Page 52 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

LITIGATION DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR:
PRODUCTS LIABILITY/MASS TORTS

DECHERT

Q&A What are some of the department's most satisfy-
ing successes of the past year and why? Despite
the travails and challenges of a tumultuous year, Dechert’s DECHERT’S 68-LAWYER PLMT GROUP EXCELS AT
product liability litigation practice adapted quickly to the THINKING STRATEGICALLY. EVEN MID-CRISIS, WHEN
new parameters and enjoyed another standout year. In the CLIENTS FACE CHALLENGES ON ALL SIDES, WE ARE
pharmaceuticals space, we secured a key Second Circuit deci- FOCUSED ON HOW BEST TO BRING ABOUT FAVORABLE
sion on behalf of Pfizer in the Lipitor litigation, winning the LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. CO-LEADS MARK CHEFFO
affirmance of a consequential ruling in the Southern District AND SHEILA BIRNBAUM ARE REGARDED BY BENCH AND
of New York, in which a federal judge found a number of Lipi- BAR AS NATIONAL EXPERTS WHO THINK CREATIVELY TO
tor claims barred by federal preemption and by New York’s RESOLVE THE MOST COMPLEX CASES. LEADING A GROUP
three-year statute of limitations. This success followed an OF SENIOR LITIGATORS WHO DRAW ON AN UNUSUALLY
important Sargon ruling for Pfizer in California Superior Court BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE, THEY HAVE SHOWN AN
expected to result in summary judgment in most Lipitor cases. ABILITY THIS PAST YEAR TO WIN PIVOTAL RULINGS AND
The same court also dismissed over 2,000 cases for failing LANDMARK CASES IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS
to comply with discovery deadlines. Elsewhere, for GSK, we ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESS SECTORS.
secured an important win in an MDL in the Southern District
of Florida centered on allegations that heartburn medication
Zantac causes cancer. For Purdue, we have continued to lead
settlement negotiations involving state attorneys general, tered on allegations that the company had misled consumers
private claimants, and court-appointed mediators to finalize about the safety of iPhones. After months of motion prac-
Purdue’s plan of reorganization and landmark global settle- tice on all fronts, we secured a complete defense victory in
ment, which is anticipated to deliver over US$10 billion in October 2020. We also led the defense for insurer State Farm
value to help abate the opioid crisis. We have also made in litigation over COVID-19 business interruption coverage,
significant headway in the technology and insurance spaces. winning three wins in quick succession in lawsuits brought
We scored an important win for Apple in a putative nationwide by policyholders alleging losses. The August 2020 decision by
class action in the Northern District of California, which cen- a Texas federal court to grant Dechert’s motion to dismiss—

50 October 2021 |