Biography • Life Sciences - Product Liability

Sara J Gourley is a litigation partner in Sidley's Chicago office and a member of the firm's executive committee. Ms Gourley has substantial experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, and blood products liability litigation. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device defence, especially multijurisdictional coordination and defence of class actions. She is national counsel for a producer of blood products in AIDS and Hepatitis C litigation, national counsel for a major pharmaceutical company defending a widely-used prescription drug, and represents numerous manufacturers in multidistrict and related state litigation and class actions.

Ms Gourley speaks frequently on topics relating to the defence of product liability claims. Recent presentations include 'Approaches to Causation in Mass Torts', 'Transnational Product Liability Problems' and 'The Role of Litigation in Regulating Drug Safety'. Ms Gourley also presented a paper to the Shanghai FDA on 'Adverse Drug Reactions: A Discussion of United States and International Compensation Schemes', published a 2012 update on US product liability law and a chapter on 'Emerging Issues for Products Manufactured Overseas', which was published in the fall of 2009.

Ms Gourley received her JD (law review) from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1980, and her AB (cum laude) from Ripon College in 1977. Admissions include US Court of Appeals; US District Court; and Illinois.

Biography • Product Liability Defence

Sara Gourley is a litigation partner in Sidley's Chicago office and a member of the firm's executive committee. Ms Gourley has substantial experience in pharmaceutical, medical device and blood products liability litigation. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device defence, especially multi-jurisdictional coordination and defence of class actions. She is national counsel for a producer of blood products in AIDS and hepatitis C litigation, national counsel for a major pharmaceutical company defending a widely used prescription drug, and represents numerous manufacturers in multidistrict and related state litigation and class actions.

Ms Gourley is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), the American Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and a member of DRI's drug and medical device steering committee. Ms Gourley speaks frequently on topics relating to the defence of product liability claims. Recent presentations include "Approaches to Causation in Mass Torts", "Transnational Product Liability Problems" and "The Role of Litigation in Regulating Drug Safety". Ms Gourley also presented a paper to the Shanghai FDA on "Adverse Drug Reactions: A Discussion of United States and International Compensation Schemes", published a 2012 update on US product liability law and a chapter on "Emerging Issues for Products Manufactured Overseas" which was published in autumn 2009.

Ms Gourley received her JD (Law Review) from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1980 and her AB (cum laude, with honours in English) from Ripon College in 1977. Admissions include: Illinois; various US Court of Appeals and US District Courts.