Robert Alpert

Practice Areas

Bob Alpert is a partner in Taft’s Class Action Litigation and Product Liability and Mass Torts practices. He has more than 30 years of experience defending some of the world’s largest corporations in complex, high-exposure matters across the United States.

Examples of engagements where Bob has served as national coordinating counsel and lead trial counsel include:

Defended a home improvement retailer in over 120 cases alleging Non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by a popular herbicide.

Defended an international packaging manufacturer in over 150 cases alleging developmental and neurological injuries from ingestion of white lead carbonate pigment.

Defended a home improvement retailer and its affiliates in over 300 cases claiming that inhalation of silica dust during fabrication of artificial stone countertops caused silicosis and other pulmonary injuries.

Defended a home improvement retailer in multiple individual and putative class actions claiming risk of cancer related to the leaching of chromated copper arsenate from pressure-treated wood.

Other examples of Bob’s engagements include:

National discovery counsel for an international tire manufacturer in product liability cases alleging tread separation.

Regional coordinating counsel for an international pharmaceutical manufacturer in over 150 cases alleging increased cardiovascular risks from a popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Defended the world’s largest manufacturer of oriented strand board in a class action alleging defective composite wood siding.

Defended over 40 product liability cases against foreign manufacturers of e-cig and battery components.

Bob is nationally recognized as a standout in the courtroom, earning acclaim from colleagues, adversaries, and judges for his litigation skills, technical proficiency, and rapport with jurors.

Bob’s extensive class action experience includes defending clients in toxic tort, product liability, consumer fraud, privacy/healthcare, insurance, real estate, and sales tax class actions in state and federal courts nationwide.

He also has significant experience defending companies in multiple lawsuits coordinated before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) and state analogs such as California’s JCCP.

Bob also has significant appellate experience, having successfully argued appeals in numerous state and federal appellate courts, including various federal Courts of Appeal.

Bob’s practice also focuses on representing corporate policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes. He advises clients on matters involving first- and third-party insurance coverage, including commercial general liability, errors and omissions, property, automotive, and D&O policies, and has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout the country in declaratory judgment and other insurance coverage litigation.

Professional Memberships

• Class Action Section, State Bar of Georgia

• Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)

• Atlanta Bar Association, Litigation Section

• Defense Research Institute, Product Liability Committee

• Lawyers Club of Atlanta