Hausfeld LLP offers a comprehensive product liability, environmental, and human rights practice, with wide-ranging expertise spanning from toxic exposures to affirmative gun and climate change litigation. The firm leverages its international footprint to support clients on multi-jurisdictional cases, including representing a class of Sudanese refugees and asylees who allege that BNP Paribas (BNPP) enabled the Sudanese government’s genocidal campaign by acting as its de facto central bank. The claims further allege that BNPP illegally provided access to U.S. financial markets in violation of sanctions. The practice is jointly steered by Katie Beran in Philadelphia and James Gotz in Boston. Beran advises on the full spectrum of environmental litigation, having recently represented Suffolk County Water Authority in a 1,4-dioxane water contamination case against The Dow Chemical Company. Gotz is widely recognized for his expertise in toxic tort actions and is currently acting for the State of New Jersey in claims against Ford Motor Company, seeking natural resources damages related to environmental pollution at the company’s Mahwah plant.
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Key clients
- Suffolk County Water Authority
- State of New Jersey
- Office of the Attorney General
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
- City of Philadelphia
- Center for Human Rights and Environment
- Joshua Harman
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- City of Gary, Indiana
- Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
- State of Maine
Work highlights
Representing a class of Sudanese refugees and asylees who allege that BNP Paribas (BNPP) enabled the Sudanese government’s genocidal campaign by acting as its de facto central bank from 1997 to 2007 and illegally providing access to U.S. financial markets in violation of sanctions.
Representing the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) in a suit against major manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, alleging they knowingly sold products containing 1,4-dioxane despite understanding the chemical would inevitably pollute groundwater, threaten public health, and impose enormous remediation costs.
Acting with the City of Philadelphia and Giffords Law Center to prosecute a pro bono action against Polymer80 and JSD Supply, alleging that the defendants’ negligent and illegal business practices endangered public safety by flooding the city with unserialized firearms.
Practice head
Katie Beran; James Gotz