Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP handles a range of advertising and marketing litigation matters including class actions and ESG cases, and represents high-profile clients from various industries such as food and beverages, telecommunications, and household consumer goods. The practice is particularly active in Lanham Act false advertising disputes and misrepresentation matters. Heading the team is Steven Zalesin who is recognized for his extensive experience as a trial lawyer and his expertise in false advertising claims and IP issues. The group also benefits from the knowledge of Jane Metcalf who concentrates on commercial litigation, specifically focusing on false advertising claims, IP matters, class action defense, and litigation involving FDA-regulated products. Joshua Kipnees is another notable name in the firm for his work on false advertising litigation and internal investigations. All individuals mentioned are based in New York.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Patterson's uniqueness is its quiet strength. The litigators are firm without being inflexible, extremely knowledgeable without being boasting, astute without being smug.’

  • ‘I have complete faith they will not waffle in the face of our competition, while continually keeping the business objectives and end goal in mind.’

  • ‘Nothing short of exceptional.’

  • ‘Extremely easy to work with.’

  • ‘A very pleasant collaboration.’

  • 'Josh Kipnees and his team at Patterson are my first phone call for all marketing advice and false advertising class action defense work.'

Key clients

  • The Coca-Cola Company
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
  • L’Oréal USA
  • Walgreens
  • The Hershey Company
  • InComm Payments
  • Appian Corporation
  • The Glad Products Co.
  • The Brita Products Co.
  • The Clorox Co.

Work highlights

  • Represented The Coca-Cola Company in two lawsuits by an environmental group challenging Coca-Cola’s use of plastic packaging.
  • Represented The Hershey Co., winning dismissal of claims by a putative nationwide class of consumers that alleged that the presence of trace amounts of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate rendered Hershey’s products unsafe.
  • Represented Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. in multi-district litigation over alleged benzene contamination of Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreen products, winning court approval of a favorable settlement reached prior to filing any responsive pleading.

Lawyers

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Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Steven Zalesin

Other key lawyers

Jane Metcalf, Joshua Kipnees