Sidley Austin LLP, Product Liability & Mass Torts

About

Provided by Sidley Austin LLP

For more information on the practice, please visit the practice's page at: https://www.sidley.com/en/services/products-liability

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite - USA - Nationwide

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Sidley Austin has a deep bench noted for its expertise in the life sciences sector, having obtained a number of high-profile defense verdicts in this field. It has a proven ability in a range of complex automotive and toxic tort cases, including matters with a cross-border element. The team draws on firm-wide resources in civil litigation and regulatory enforcement to provide a full-service approach to complex product liability and consumer class action disputes. The firm has particular proficiency acting as coordinating counsel in large-scale multidistrict litigation.

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Work Highlights

Sidley Austin represented Sally Beauty Supply as its lead national litigation coordinating counsel in the large-scale hair relaxer multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Illinois in which over 9,000 plaintiffs allege that dozens of different hair relaxer products manufactured by dozens of different companies cause reproductive cancers and a host of other injuries.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Sidley is expert in understanding trends in multidistrict litigation as well as with strategy and tactics in complex litigation.

Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite respondent
USA

Sidley Austin has best-in-class knowledge of multidistrict litigation and procedure. It also has best-in-class skill in writing and communication.

Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite respondent
USA

Sidley is expert in understanding trends in multidistrict litigation as well as with strategy and tactics in complex litigation.

Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite respondent
USA

Sidley Austin has best-in-class knowledge of multidistrict litigation and procedure. It also has best-in-class skill in writing and communication.

Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite respondent
USA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Sarah Carlson

Band 1

Sarah Carlson's expertise is frequently sought out by manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of consumer products in a wide range of regulatory matters and litigation.

Sarah is excellent in both communication as well as strategic thinking.

Sara is a pleasure to work with. She is always friendly and approachable. She draws from a vast background of experience, and ensures that we understand and evaluate risks appropriately.

Sarah is extremely well versed in all things CPSC. She provides practical insights and guidance to clients and advocates for the best outcomes possible.

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Heidi Levine

Band 2

Heidi Levine frequently acts as national counsel for pharmaceutical companies on high-profile MDLs. She handles matters across pretrial, trial and resolution.

She's highly strategic and organised. She works incredibly hard and really cares about the client.

Heidi is a leading lawyer on mass and complex tort litigation.

She provides excellent client service. She has a great creative mind and gets good results.

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Debra E Pole

Band 3

Debra Pole has a longstanding career as a trial lawyer in MDLs and mass torts across both state and federal courts. Her practice includes toxic torts and consumer fraud claims in the life sciences sector.

She is an extraordinary trial lawyer who connects with the jury.

Debra is a skilled trial lawyer.

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Jennifer Saulino

Band 4

Jennifer Saulino is sought after for her deep experience as trial counsel defending clients in high-stakes toxic tort and pharmaceutical matters. She co-leads the product liability practice at Sidley Austin.

Jennifer is skilled on her feet and has a likeability and personality that really resonates with judges and jurors. She is constantly motivated and has the drive and determination.

She lives in trial. If I had a case that goes to trial I would find a way to have her on the team.

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Michelle Ramirez

Band 5

Michelle Ramirez possesses strong experience representing clients in the pharmaceutical and medical devices space.

Michelle is excellent at customer service and really polished in her delivery. She also has a great strategic mind.

Michelle has deep knowledge of the subject matter and takes a solutions-orientated approach with her advice.

Michelle is very credible and likeable. Jurors react well to her.

She is one of my favorite outside counsel. Michelle is very smart, has a good demeanor, and is very likeable. Every juror loves her and finds her to be convincing.

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