America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2007: Products Liability
Chambers & Partners has compiled their independent and objective list of America's Leading Lawyers for Business based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers from Maine to Hawaii. This guide -- which is designed to reflect market opinion -- contains a view of the firms and attorneys who are considered leaders in their field.
In Chambers' 2007 review of national legal talent in the area of "Products Liability," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.
Chambers' comments:
National Ranking: 1
The Firm: “A first-class law firm in so many areas, with products being one of them,” this Chicago-powered outfit has an undeniable national presence and a stable of lawyers that devours litigation - and whose reputation for being prepared to try a case translates into a strong position when settling. Spreading itself across several fields of products liability, in the past twelve months the firm has recorded successes in lead paint litigation, pharmaceutical litigation and, of course, tobacco. In an example of the high-stakes litigation for which Kirkland has become known, WR Grace retained the firm in asbestos litigation, novel in that personal injury, diminution of property value and criminal environmental claims were all bound together. In this field of litigation, traditionally riddled with unmeritorious claims, Kirkland has successfully implemented a policy of painstakingly sorting the valid from the invalid. Another matter of note has seen Kirkland retained by Apple in litigation in Canada and California alleging that the iPod causes hearing disorders, a case of obvious magnitude.
The Lawyers: “Mega-brain” David Bernick is an undisputed star of products liability. “He has distinguished himself in a way that all of us aspire towards but the majority of us will never attain,” admitted one peer. “Dynamic, aggressive and able,” this outstanding trial lawyer does not let his almost unmatched reputation in the tobacco arena hinder him from excelling elsewhere. Another giant of the tobacco arena is Stephen Patton. This preeminent “master settler and strategic thinker” has in the past two years seen many state capitals while delivering arguments on behalf of R.J. Reynolds in lawsuits arising out of the Master Settlement Agreement.
Clients/Work Highlights: Apple; R.J. Reynolds; DuPont; Abbott Laboratories; WR Grace; Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco.
Reprinted with permission from Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2007 - www.chambersandpartners.com.