Kathleen Taylor Sooy is National Chair of the Litigation Group. Kathleen is also an elected member of the firm's Management Board.
Kathleen focuses her practice on national litigation, acting as national counsel to companies in commercial and product liability litigation. Clients look to Kathleen for her expertise in class action litigation, both in the United States and Canada, as well as in multidistrict litigation and other complex litigation. Kathleen's experience also includes coordination of strategies in the litigation, government relations and public relations arenas when industries are under attack or need crisis management for addressing high-profile issues. Kathleen handles significant RICO litigation, including federal appellate practice.
Kathleen also acts as an account manager for the firm's work as a DuPont primary law firm and in March 2004 became the fourth lawyer inducted into DuPont Legal's Leaders Circle.
Kathleen is recognized and ranked by Chambers USA 2011 as a leading lawyer in general commercial litigation and lauded by clients for her "bright and innovative ways" and "extensive knowledge of the legal doctrines" and as "unflappable with a positive can-do attitude."
Recent matters include
· Representing AT&T in MDL consumer class action litigation involving iPhones 3G, iPads and iPhone 4
· Representing coal companies in class actions alleging global warming
· Representing Peabody in cases alleging global warming
· Representing DuPont in national class action litigation involving polymer products
· Representing REHAU in class action litigation involving plumbing systems
· Representing Blue Cross companies in MDL national class actions involving payment practices
· Representing WellPoint in class actions over autism claims and other payment practices
· Representing Magellan in class actions over eating disorder claims
Kathleen is admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia and Virginia, as well as the United States Supreme Court and many federal district and appellate courts.
When she is not practicing law, Kathleen reads, cooks, hits the beach and hangs out with her family of three children and two dogs.
Publications
· "Trial Bar Trends: Nuisance Claims in Lead Paint Litigation," American Insurance Association (June 2006). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Kathleen's Potatoes Pascal," Gourmet, (May 2004). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Risk Management Resolutions for the New Year," Utility Fleets, (January 2002). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Communications in High Profile Litigation," Bork & Associates, (June 2001). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Pros and Cons of Class Actions," Fulcrum, (February 2001). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "A Litigator's Look at Crisis Management," ACCA Docket, (September 2000). Co-Authors: Kathleen Taylor Sooy and James D. Shomper.
· "Partnering and Convergence," Fulcrum, (May 2000). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Managing the Relationship with Inside Counsel," Fulcrum, (October 1999). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Litigation Management Best Practices," American Bar Association, (December 1998). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Five Years Into the Experiment: An Evaluation of DuPont's Legal Model," ACCA Docket, (July/August 1998). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Essential Paradigms for the Legal Industry: From Autonomy to Interdependence Through Technology," Corporate Legal Times, (July 1997). Co-Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy and Thomas L. Sager.
· "Litigation Management," American Bar Association, (May 1996). Author: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
Alerts & Newsletters
· "New Expert Discovery Disclosure Rules Take Effect Dec. 1, 2010," Financial Services Alert (November 30, 2010). Contacts: William J. McSherry Jr., Daniel D. Edelman, Kathleen Taylor Sooy, Gregory D. Call.
Speaking Engagements
· "Class Action Settlements: Shields and Swords," Crowell & Moring's Healthcare Ounce Of Prevention Seminar (HOOPS) (April 26-27, 2010). Presenters: Kathleen Taylor Sooy, Tracy A. Roman and April Nelson Ross.
· "Litigate or Settle? How to Make the Call When Big Litigation Hits," Crowell & Moring's 2008 Healthcare Ounce of Prevention Seminar (HOOPS) (October 2008). Co-Presenters: Kathleen Taylor Sooy, Tracy A. Roman, and Russell Collins.
· "Climate Change Litigation and Trends", Swiss Re (June 2008). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Arbitrating Managed Care Disputes," Crowell & Moring's 2007 Healthcare Ounce of Prevention Seminar (HOOPS) (October 2007). Co-Presenters: Kathleen Taylor Sooy, Tracy A. Roman and April M. Nelson.
· "High Profile Litigation: Be Ready to Respond," Hawksmere Corporate Governance Forum (November 2003). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "How to Respond to the New Trends in Litigation," American Chemistry Council (May 2002). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Defense Symposium for In-House Counsel: Avoiding Litigation Disasters," DELVACCA/DuPont Law Firm Network (April 2002). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Managing Liability for Aerial Devices," NAFA (April 2001). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "The Rand Report on Class Actions," York University Canadian National Class Action Symposium (April 2001). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Litigation Management Best Practices," American Bar Association (December 1998). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.
· "Title IX Issues," Lorman (October 1998). Presenter: Kathleen Taylor Sooy.