Wagstaff & Cartmell

Firm Overview

Wagstaff & Cartmell is a litigation boutique dedicated to handling high-stakes, complex litigation across the country. The firm’s work spans a wide range of matters, including business litigation, product liability, mass torts, class actions, and catastrophic personal injury.

In every area, the firm excels both in the courtroom and in the preparation required to get there. Wagstaff & Cartmell has held leadership positions in major multidistrict litigations (MDLs) and served as lead counsel in bellwether and other significant jury trials on both national and local stages. The firm has also been selected to represent state governments and other public entities in high-profile matters.

Wagstaff & Cartmell values efficiency, creativity, and—above all—credibility. Its team includes attorneys trained at major law firms, former federal law clerks, and lawyers consistently recognized by peers as among the best in the profession. The firm zealously pursues the best possible outcomes for clients across a wide spectrum of industries and legal issues.

Main Areas of Practice

Mass Actions & Personal Injury

Advocating for individuals and large groups with record-breaking results

Wagstaff & Cartmell has represented thousands of clients in some of the nation’s largest mass action cases, often consolidated as multidistrict litigations (MDLs). Its attorneys are frequently appointed to leadership roles within these proceedings and have recovered over a billion dollars for clients harmed by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, and widespread corporate misconduct. The firm also secures significant recoveries for individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, achieving seven- and eight-figure settlements and verdicts.

Class Actions & Commercial Litigation

Decades of experience, industry recognition, and leading results

With a reputation for tenacity and results, the firm has decades of experience in commercial litigation and has helped clients resolve complex business disputes involving seven- and eight-figure settlements or dismissals of claims exceeding nine figures.

Areas of focus include:

• Antitrust
• Breach of contract
• Business torts
• Franchise litigation
• Professional malpractice
• Financial and investment fraud
• SEC whistleblower and qui tam actions

Wagstaff & Cartmell also has extensive experience prosecuting class actions and has recovered over $800 million in these cases alone. The firm has been appointed to leadership positions in major class actions involving federal statutes such as the Sherman Act, RICO, and ERISA, as well as various state law claims.

Appellate Practice

Strategic guidance beyond the trial court

Wagstaff & Cartmell provides robust appellate support to ensure legal issues are properly preserved and effectively argued. Its appellate specialists assist with post-trial motions, extraordinary writs, and appeals in both state and federal courts. The team regularly monitors trials to preserve the record, prepares appellate briefs, and presents oral arguments—even in matters originating outside the firm.