Winning Mass Torts: Strategies for Defending High-Stakes Litigation

Christopher G. Campbell | DLA Piper

Chris Campbell is the Chair of DLA Piper’s Product Liability and Mass Tort practice group, which is among the world’s largest and most award-winning team of product liability defense counsel. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Chris has 20 years’ experience in all phases of mass tort, class action, and other complex commercial litigation, including trying cases and arguing appeals. He has served as global, national, and trial counsel for many global companies in the life sciences, food and beverage, automotive, and insurance sectors. In addition, Chris also advises clients on regulatory, communications, and other strategic matters with the potential to impact the clients’ business interests or reputations.

Clients say of Chris: “He is great. Period.” Others praise the quality of his strategic advice and devotion to client service as “truly indispensable” to their teams, noting their gratitude for “all the help (almost around the clock!) and good advice.” The Legal 500 United States has repeatedly recognized Chris, noting that he “commands respect.” Law360 selected Chris as a “Rising Star” in the area of product liability, citing his “knack for breaking down difficult science into concepts” and “creativity and unorthodox tactics” that “have set him apart.”

Chris regularly speaks and writes on the topics of product liability, mass torts, and class action litigation, as well as the attorney-client privilege, expert witnesses, pharmacovigilance, trial tactics, and other topics.

Antonious E. Sadek, PharmD. | DLA Piper

Tony Sadek is a pharmacist and associate in DLA Piper’s Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Product Stewardship group. He focuses his practice on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, mass torts, product liability, and regulatory issues. As a pharmacist, Tony served as pharmacy practicing consulting to clients. After law school, Tony clerked for mass tort judges at both the federal and state level. Prior to joining DLA Piper, Tony worked at an expert witness company, connecting law firms to experts who meet their case needs.

Katie Insogna | DLA Piper

Katie Insogna serves as Co-Chair of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Product Liability Sub-Practice Group. A five-time honoree by Legal 500 for life sciences and pharmaceutical and medical device defense (2020 as a Rising Star; 2021-2024 as a Next Generation Partner), Katie’s practice focuses on litigation, regulatory, and enforcement challenges facing pharmaceutical, medical device, and life science companies.

Her litigation practice primarily involves representing clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional product liability litigation and complex commercial litigation, for which DLA Piper’s Product Liability and Mass Tort practice group has been recognized as a leader for years. As part of her Legal 500 recognition, Katie was described as “highly skilled” and “a name to note.” Clients recognized that she “excels at handling high-stakes litigation and counselling” and “recommended for her ability to handle both regulatory issues and litigation, including MDLs tied to product liability, and broader commercial litigation.”

Katie has extensive expertise with fact and expert witness development, discovery and dispositive motion practice, and trial preparation. Katie has taken and defended numerous parties and third-party witness depositions in product liability and commercial litigation cases. She also has argued with motions in state and federal courts.

In addition to her litigation practice, Katie counsels clients on research and development, risk management, and other compliance issues.

Rachel Horton | DLA Piper

Rachel Horton represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in multidistrict litigation and appeals throughout the United States. Rachel is a high-energy litigator who regularly handles complex matters. She has presented oral arguments in front of federal Courts of Appeals, state and federal trial courts and arbitration panels.

Rachel has significant experience drafting dispositive motions that have helped eliminate or narrow claims. For example, she has deep experience litigating preemption and standing issues. Recently, Rachel has collaborated with her colleagues to litigate False Claims Act and intellectual property lawsuits on behalf of life science companies.

Rachel also maintains an active pro bono practice. She regularly handles Court-appointed appeals in the Third Circuit, and she is a member of the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel.

Rachel graduated first in her law school class. During law school, she interned with the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she assisted in the government’s litigation of Federal Tort Claims Act and False Claims Act cases. She also served as an intern for the Honorable Louis H. Pollak, US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Then Rachel clerked for the Honorable Legrome D. Davis, US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Honorable Richard C. Wesley, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Before practicing law, Rachel worked as a molecular biologist in a breast cancer research lab at the University of Pennsylvania while simultaneously earning a Master of Bioethics degree. Rachel’s research into the genetic underpinnings of cancer has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Her background in science helps Rachel understand her clients’ business and litigation needs.

Megan Kinney | DLA Piper

Megan Kinney is a litigator who defends high-profile brands in consumer class actions. She represents clients in cases involving claims alleging false advertising and unfair, unlawful and fraudulent business practices concerning the manufacture and sale of over-the-counter consumer goods, including those brought under California’s UCL, FAL, CLRA and other consumer protection statutes. She has defended prominent companies in multidistrict litigation involving industrywide manufacturers and sellers of OTC consumer products.

Megan is an alumnus of DLA Piper’s Krantz Fellowship, which allowed her to spend her first year as an associate working exclusively on pro bono matters. She maintains an active pro bono practice that includes obtaining discharge upgrades and disability ratings for veterans. She also supports DLA Piper’s commitment to pro bono as a member of the North American Pro Bono Committee.

I. Defining and narrowing mass tort claims at the pleading stage | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. Designing affirmative discovery to balance the disclosure obligations on both sides | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. Identifying dispositive legal, expert, and other issues and getting them heard early | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

IV. Bellwether case selection and trial strategies | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

V. Federal, state, and global coordination | 2:50pm – 3:10pm