Leading Product Liability and Mass Torts Team Joins Dechert

NEW YORK, July 20, 2018 – In one of its largest lateral team acquisitions to date, Dechert LLP has added a 29-strong team of one of the premier U.S. product liability and mass torts litigation groups, including three additional new partners, nine counsel and six associates. The new lawyers join market-leaders Sheila Birnbaum, Mark Cheffo and Douglas Fleming, III, who started at Dechert in May. Named “Product Liability Group of the Year” for 2017 by Law360 and “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year” twice by Chambers USA, this elite team represents a more than seven percent increase to the size of Dechert’s global litigation practice.

Ms. Birnbaum noted, “Dechert provides a tremendous global platform for our practice and I have the utmost respect for the team this firm has built.”

Joining Dechert are partners Hayden Coleman, Douglas Dunham and Bert Wolff; and counsel Katherine Armstrong, Mara Cusker Gonzalez, Paul LaFata, Jae Hong Lee, Rachel Passaretti-Wu, Ellen Quackenbos, Sara Roitman, Jonathan Tam and David Weinraub. In addition the team includes associates Marina Schwarz, Jennifer Swearingen, Emily Van Tuyl, Nathan Williams, Lincoln Wilson and Lindsay Zanello. Ms. Birnbaum and Mr. Cheffo will serve as co-leaders of the practice. Eight additional legal professionals (three project attorneys and five paralegals) also join the firm.

Dechert Chair Andrew Levander said, “We are thrilled to have this marquee team join Dechert’s group of experienced product liability and mass tort litigators. A prestige lateral acquisition of this magnitude cements our firm’s position among the best in the market.” 

Matthew Larrabee, chair of Dechert’s global litigation practice added, “This is a dramatic step forward in our strategy to develop core global practices and compete at the very top of the industry in priority litigation disciplines. This first-class litigation team complements Dechert’s litigation prominence and ensures we are able to provide top-of-the-line product liability and mass torts services for clients.” 

Dechert’s highly prized global litigation practice is one of the largest practices at the firm, comprised of more than 350 lawyers across 21 offices. The group combines the knowledge and expertise of former law clerks, prosecutors and government officials, notable litigators from top-ranked firms and home-grown talent. Our litigators are known for handling the most critical and complex domestic and multijurisdictional litigation disputes and investigations around the world. In addition to commercial litigation, Dechert’s global litigation platform spans investigations and white collar defense, antitrust/competition, international arbitration, securities litigation, and labor and employment.

Recent additions to the global team include distinguished white collar and investigations partners David Kelley, Benjamin Rosenberg, Michael McGinley, and Roger Burlingame, renowned international trade partners Amanda DeBusk and Melissa Duffy, and elite commercial litigation partners Laurent Martinet, Christina Sarchio, David Stern, Stephen Surgeoner and Dorothy Cory-Wright. 

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 27 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for all clients.