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

Provided by Chambers

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

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

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 served as lead trial counsel to Monsanto at a jury trial in California in litigation where the plaintiffs alleged that exposure to the herbicide Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

John H Beisner
John H Beisner
Star Individuals

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 ground-breaking cases ranging from toxic torts and personal injury claims through to medical devices.

John is an excellent strategic partner.

John is very intelligent. He is the go-to class action lawyer in the US. We turn to him whenever we need big advice on issues on what we should do.

John is the best lawyer I've ever worked with.

Richard T. Bernardo
4
Richard T. Bernardo
4
Band 4
Richard Bernardo maintains an exceptional litigation practice, with recognized expertise in mass tort cases in a variety of sectors.

He is outstanding. He is very easy to work with.

Richard is a technical expert.

He is a super-smart lawyer. He is practical and able to explain issues to us.

Manuel F Cachán
5
Manuel F Cachán
5
Band 5
Manuel Cachán is an accomplished trial lawyer who has acted for major clients on pharmaceutical and toxic tort cases.

Manuel is a go-to trial lawyer. He is experienced, smart and exceptional in terms of trial ability. He is good at seeing the broad picture of a litigation.

He is an outstanding trial lawyer.

Manuel is an excellent trial lawyer.

Milli Kanani Hansen
U
Milli Kanani Hansen
U
Up and Coming

Milli Kanani Hansen has a growing practice representing a variety of manufacturers in complex product liability litigation.

She is organized, practical, and good at working with the internal business clients. She is great.

She provides excellent, prompt responses and is open to hop on calls any time. She provides high-level, very good responses that are helpful and practical.

She represents the client's best interest with what is practical.

Ranked Lawyers at
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

USA - Nationwide

Product Liability & Mass Torts

John H Beisner
John H Beisner
Star Individuals
Richard T. Bernardo
4
Richard T. Bernardo
4
Band 4
Manuel F Cachán
5
Manuel F Cachán
5
Band 5
Milli Kanani Hansen
U
Milli Kanani Hansen
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates