Anne Talcott defends her clients’ most valuable asset: the reputation of their products and services. She has more than 24 years of complex litigation experience representing national and regional healthcare providers and some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, medical device, and biologic manufacturers and distributors.

Anne’s clients also include those facing product liability attacks related to supplements, food, cosmetics, automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, industrial equipment, forest products, construction and agricultural equipment, recreational vehicles, and consumer products.

Applying the knowledge and experience gained in defending hundreds of products in litigation, Anne advises clients on product warnings, labeling, instructions, recalls, compliance, risk assessments, crisis communications, and navigating governmental investigations. In addition to her work in Oregon and Washington, Anne has been retained as regional counsel to represent her clients in Alaska, Idaho, California, and Nevada and has served on several national trial teams. She regularly defends MDLs, class actions, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, punitive damage, and constitutional claims.

In 2021, Anne was elected Second Vice President of DRI (Defense Research Institute), the largest international organization of defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel. She has served as the DRI Secretary-Treasurer from 2020-2021 and as a National Director on the Board of DRI from 2017-2020. Anne has served on the DRI Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee for over 20 years, and previously was the Chair of the DRI Product Liability Committee from 2015 to 2017. She is a past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Product Liability Section, and a former Board member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC).

Anne is a Super Lawyer for product liability defense. She also serves as the Industry Group Leader for Schwabe’s Healthcare and Life Sciences industry group.

Experience

• Served as lead regional counsel coordinating multi-state team that defended global pharmaceutical manufacturer in mass tort litigation involving over 7000 claims nationwide.  Collaborated with national team to aggressively defend cases resulting in dismissal of vast majority of claims. 

• Obtained summary judgment prior to protracted discovery as lead trial counsel for international specialty biologic manufacturer in case of first impression.

• Won defense verdict as co-lead counsel for heavy-duty truck manufacturer in wrongful death case involving claims of crashworthiness.

• Defended automotive manufacturer’s restraint system as lead trial counsel, obtaining directed verdict after close of plaintiff’s case.

Memberships

• DRI (Defense Research Institute): 2^nd Vice President (2021-present); Secretary-Treasurer (2020-2021); National Director, Board of Directors (2017-2020); Product Liability Committee, Committee Chair (2015-2017); Drug and Medical Device Committee, Steering Committee Member (2001-present), Publications Chair (2009-2015); Board Liaison, Data Privacy Committee (2017-2020); DRI Annual Meeting Chair (2011)
• International Association of Defense Counsel, Member (2009-present)
• Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Member (2005-present); Board of Directors (2015-2018); Co-Chair, Annual Convention (2018)
• Oregon State Bar, Product Liability Section, Chair (2003); Executive Committee Member (1998-2004); Disciplinary Board Member (2015-2019)
• Multnomah Bar Association, Judicial Screening Committee Chair (2011-2012), Committee Member (2009-2012); Court Liaison Committee Chair (2008-2009), Committee Member (2006-2009)

• Oregon Women Lawyers, Member (2002-present)

Awards

• DRI, Richard H. Krochock Award (for Exemplary mentorship to the DRI Young Lawyers Committee) (2011)
• Super Lawyers, Product Liability (2009-2021) 
• Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2008)

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

"Making Voir Dire More Effective With a Jury Questionnaire" Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Sunriver, OR (2012)

"Hot Topics in Drug and Medical Device Law," DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, Chicago, IL (2011)

Community Activities

• Northwest Children’s Theater, Board Member
• Volunteer:  Lincoln High School Dance Team, Lincoln High School Track Team, West Sylvan Middle School Track Team, Multnomah Athletic Club Swim Team

Services