Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
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Leslie Smith is a litigation partner and was a long-time member of the Firm’s Global Management Committee. She concentrates her practice in the areas of antitrust, class action, and consumer fraud litigation. The Legal 500 stated that Leslie has a ‘good strategic approach’, ‘demonstrates personal commitment to the company’s cause’ and ‘acquires and deploys the best firm talent appropriately’. Leslie is highlighted as “2017 Life Science Sta...
Doug Baker has successfully litigated and tried a number of complicated bet-the-company and other disputes involving commercial, product liability, professional liability, insurance coverage, and tort/personal injury cases, representing local to Fortune 500 Companies. Doug has tried cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, as well as administrative proceedings and arbitrations, achieving favorable verdicts or results for his clients, both plaintiffs and defendants. Doug’s hono...
Robert has been affiliated with Pray Walker since 1992 and has focused on trials of civil disputes. Robert’s practice began with the defense of personal injury and product liability lawsuits, but has grown to include handling cases involving business fraud and interference, breaches of corporate duties, and problems arising from business agreements. The contractual disputes range from commercial warranty claims to construction problems to oil and gas accounting issues and surface damage...
Mary Clift Abdalla is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Mary Clift practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Mary Clift Abdalla since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional ...
Doug Bates is an experienced trial lawyer who has been with the firm since 1992. He appears in state and federal courts throughout Indiana and Kentucky and has argued both before the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Bates regularly defends aviation clients, including airlines, major municipal airports, product manufacturers, aircraft mechanics and fixed base operators, and is often asked to speak at national aviation-related seminars. Mr. Bates also represent...
Bob deRosset serves clients primarily in the fields of construction, business, and product liability law. He tries cases at the state and federal level in North and South Carolina. He is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct mediated settlement conferences in Superior Court cases and uses his perspective as a seasoned litigator to assist parties to voluntarily resolve their disputes through mediation. Bob has also completed collaborative law training and adv...
Irene J. Marusic is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Irene J. practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Irene J. Marusic since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which I...
Robert D. Brown, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Robert D. practices law in Newark, New Jersey Best Lawyers has recognized Robert D. Brown, Jr. since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert D. Brown, Jr. i...
Scott A. Irby is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Scott A. practices law in Rogers, Arkansas Best Lawyers has recognized Scott A. Irby since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recogniti...
Phillip J. Duffy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Phillip J. practices law in Newark, New Jersey Best Lawyers has recognized Phillip J. Duffy since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Phillip J. Duffy is held by other lawyers.
Beth A. Bauer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Beth A. practices law in Edwardsville, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Beth A. Bauer since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Beth A. Bauer is held by other law...
Mr. Zitzer is a litigation attorney. Kurt was recently honored by his peers by being selected once again as one of the Top 50 attorneys in the Southwest by Southwest Super Lawyers®. Additionally, AZ Business magazine recently selected Kurt as one of Arizona’s top 100 lawyers and a top 10 lawyer in the area of Employee Benefits and Insurance Law. Kurt is also included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Insurance Law and Products Liability Litigation – Defense. ...
Michael is an experienced litigator who practices in the firm’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. He has spent the majority of his career defending clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, biologic, and chemical industries. Michael also served as a JAG Officer in the Army National Guard where he tried numerous cases and presided as a judicial advisor.
Mr. Crawford is the General Products Team Leader overseeing products, admiralty, and general negligence matters defended by the firm. He has substantial experience in the defense and trial of product design and manufacture defect claims involving products such as heavy construction equipment and power tools, motor vehicles, recreational watercraft, gas, and diesel engines. Mr. Crawford has been involved in complex litigation regarding the defense of foreign substance food cases, carcinogenic ...
Mr. Hixson regularly practices and appears in courtrooms across Kentucky. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, coal supply litigation, product liability, and professional liability. Mr. Hixson also has significant experience in motor carrier litigation, and has litigated a wide array of complex and catastrophic injury cases in state and federal jurisdictions. Mr. Hixson's commercial practice involves representing businesses in cases with claims ranging from breach of contract, promi...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
