Legal News

Local Firms Win The American Lawyer Awards for Niche Litigation Practices

By Brian Harris

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff 

Pennsylvania firms couldn?t be found even among the honorable mentions of  The American Lawyer?s Litigation Department of the Year awards, but when it comes to niche practices, they made their presence  felt.

Reed Smith took the prize for best products liability litigation practice. The award was supported in large part by the team?s work in securing a win for its client in Riegel v. Medtronic. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Reed Smith?s client, Medtronic Inc., and similar companies couldn?t be sued for damages over for FDA-approved medical devices.

Reed Smith has also long represented Wyeth, now part of Pfizer, in cases in Philadelphia over claims the company?s hormone replacement therapy drugs caused plaintiffs? breast cancer.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius was a finalist in the magazine?s award for labor and employment litigation team of the year. The firm has either won that category or was named a runner-up in each of the contests since 2004. The awards are given out biennially.

Morgan Lewis? team was cited for its successful and ?lack of flashiness? representation of clients in difficult ERISA stock-drop suits, wage-and-hour class actions and discrimination suits.

DLA Piper?s products liability team, including Philadelphia-based partner William F. Kiniry Jr., was a finalist in that category. The magazine cited the group?s continued good work even after the departure of rainmaker Amy Schulman to serve as Pfizer?s general counsel.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher won the overall Litigation Department of the Year award for its work during 2008 and 2009.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on January 05, 2010 (boomark / email).