Gretchen N. Miller concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation, including product liability litigation, in state and federal courts. She has significant trial experience, both as first and second chair trial counsel, defending manufacturers against claims of product defect for industrial, automotive, and medical products on a national basis. As national counsel for manufacturers of industrial products, Gretchen oversees product liability litigation nationwide and counsels clients on risk management strategies. In addition to products liability matters, she has gained significant experience in other complex litigation matters involving issues such as misappropriation of trade secrets, restrictive covenants, contract disputes and professional negligence.
In addition to her litigation practice, Gretchen spends a good portion of her time counseling manufacturers, distributors and retailers regarding consumer product safety issues. Her practice includes counseling clients on compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act, representing clients before the Consumer Product Safety Commission and various state attorneys general on consumer product safety issues, and providing guidance with recalls and recall procedures.
Gretchen serves as the Pro Bono Coordinator for the Chicago office and is active in various types of pro bono work on behalf of the homeless and artists in need of legal representation.
Areas of Concentration
· Consumer product safety
· Commercial litigation
· Products liability
· Class actions
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
· Member, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Product Safety Council
· Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Steering Committee Member, Products Liability Committee
- Chair, Manufacturer's Risk Prevention SLG
- Steering Committee Member, Young Lawyers Committee, 2000 - 2007
· American Bar Association
- Section of Litigation
- Products Liability Committee
· State Bar of Arizona
- Arizona Trial College, 1998
· Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
- President, Young Lawyers' Division, 1998 - 1999
- Vice President, Young Lawyers' Division, 1996 - 1998
Awards & Recognition
· Team Member, Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year" (2011)
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
Articles
· Author, "SEC Proposes Rule Relating to Conflict Mineral Disclosure Requirements for Product Manufacturers in Dodd-Frank Act," GT Alert, January 2011
· Author, "All Consumer Products Subject to New Requirements Under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act," GT Alert, November 2008
· Author, "The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008," GT Alert, August 2008
· Author, "Introduction to Amendments to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 213," Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, August 2002
· Author, "The Universal Waste Rule: Modification of the Hazardous Waste Recycling Program," 2 Envtl. Law. 203, September 1995
Speeches
· Speaker, "Creating and Implementing a Successful Recall Strategy," DRI Products Liability Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 6, 2011
· Speaker, "CPSIA - Two Years Later," Presentation to In-House Counsel, September 22, 2010
· Speaker, "CPSIA and Prop. 65: Comparing Apples To Oranges," Prop 65 Conference, San Francisco, California, September 20, 2010
· Speaker, "Product Liability 101 for Engineers," In-House Presentation to Employees of Manufacturing Clients
· Speaker, "CPSIA and Prop 65, Don't Comply with Just One," American Apparel and Footwear Association, March 5, 2009
· Speaker, "The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act: Updates and Challenges," Product Safety Council, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Washington, D.C., December 3, 2008
· Speaker, "Developments in the Sophisticated User Defense," DRI Products Liability Conference, Phoenix, February 8, 2008
· Speaker, "Break Away from the Boilerplate - Strategies for Utilizing Discovery Techniques to Advance Your Case," DRI Young Lawyers Seminar, Miami, June 5, 2007