Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite
USA Guide 2024 : USA - Nationwide
Band 1
About
Provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
For more than 30 years, Skadden has earned a reputation as a "go-to" firm for companies facing, among other issues, their most challenging product liability matters. Frequently serving in roles such as lead coordinating counsel and lead "strategists," Skadden's Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation Group has helped clients navigate multifaceted legal challenges. With plaintiffs' firms amassing thousands of substantial personal-injury claims virtually overnight, and crusading attorneys general often joining forces with private counsel to launch litigation assaults on corporate America, coordinating a strategy to defend on multiple fronts has become critical — and Skadden's capabilities have put us on speed-dial for numerous Fortune 100 companies facing significant threats to their businesses.
As the pioneer of the "national counsel" model of handling mass torts litigation and a trendsetter in defending multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceedings, Skadden approaches each engagement with the client's broader business objectives in mind. While others may fixate on the traps and obstacles that lie ahead in a litigation, we take a "big picture" approach, crafting a multipronged strategy that helps our client to defend on every front simultaneously, while also seizing opportunities to achieve early victories.
Chambers Review
Skadden is highlighted for its strength in class action and appellate work, most significantly in the construction, automotive and healthcare sectors. It maintains a strong presence in the drug and device space, achieving significant victories in this field. The team is recognized for its high-level strategic guidance to clients facing multidistrict litigation, regularly serving as lead coordinating and strategic counsel in high-level proceedings. It also advocates for legal reform on behalf of corporate clients.
Work Highlights
- Skadden represented Snap in multidistrict litigation alleging that Snapchat and other social media platforms are defective because they are designed to maximize screen time, which purportedly can encourage addictive behavior in adolescents.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Skadden has a proven history of driving successful outcomes. The firm has attorneys with extensive depth and expertise, and I'm amazed at their commercial awareness."
"They have outstanding legal acumen, they're collaborative and supportive of other organizations and industry goals. Skadden is extraordinarily polished in everything that it does."
"The firm has deep product knowledge and provides good, practical advice on how to navigate issues."
"Skadden has a proven history of driving successful outcomes. The firm has attorneys with extensive depth and expertise, and I'm amazed at their commercial awareness."
"They have outstanding legal acumen, they're collaborative and supportive of other organizations and industry goals. Skadden is extraordinarily polished in everything that it does."
"The firm has deep product knowledge and provides good, practical advice on how to navigate issues."
Notable Practitioners
John Beisner is considered to be one of the country's premier product liability and consumer class action attorneys, with the ability to handle complex MDLs and appellate litigation. He has conducted a number of groundbreaking cases ranging from toxic torts and personal injury claims through to medical devices.
"John Beisner is a giant in mass torts. He knows everything there is to know in this space."
"He is the smartest product liability lawyer in the country and is a known strategist."
"John advises from a strategic standpoint and is extremely intelligent and efficient."
Jessica Davidson (formerly Miller) is highly regarded for her work across product liability MDLs and consumer class actions, frequently representing major international corporations.
"Jessica is a master at briefing issues. She's strategic, results-driven and aggressive."
"She is brilliant at developing legal strategies and is always numerous steps ahead of opposing counsel."
"She is an excellent brief writer, really good at providing practical advice, and she is a great lead lawyer in the mass tort space."
Allison Brown represents clients in mass torts, class actions and MDLs across the products space, including acting for multinational pharmaceutical companies.
"Allison takes over a courtroom. She is smart, likable, unafraid and plays in any jurisdiction."
"She has a tremendous grasp for taking complex facts and distilling information for the jurors. She gives good, practical advice to navigate data issues and is a very strong brief writer who can turn materials around quickly."
"Allison does a lot of legal thinking and a lot of briefs, she is highly regarded and an outstanding writer."
Geoffrey Wyatt primarily handles large consumer class actions and mass torts, as well as being able to advise on complex appellate litigation.
"He's diligent and very good at anticipating what the other side will do."
"Geoff has a balancing and optimistic approach."
Richard Bernardo maintains an exceptional litigation practice, with recognized expertise in mass tort cases in a variety of sectors.
"Richard is high-end discovery counsel. He helps with strategic themes, witnesses and depositions."
"He is great to work with and super-knowledgeable."
Manuel Cachán is an accomplished trial lawyer who has acted for major clients on pharmaceutical and toxic tort cases.
"He is an extraordinary trial lawyer who is super-talented in cross examination. He's also good at the big-picture focus in trials."
Ranked Lawyers at
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
USA - Nationwide
Members
Provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates