Dispute resolution
Dechert LLP has secured favorable outcomes for pharma and medical device clients in appellate, federal, and state courts, handling complex multi-district and state-court product liability litigations. Notably, the firm has achieved significant victories through persuasive dispositive motions, often reducing or eliminating plaintiff pools. The product liability and mass torts practice is co-chaired by Los Angeles’ Jay Bhimani, an experienced trial lawyer, including in high-stakes bellwether cases. New York-based co-chair Douglas E. Fleming III’s extensive litigation experience includes examining and preparing witnesses for deposition, Daubert hearings, and trial and legislative testimony. New York-based Mark Cheffo, who co-chairs the global litigation practice, leads complex, high-profile pharma litigations, managing all stages from negotiation, through pre-trial proceedings to trial. Cheffo has been a key figure in the firm’s representation of GlaxoSmithKline as lead national counsel in the Zantac mass tort litigation. Also in New York, special counsel Sheila Birnbaum has vast experience representing leading pharma companies in complex product liability and mass torts litigation.
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Profile
Work Department
Product Liability and Mass Torts
Career
Mark S. Cheffo is co-chair of Dechert’s product liability and mass torts practice and has extensive experience serving as national coordinating and trial counsel in complex product liability, insurance and mass torts litigation. He acts for corporates and individuals in the pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing, bioengineering, insurance and industrial products industries, amongst others. Mr. Cheffo has also handled numerous toxic and environmental exposure suits.
Mr. Cheffo has taken part in several trial teams in high-profile pharmaceutical litigation, managing all stages of a dispute from negotiation, through pre-trail proceedings to trial. In addition to defending expert and company witness depositions, Mr. Cheffo has briefed and conducted numerous Daubert and Frye challenges. He has also briefed and argued dispositive motions and appeals in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Mr. Cheffo also has considerable experience conducting arbitrations and mediations relating to disputes.
Memberships
New York City Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel
Education
Stony Brook University, B.A., with Honors, 1987, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta International History Honor Society; Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1990, Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of Law & Medicine, Paul J. Liacos Scholar
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Key clients
- GlaxoSmithKline Haleon
Work highlights
Representing GSK as lead national counsel in multidistrict and state-court mass tort litigation concerning allegations that the heartburn medication Zantac causes cancer due to NDMA formation.
Represented Haleon in a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, where plaintiffs alleged that Robitussin's labeling misled consumers about differences between children's and adult products, despite identical formulations.