Co-headed from Baltimore by Kathleen Hardway  and Jason Rose , Venable LLP‘s product liability and mass tort group has over the years developed particular expertise in the life sciences sector, marrying subject matter and regulatory prowess with a deep understanding of effective litigation tactics. Consequently, the team regularly secures leadership roles on large aggregated litigation, including acting as national counsel responsible for shaping the overarching management and strategy of MDLs. The firm’s role as co-counsel to Takeda in litigation related to its PPI medications remains a highlight of the practice, with Rose, Craig Thompson and Bruce Parker , all having pivotal roles in the matter and successfully guiding the firm to securing the dismissal of the majority of cases filed in Delaware. One of the specialized areas of practice that the firm excels in is representing vaccine manufacturers who face allegations of vaccine injury, where Dino Sangiamo is particularly skilled.    

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Key clients

  • Merck & Co., Inc.
  • Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
  • Venator Corporation
  • Laboratory Corporation of America (“LabCorp”)
  • Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. and American Regent, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Acting as Merck’s national counsel in litigation related to its shingles vaccine, Zostavax.
  • Serving as co-national counsel to Takeda for litigation related to its proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications, including Prevacid and Dexilant, which treat acid reflux/GERD. In this litigation, plaintiffs allege that Takeda’s PPI medications cause certain kidney injuries.
  • Serving as Merck’s and Organon’s national counsel for litigation related to the osteoporosis medication Fosamax. In this litigation, plaintiffs allege that Fosamax contributes to atypical femur fractures (AFFs).

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kathleen Hardway, Jason Rose

Other key lawyers

Steve Marshall, Bruce Parker, Craig Thompson, Erin Maus, Dino Sangiamo, John Roberts, Christopher Conoscenti, Karen Firstenberg, Sally Bryan, Christina Gaarder, David Gray, Michael Hecht, Michaela Roberts, JaMar Mancano, Shannon Beamer