Winston & Strawn LLP‘s product liability & mass torts practice specializes in “bet-the-company” cases, acting as defense lawyers in high-profile consumer product cases and frequently serving as lead trial counsel and multi-district litigation coordinating counsel. The firm is known for the extensive trial experience of its team across highly regulated industries, including pharmac, agriculture, chemicals, automotive, aviation, and consumer products. Notable recent successes for the group include defending Philip Morris in decade-spanning tobacco litigation and securing defense verdicts for Abbott Laboratories, Motorola Mobility, and Monsanto in landmark cases. Chair of the product liability and mass tort practice, San Francisco based Sandra Edwards is a go-to trial lawyer for the firm’s clients, frequently taking the lead in MDLs and coordinated mass tort proceedings. David Coulson is a veteran trial lawyer known for defending high-exposure product liability and commercial disputes including several major consumer class actions. George Lombardi stands out for his defense work in high-stakes pharmaceutical and consumer product cases, including landmark victories for Philip Morris and Monsanto. Dan Webb brings further practice area experience, having led long-running tobacco litigation for Philip Morris and representing consumer product, medical device, and pharma companies in significant product liability cases. All lawyers are based in Chicago unless stated otherwise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Winston brings a cooperative and thoughtful team that are great partners in litigation as we face substantial challenges. Their work product is careful, thoughtful, and illuminative.’
‘George Lombardi is a dean of the bar and can be relied upon to try any type of case.
- Chris Essig is a great tactician.’
‘Winston has trial lawyers who think strategically. ’
‘Terry Dee works hard to anticipate client needs.
- Troy Yoshino is excellent at strategic procedural maneuvers. ’
Key clients
- Monsanto Company
- Abbott Laboratories
- Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
- Motorola Mobility LLC
- Albertsons
- Unilever PLC
- ASSA ABLOY
- The J.M. Smucker Company
- Nestlé USA, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Hikma in the national opiate litigation, which includes a sprawling multidistrict proceeding consolidated in Ohio federal court and various state-court actions, including Texas, Utah, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The plaintiffs in these matters have alleged a variety of claims, including negligence, fraud, and violations of consumer protection laws.
- Representing Nestlé USA in a class action lawsuit alleging the company falsely claims its Nestlé Toll House Morsels contain “'100% REAL CHOCOLATE.'"
- Representing The J.M. Smucker Company in a consolidated class action of several separate cases (Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee), as well as a seventh case that has yet to be consolidated, alleging that it misled the public by promoting Jif® peanut butter products as containing ingredients safe for human consumption and being safe for use when the products were allegedly contaminated with salmonella.
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.
David Coulson
Practice head
Sandra Edwards
Other key lawyers
David Coulson; George Lombardi; Dan Webb