The nimble and flexible team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP excels at handling large-scale aggregated litigation, where it regularly has leadership roles on matters within the pharmaceutical and medical devices space and is able to guide clients throughout the process, from pre-litigation matters and risk management, through to the effective development of litigation strategy. In this context, the firm can provide a multi-faceted offering which leans into Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory prowess as well as governmental investigations and white-collar competence, should the need arise, and is also noted for bringing in appellate lawyers at an early stage, thereby providing a strategic advantage at trial, settlement, and on appeal. The team continues to be very active in the sprawling opioid litigation, recently working with manufacturer Teva to reach a favorable settlement with all 50 US states, putting an end to a large proportion of its outstanding legal jeopardy in the area. Pittsburgh-based Wendy West Feinstein has been heavily involved handling trial work for Teva in the opioid litigation and is also lead trial and co-ordinating counsel for Philips RS in the CPAP MDL. Philadelphia-based John Lavelle also had a key role in the Philips matter, adding gravitas and expertise as a result of his many years’ experience handling trial and appellate litigation for pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers. Paul Zevnik and Yardena Zwang-Weissman co-head the overarching product liability and insurance recovery group from Washington DC and Los Angeles, respectively.  

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Key clients

  • Philips RS
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals and affiliates
  • Rite Aid Hdqtrs Corp.
  • Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals
  • Merck

Work highlights

  • Representing Philips RS North America LLC (Philips Respironics) for the ongoing multi-district litigation (MDL) resulting from the ongoing voluntary recall of certain Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP, and mechanical ventilator prescription medical devices (product liability, economic loss), with support from the firm’s FDA regulatory team.
  • Finalized a favorable settlement on behalf of Teva in the nationwide opioids litigation.
  • Representing Rite Aid in the MDL — In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation — pending in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, consolidating more than 1,300 cases filed against Rite Aid by various governmental entities and alleging that manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies caused the opioid epidemic through marketing practices, excessive distribution, and improper dispensing.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paul Zevnik, Yardena Zwang-Weissman

Other key lawyers

John Lavelle, Wendy West Feinstein, Collie James, Nancy Patterson, Harvey Bartle, Mark Fiore, Evan Jacobs, Adam Teitcher, Adam Hammoud, Katherine Vaky, Maureen Barber, Monica Pedroza