McGuireWoods LLP‘s broad-based product liability team has a strong pedigree representing drug and medical device manufacturers in single plaintiff and aggregated litigation, regularly securing jury trial wins, as well as acting as regional and national co-ordinating counsel on MDLs. As well as the team’s core litigation prowess, which includes the use of ADR techniques, should the need arise, the team is also noted for its deep understanding of the underlying product and the regulatory framework. Consequently, it is very effective at providing risk management strategies as well as handling product recalls. In relation to core products litigation, as well as being able to draw upon the strength of a number of highly skilled trial litigators, it also regularly achieves vital early victories at a motions stage, including as it relates to lack of jurisdiction and in Daubert challenges. Sam Tarry co-heads the overarching products liability and mass torts team alongside Justin Howard , and is noted for his aptitude at helping to develop expert witnesses as well as to explain complex scientific/medical concepts in a cogent way to juries at trial. Davis Walsh  is also a key member of the team and is particularly adept at advising on infectious disease litigation. Diane Flannery recently retired.    

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Key clients

  • Duke University Health Center and Columbia University Medical Center

Work highlights

  • Represented Duke University Health Center and Columbia University Medical Center in a putative class action brought by sixteen named plaintiffs on behalf of themselves or their decedents, based on harm allegedly sustained as a result of a shortage of a drug called Fabrazyme that began in 2009 and lasted until 2012.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Samuel Tarry, Justin Howard

Other key lawyers

Benjamin Hatch, Mark Anderson, Candace Ali Blydenburgh, Nicholas Hoffman, Davis Walsh