excellent judgment, and an exemplary collaborative approach. Compared with competitors, Christine differentiates herself by translating complex issues into clear strategies, pairing analytical rigor with pragmatism. Working with her as co-counsel is especially seamless: Christine shows genuine respect for the role of local counsel, integrates jurisdiction-specific nuances into the strategic plan, and brings comparative perspectives that enrich risk assessment and tactical options.'
Key clients
- Allergan, Inc.
- Apple Inc.
- Beyond Meat
- Lands’ End
- LG Energy Solution, Ltd., LG Chem, Ltd., and LG Energy Solution Michigan, Inc.
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Philip Morris International Inc.
- The Shade Store
- United Healthcare
- Wag Hotels
- Whaleco Inc.
- Eight Sleep
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Gwyn Williams
Other key lawyers
Christine Rolph; Nicole Valco; Mary Rose Alexander; Shlomo Fellig; Mark S. Mester