Biography: Life Sciences

Debra Pole is a partner in Sidley's Los Angeles litigation group, the practice group leader for the products liability and mass torts practice in Los Angeles, and a member of the firm's executive committee. Ms Pole is one of the firm's global leaders in the products liability area and a member of the firm's west coast accounting and finance committee. She is a seasoned trial attorney with experience in multidistrict litigation, class actions and products liability litigation. She has extensive jury trial experience in both federal and state courts involving mass tort litigation, class actions, complex litigation and Daubert proceedings.

Ms Pole acted as national coordinating counsel for defendants in the high-profile silicone breast implant litigation and diet drug litigation, and as national discovery coordinator for a major pharmaceutical company involved in mass tort litigation throughout the US. She also acts as lead trial counsel in HRT litigation, drug infusion litigation and other pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. Additionally, Ms Pole is trial counsel in mask and respirator litigation (asbestos and silica). Ms Pole has supervised numerous defence law firms involved in complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. She has extensive experience in early assessment and resolution of products liability matters. She has briefed major appellate matters, provided strategic advice to defendants in multi-district litigation, and examined independent medical and scientific expert witnesses appointed by an MDL court pursuant to FRE 706.

Ms Pole's publications include "Punitive Damages: How Much Is Too Much?", which was published in the January 2006 Law Journal Newsletters, Product Liability & Strategy.

Ms Pole is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; a faculty member of the American College of Trial Lawyers national trial competition programme; a member of the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and director of IADC Trial Academy for 2010; the Defense Research Institute; and a former member of the executive committee of the litigation section of the California Bar. Ms Pole is recognised in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial, mass tort and personal injury as well as named Best Lawyer's 2011 Los Angeles Product Liability Litigator of the Year.

Ms Pole received her JD from the University of Florida, College of Law in 1975 and her BA from Dickinson College in 1973. Admissions include: California; Florida; US Supreme Court; and US Court of Appeals.

Biography: Product Liability Defence

Debra Pole is a partner in Sidley's Los Angeles litigation group, the practice group leader for the products liability and mass torts practice in Los Angeles, and a member of the firm's executive committee. Ms Pole is one of the firm's global leaders in the products liability area and a member of the firm's west coast accounting and finance committee. She is a seasoned trial attorney with experience in multidistrict litigation, class actions and products liability litigation. She has extensive jury trial experience in both federal and state courts involving mass tort litigation, class actions, complex litigation and Daubert proceedings.

Ms Pole acted as national coordinating counsel for defendants in the high profile silicone breast implant litigation and diet drug litigation, and as national discovery coordinator for a major pharmaceutical company involved in mass tort litigation throughout the US. She also acts as lead trial counsel in HRT litigation, drug infusion litigation and other pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. Additionally, Ms Pole is trial counsel in mask and respirator litigation (asbestos and silica). Ms Pole has supervised numerous defence law firms involved in complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. She has extensive experience in early assessment and resolution of products liability matters. She has briefed major appellate matters, provided strategic advice to defendants in multi-district litigation, and examined independent medical and scientific expert witnesses appointed by an MDL court pursuant to FRE 706.

Ms Pole's publications include "Punitive Damages: How Much Is Too Much?", which was published in the January 2006 Law Journal Newsletters, Product Liability & Strategy.

Ms Pole is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a faculty member of the American College of Trial Lawyers national trial competition programme, a member of the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and director of IADC Trial Academy for 2010, the Defense Research Institute, and she is a former member of the executive committee of the litigation section of the California Bar. Ms Pole is recognised in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial, mass tort and personal injury as well as named Best Lawyer's 2011 Los Angeles Product Liability Litigator of the Year.

Ms Pole received her JD from the University of Florida, College of Law in 1975 and her BA from Dickinson College in 1973. Admissions include: California; Florida; US Supreme Court; and US Court of Appeals.