Distinctions · AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell · Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America · Top 40 Under 40, Memphis Business Journal, 2007 · Outstanding Subcommittee Chair, Litigation Section, American Bar Association, 2008 and 2011 · Tennessee Bar Association, Leadership Law 2010 · Mid-South Super Lawyers®, Class Action/Mass Torts · Mid-South Rising Stars®, Personal Injury Defense: Products Associations · American Bar Association
- Litigation Section
-- Drug and Medical Device Subcommittee Co-Chair, Mass Torts Committee, 2010-11 Toxic Torts Subcommittee Co-Chair, Mass Torts Committee, 2008-10 · Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Drug and Medical Device Committee · Federal Bar Association
- Vice President, Board of Directors · Tennessee Bar Association
- Litigation Section
-- Executive Committee Legal Experience · Lead Counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturer in mass tort cases filed in Las Vegas, Nevada alleging Hepatitis C infection. Obtained dismissals of more than 4,000 plaintiffs claims. · Defense of mass torts cases involving exposure to industrial chemicals in national venues including Madison County, Illinois and Wayne County, Michigan. · Summary judgment obtained for manufacturer of metalworking fluids in mass torts case involving over 200 plaintiffs with claims exceeding $100 Million in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. · After removal pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act, successfully defeated remand efforts by plaintiffs in a putative class action seeking more than $50 billion for alleged identity theft, ultimately leading to outright dismissal. · Defense of product liability cases involving pharmaceuticals, industrial tools, motor vehicles, air bags, agricultural products and chemical products. · Prosecution and defense of cases involving claims for patent, copyright and trademark infringement. · Prosecution and defense of commercial cases involving business disputes, unfair competition, breach of contract and restrictive covenants. · Defense of environmental contamination cases involving CERCLA and contribution actions. Papers, Presentations & Publications · Panel Member, "Devising Novel End-Game Strategies in Bet-the-Company Litigation," ACI's National Advanced Forum on Managing and Resolving Mass Tort Products Liability Claims, New York, NY, October, 2010. · Panel Chair and Seminar Co-Chair, "Chemical Products and Toxic Torts: From Crisis to Mass Litigation - Starting Smart and Finishing Strong," Houston, TX, October, 2010. · "Comment C on Toxic Torts in the Restatements Third", ABA Section of Litigation, Mass Torts Newsletter, Summer 2010. · Seminar Co-Chair, "Chemical Products and Toxic Torts: New Developments, Significant Trends and a View into the Future." ABA Section of Litigation, Products Liability and Mass Torts Committees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Houston, TX, September, 2009. · "Securities Actions and the CAFA Conundrum," Securities Law360, May 2009. · "The Potential REACH of European Union Chemical Regulations into U.S. Courts," ABA Section of Litigation, Mass Torts Newsletter, Winter, 2008. · "Consolidation: Tempering the Temptation for Judicial Economy,' ABA Section of Litigation, Trial Practice Journal, Fall 2008, Vol. 22, No. 3. · "Beyond the HazCom Standard in Failure to Warn Claims", Defense Research Institute, For the Defense, April 2007. · "Bellwether Plaintiffs Overview, Strategy and Implications," ABA Section of Litigation, Mass Torts Newsletter, Winter 2007. · "Damages and Burden Shifting in Trademark and Copyright Cases in Defending Intellectual Property Cases," Defense Research Institute, 2006. · "Joint Defense Agreements - Practical and Ethical Considerations," Defense Research Institute, For the Defense, February 2007. · Regular columnist for DRI's "Daubert On-line," an electronic newsletter providing updates on the law applicable to expert witnesses. · Panel Chair, Class Action Certification, ABA Section of Litigation, Chemical Products Subcommittee Meeting, Wilmington, Delaware, 2008. · "Mass Torts: Looking Back But Heading Forward," ABA Section of Litigation, Mass Torts, Product Liability and Environmental Litigation Joint Meeting, Aspen, Colorado, 2008. · "Developments in Mass Torts Law," ABA Section of Litigation, Mid-year meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 2007. · "Civility and Professionalism in a Young Lawyer's Practice," Defense Research Institute, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., 2007. · "Products Liability," CLE, Memphis Bar Association, 2006. · "Civility and Professionalism," CLE, Memphis Bar Association, 2007. · "Defeating Class Certification in Complex Commercial Litigation," Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 2 No. 4, 14-19 (October 2009). · "Generic Preemption after Levine," Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 3 No. 4, 6-9 (October 2010). |