United States • Dispute resolution
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Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)

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DLA Piper LLP (US)

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Operating from offices in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco, the consumer product liability and mass torts team at DLA Piper LLP (US) is known for defending high-profile clients in mass torts, class actions, and complex consumer litigation. Attorneys of the firm are praised by clients for their ‘high level of expertise & experience, and an absolute commitment to the assignment’, often handling precedent-setting cases for global companies such as Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Danone, and MGM across various sectors, including pharma, healthcare, media and entertainment, and food & drink manufacturing. The group’s expertise further extends to environmental matters such as PFAS litigation, microplastics claims, and sustainability issues, securing key motions to dismiss for clients like Danone and Starz Entertainment. Prominent attorneys in the group include Atlanta based Christopher Campbell, and LA based Angela Agrusa , co-chairs of the firm’s product liability & mass torts group, with Agrusa having notably defended over 50 putative class actions with potential exposure exceeding $100bn. Keara Gordon, a seasoned trial lawyer, has won precedent-setting motions to dismiss for clients including NYU and KLM Airlines, while Colleen Gulliver focuses on emerging issues like sustainability and environmental contamination, representing international pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer. Both Gulliver and Gordon are based in New York. San Francisco based Isabelle Ord, co-chair of the global class action litigation practice, is recognized for her work in business disputes, fraud, and regulatory enforcement matters.
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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The DLA Piper practice has a fabulous diversity of skills across its legal team. There are lawyers who are excellent communicators, lawyers who work brilliantly with experts and great technical lawyers. They are distributed widely geographically, but they work cohesively together and have a great team approach. ’

  • ‘Mary Gately is a super smart partner who works exceptionally well with experts. She builds both trust and respect with experts, meaning that they are always willing to take her calls and to go the extra mile.

  • Chris Campbell is a great team leader. I think he is in large part responsible for building a team of diverse individuals who work excellently together.’

  • ‘The team shows impressive commitment and is devoted to reaching clients’ goals. They are able to handle complex matters not only in the US, but other jurisdictions, with consistent quality. ’

  • ‘Mary Gately and Chris Campbell are both excellent attorneys, very result-oriented and committed to client. It is a pleasure working with them, as they are always available and keen to share insightful views on complex litigation matters.’

  • ‘The key feature of the team is the high level of expertise & experience , and the absolute commitment to the assignment. Members are always available and focused and supportive as to any need may arise ’

  • ‘Definitely their hands on and proactive attitude. Chris Campbell and Mary Gately are impressive partners for their management and experience skills. ’

  • ‘The attorneys took over an existing case and got ip to speed with incredible quickness and thoroughness. Communication has always been excellent. The matter came to a good conclusion.’

  • ‘It is a large firm with a small firm feel in terms of client services. ’

  • ‘They are committed, honest and tough’

Key clients

  • Danone
  • Nurture, LLC
  • Sanofi
  • G6 Hospitality LLC
  • Johnson & Johnson Consumers Inc.
  • Ace Hardware Corporation
  • Bayer Corporation
  • Douglas Emmett Management, LLC
  • Starz Entertainment LLC
  • Blue Diamond Growers

Work highlights

  • The firm successfully defeated a motion brought before the JPML by multiple classes of consumer for the creation of an industry wide MDL.
  • The firm are representing Nurture, a Danone subsidiary and maker of the Happy Family branded baby food products, in product liability actions, class actions and a state attorney general action defending its products as safe for babies and children.
  • The firm recently obtained dismissal of two cases, in federal court in New York (Sherwood v. Chattem, Inc.) and California, claiming that Cortizone-10® brand OTC topical hydrocortisone products are misleadingly described as “Maximum Strength.”

Lawyers

Practice head

Angela C. Agrusa; Christopher G. Campbell

Other key lawyers

Keara Gordon, Colleen Gulliver, Isabelle Ord