Most Highly Regarded Firms: Texas 2008 - Product Liability Defence
Texas's sophisticated litigation Bar sees a high concentration of product liability cases, especially in the automotive, pharmaceutical and medical device fields.
Nineteen lawyers appear in this section, hailing from 11 firms.
An impressive client list and "hard to beat trial record" earn Beck Redden & Secrest LLP three places in this chapter. A litigation boutique with a reputation for high-stakes, high-profile cases. The firm counts companies such as ExxonMobil and Wyeth among its clients. David Beck is "in a class of his own" according to one impressed peer and his litigation prowess was noted consistently. Joe Redden is considered "a dean of the Texas Bar" by competitors. His work on cases involving drugs and medical devices is "very highly regarded", and he is credited with having pioneered the development of the medical device pre-emption defence in courts countrywide. Curtis Webb completes this "fabulous trio". A "great presence in the courtroom", he recently defended South Texas Electric Co-Operative.
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP's group was consistently recommended to researchers, for cases involving the aerospace, pharmaceutical, automotive, food, power tool and tobacco industries, to name but a few. Partner-in-charge of the Austin office, Terry Tottenham is also head of the pharmaceutical and medical device litigation group. This "excellent" lawyer recently defended a Texas case alleging that mobile phones cause brain cancer. Dallas partner Jonathan Skidmore's practice also emphasises medical device and pharmaceutical litigation, especially mass torts. He was praised as being "excellent for large, complex work". Otway Denny is also considered "very strong", and concentrates his practice on cases involving chemicals, automobiles and construction equipment, as well as plant and refinery explosions.
Vinson & Elkins LLP is "one of the go-to practices for high-risk cases", according to peers. The firm is well known for its Bridgestone/Firestone defences, automobile work and matters related to technologically advanced products. The pair that appear in this chapter: Bob Schick and Knox Nunnally were described as "outstanding" by respondents. Nunnally is well known for his representation of Bridgestone/Firestone in rollover cases and is also recommended for work such as his defence of Purdue Pharma LP in its Oxycontin litigation. Schick recently represented Wyeth in their diet drug litigation and hormone replacement therapy litigation.
Baker Botts LLP's product liability team has a national reputation and "can be counted on with large, complex cases", according to sources. The firm's track record in pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer and industrial product litigation is "very well regarded" by competitors. Steve Scheve impressed peers with his "fabulous grasp of drug litigation", and recent high-profile clients include Eli Lilly and The Upjohn Company. The "outstanding" Richard Josephson is "very sharp and highly respected", and also boasts a "great reputation" for pharmaceutical litigation. Clients include Merck in its Vioxx litigation, and AstraZeneca in matters involving the Seroquel drug.
Tekell Book Matthews & Limmer LLP is a "fabulous litigation boutique", where name partners William Book and Kenneth Tekell are seen as "top tier and extremely bright". Clark Thomas & Winters PC fields two "well-known trial lawyers" in this chapter. The firm is well regarded within the legal community for its automotive, pharmaceutical and medical device product liability defence, and Kenneth Ferguson has tried cases involving airbags, alleged asbestos exposure and seatbelt defects, among others. Michael Klatt is a prolific author and was commended consistently for his pharmaceutical and medical device work.
Jack Urquhart, a founding partner at "litigation stalwart" Urquhart & De Santos LLP is a "magical trial lawyer", renowned for his defences of the Shiley heart valve and the drug Rezulin products. At Hartline Dacus Barger Dreyer & Kern LLP's Corpus Christi office, Darrell Barger has 30 years of experience in all types of product liability case.
At Strasburger & Price LLP, "senior statesman" Richard Davis is "clearly one of the best". Recognised as "General Motors' go-to counsel in Texas" by one source, his position as "one of the best automotive products lawyers in the state" is widely recognised. King & Spalding LLP's Houston office managing partner Robert Meadows is an "excellent practitioner", complimented by peers for his defence of oil and gas companies. Lee Godfrey at Susman Godfrey LLP completes this year's listing of Texas's top product liability practitioners. A "dean of the litigation Bar", sources deemed him "pre-eminent" and "very experienced".