Leveraging ‘a strong overarching litigation brand’ – which includes a number of well-regarded trial lawyers based in the Midwest and on both coasts – as well as a deep knowledge of the underlying science/medicine, Winston & Strawn LLP ’excels at handling large cases and MDLs’ involving product liability and consumer fraud allegations against pharmaceutical/medical devices companies. As well as regularly acting as lead trial counsel on high-profile matters, the team is also adept at leading the overarching litigation strategy, often acting as national counsel helping to work up the case, dealing with expert witnesses and providing expertise at a motions stage. Christopher Essig is noted for his ‘very collegiate’ approach, ensuring that he is a popular choice on large-scale MDLs often involving multiple defendants. Alongside ’outstanding’ trial lawyer Scott Ahmad, Essig is lead national counsel for Hikma Pharmaceuticals in all of its opioid-related litigation. San Francisco-based team head Sandra Edwards is also a very accomplished trial lawyer whose oeuvre of work has included a number of high-profile MDL successes for pharmaceutical companies over the years.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The firm has a strong overarching litigation brand and excels at handling large cases and MDLs.'
- 'Christopher Essig is very collegiate and great to work with.'
- 'The outstanding Scott Ahmad provides accurate and commercial guidance.'
Key clients
- Hikma Pharmaceuticals
- Otsuka America Pharmaceutical
- Abbott Laboratories
- Monsanto Company
- Albertsons Companies
- Noramco, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Abbott in state and federal proceedings involving numerous product liability lawsuits, alleging that cow-milk-based preterm-infant formula products cause a naturally occurring gastrointestinal disorder in premature infants.
- Representing Hikma in the national opiate litigation, which includes a sprawling multidistrict proceeding consolidated in Ohio federal court and various state-court actions, including Texas, Utah, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
- Achieved victory for client Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. when the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia dismissed the entire case, including a plaintiff’s failure-to-warn, design-defect, manufacturing-defect, and consumer-protection claims with prejudice at the pleadings stage.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sandra Edwards