Kirkland Honored as Product Liability Department of the Year at New York Legal Awards

The New York Law Journal named Kirkland the Product Liability Department of the Year at the 2026 New York Legal Awards, which honor the attorneys and law firms whose dedication, innovation and leadership represent the pinnacle of legal achievement in New York.

Kirkland was honored for securing a high-profile victory for Uber in the first bellwether case in coordinated state and federal litigation related to alleged misconduct by drivers; a jury trial win for GATX Corporation in class action and CERCLA litigation regarding a 2023 train derailment and subsequent $600 million class action settlement; and the country’s largest ongoing MDL alleging that exposure to Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder results in the development of ovarian cancer.

“We pride ourselves on being straight shooters,” said partner Kristen Fournier of the New York products team. “We litigate hard but are also direct and true to our word. When a deal is made, it is honored. We want to win because our skills and performance set us apart.”

Our Product Liability Practice Group defends and wins some of the highest-stakes matters across the nation, from individual personal injury trials to sprawling federal MDLs and coordinated state proceedings involving thousands of claims. The team thrives in the most challenging circumstances, including cases following extensive media coverage, product recalls, regulatory fines, congressional inquiries and parallel white-collar matters.