Industry focus
Effective representation requires an understanding of my clients’ products and their business goals, both in the case at hand and into the future.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
I defend my clients’ most valuable asset: the reputation of their products and services. I bring 27 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.
My 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, I advise clients on product warnings, labeling, instructions, recalls, compliance, risk assessments, crisis communications, and navigating governmental investigations. In addition to my work in Oregon and Washington, I have been retained as regional counsel to represent clients in Alaska, Idaho, California, and Nevada and have served on multiple national trial teams. I regularly defend clients in MDLs, class actions, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, punitive damage, and constitutional claims.
I currently serve as President Elect of DRI (formerly known as the Defense Research Institute), the largest international organization of defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel. I was elected to the Executive Committee of DRI in 2020 and served as a National Director on the Board of DRI from 2017-2020. I served as Chair of the DRI Product Liability Committee from 2015 to 2017 and have served on the DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee for over 20 years. I am also a past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Product Liability Section and a former Board member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC).
I am recognized as a Super Lawyer for product liability defense.
I also serve as the Industry Group Leader for Schwabe’s Healthcare and Life Sciences industry group.
Experience
- Favorable jury verdict in a telecommunications case including claims of fraud and conversion.
- Defense verdict in employment case with claims of age discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
- Defense verdict for heavy-duty truck manufacturer in wrongful death case involving claims of crashworthiness.
- Defended automotive manufacturer’s restraint system, obtaining directed verdict after close of plaintiff’s case.
- 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.
Education
- University of Oregon, School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (1996)
- University of California, San Diego, Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (1991)
Admissions
- Oregon State Courts
- Washington State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court - District of Oregon
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Washington
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
- DRI | Lawyers Representing Business, President-Elect (2023-present); 1st/2nd Vice President (2021-2023); 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); DRI Annual Meeting Chair (2011)
- Oregon Bioscience Association (OBA), Board Member (2023-present)
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC), 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); Court Liaison Committee Chair (2008-2009)
- Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), Member
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), Member (2009-present)
- American Health Law Association (AHLA), Member
Awards
- DRI, Richard H. Krochock Award (for Exemplary mentorship to the DRI Young Lawyers Committee) (2011)
- Selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers List, Product Liability (2009-2021)
- Selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers Rising Star List (2008)
Services
Outside Interests
Running half marathons, coaching distance runners on the West Sylvan Middle School and Lincoln High School track teams, and co-captaining Schwabe’s Hood to Coast team for six years.
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