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.

Dan Webb

Work highlightsWinston & Strawn LLP

https://www.winston.com/en/who-we-are/professionals/webb-dan-k.html#full-bio Dan Webb, co-executive chairman of Winston & Strawn, is one of the most distinguished and sought-after trial lawyers in the United States. He has tried more than 100 jury cases involving a wide variety of claims and been named a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Notably, Dan achieved international acclaim for his successful prosecution of retired Admiral John Poindexter in the Iran-Contra Affair. He served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and has served in special prosecutor or similar roles on several occasions, including for the successful prosecution of actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago, for which he was named Am Law’s “Litigator of the Week” in December 2021.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sandra Edwards

Other key lawyers

George Lombardi, Christopher Essig, Scott Ahmad, Bryce Cooper, Sharon Desh, Rand Brothers, Reid Smith, Francie Berger, Sarah Harmon