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Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

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Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: Product Liability - Illinois

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis has a market-leading commercial litigation practice characterized by exceptional bench strength and breadth of expertise. It also possesses expert strength in white-collar crime, with particular renown for its FCPA practice, and a sophisticated securities offering. It represents clients from a variety of sectors, including financial services, energy and pharmaceuticals.

Work Highlights

  • Kirkland continued to represent 3M Company in product liability litigation concerning the Combat Arms Earplugs.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Emily Nicklin
S
Emily Nicklin
S
Senior Statespeople
Emily Nicklin maintains an expert trial practice which includes defending against both single-plaintiff and class action suits involving issues such as product liability, professional liability and discrimination suits.
Robert J Kopecky
S
Robert J Kopecky
S
Senior Statespeople
Robert Kopecky is widely recommended for his expert representation of issuers, accounting firms and financial institutions facing securities derivative suits and class actions.
Hariklia Karis
1
Hariklia Karis
1
Band 1

Hariklia Karis has extensive expertise in trials, with considerable experience handling cases arising in the product liability sphere.

Hariklia is an outstanding trial attorney and exemplary strategist.

Hariklia performs extremely well on her feet. Her ability to get up to speed with our matter and understand our business is impressive.

She is a strong trial lawyer.

James Hurst
1
James Hurst
1
Band 1
James Hurst has deep expertise within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, drawing on longstanding experience as a civil trial lawyer.

James is the best trial lawyer in America. If I was the founder of a company or the CEO of a Fortune 500 business, I would want him.

James Hurst is a phenomenal trial lawyer.

Mark Filip
1
Mark Filip
1
Band 1
Mark Filip is a much-esteemed litigator with impressive depth of expertise in commercial disputes. His top-notch practice includes recent experience in securities fraud claims and bankruptcy disputes.

You can't get a better lawyer than Mark.

Mark is a great lawyer.

Mark is a go-to advisor for corporations and boards on some of the most difficult or sensitive issues they are dealing with.

Renee Smith
1
Renee Smith
1
Band 1

Renee Smith is highlighted for her adroit representation of consumer product and automotive manufacturers in complex product liability litigation and class actions.

She is whip-smart, creative and good at thinking up options that are outside the box. She doesn't take a cookie-cutter approach to anything. She digs in and works really, really hard.

Renee is excellent. She is smart and gives practical advice. She is my first call because she has always got our best interests at heart.

Andrew Kassof
2
Andrew Kassof
2
Band 2
Andrew Kassof is particularly noted for his expertise handling False Claims Act and product liability related litigation, as part of a broad commercial disputes practice. He is frequently sought after by major life sciences sector players.

He is a great lawyer.

John Hartmann
2
John Hartmann
2
Band 2

John Hartmann represents notable corporates, directors and officers and professional services firms in shareholder disputes and regulatory enforcement. He is further skilled in defending directors and officers.

He is a very talented lawyer.

John is fantastic.

John is an extraordinary partner in multiple complex disputes.

Leslie M Smith
2
Leslie M Smith
2
Band 2

Leslie Smith represents notable corporates in complex multidistrict product liability litigation and toxic exposure cases.

Donna Welch
3
Donna Welch
3
Band 3
Donna Welch is an accomplished commercial litigator with a wide range of disputes experience, including RICO and breach of contract suits.

Donna is an excellent lawyer.

Donna is both very confident and empathetic.

Donna is one of the best litigators I work with. She is smart, strategic, hardworking, and responsive.

Gabor Balassa
4
Gabor Balassa
4
Band 4

Gabor Balassa defends pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, and manufacturers in a variety of litigation, including tortious interference and contractual disputes.

He is my go-to lawyer. His style of litigating is pure theatre. He is a masterful litigator and great on his feet. Gabor is also a very good strategic and commercial partner.

Gabor is incredibly smart, highly prepared and has strong commercial awareness.

Gabor does an amazing job. He is very knowledgeable, experienced and cost-conscious.

Diana Watral
U
Diana Watral
U
Up and Coming

Diana Watral is recognized for her growing experience representing notable pharmaceutical companies in complex litigation, such as product liability claims and antitrust cases.

Diana is a rockstar and a brilliant lawyer. Her level of client service is outstanding.

Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Illinois

Litigation: General Commercial

Emily Nicklin
S
Emily Nicklin
S
Senior Statespeople
James Hurst
1
James Hurst
1
Band 1
Mark Filip
1
Mark Filip
1
Band 1
Andrew Kassof
2
Andrew Kassof
2
Band 2
Donna Welch
3
Donna Welch
3
Band 3
Gabor Balassa
4
Gabor Balassa
4
Band 4
Diana Watral
U
Diana Watral
U
Up and Coming
Litigation: Product Liability

Hariklia Karis
1
Hariklia Karis
1
Band 1
Renee Smith
1
Renee Smith
1
Band 1
Leslie M Smith
2
Leslie M Smith
2
Band 2
Litigation: Securities

Robert J Kopecky
S
Robert J Kopecky
S
Senior Statespeople
John Hartmann
2
John Hartmann
2
Band 2