Jenner & Block is pleased to announce the expansion of its mass torts litigation capabilities and the strengthening of its Mass Torts and Product Liability Practice led by nationally recognized mass torts litigators Richard Bulger and Daniel Ring. Rich and Dan lead a team of five prominent lawyers joining the firm’s expanded Mass Torts practice, which they will co-chair alongside Partners Dean Panos and Joanna Wright.
This strategic addition builds on Jenner & Block’s vibrant and successful practices in consumer products, class actions, and mass tort litigation and further positions the firm to handle the full spectrum of high-stakes challenges – from initial case management and defense through litigation, trial, and resolution – while significantly expanding the firm's bench strength in one of the legal industry's most complex and important practice areas.
"This is a transformational moment for companies as they seek a full complement of problem solvers to take on the ever increasing range of complex, high-stakes legal challenges they face," said Co-Managing Partners Ishan Bhabha and Randy Mehrberg. "Adding leaders of Rich and Dan’s caliber, along with their experienced team of litigators, builds upon our already strong foundation and further expands Jenner & Block’s ability to fully serve clients at the highest levels in mass tort and product liability litigation. Their leadership adds to our existing capabilities to defend, litigate, try, and resolve matters. Combined with Dean and Joanna’s tremendous experience and track record of success, and our well-established litigation bench, we have a comprehensive offering that can handle these matters from first filing through final resolution."
Richard Bulger joins as a partner in the Chicago office. He brings more than 32 years of experience representing businesses in complex environmental, toxic tort, and mass tort matters. His practice includes regulatory compliance, and transactional environmental work, making him uniquely positioned to advise clients on the intersection of environmental law and mass tort exposure. Rich has managed some of the largest mass tort matters that have existed over the last decade and in a variety of areas, including strategy, settlement, coordination, and defense in the underlying cases.
Daniel Ring, also joining as a partner in Chicago, brings nearly three decades of experience as a nationally recognized mass tort and toxic tort litigator. A national strategic counsel, his practice involves complex, often multi-jurisdictional and multi-district litigation in major mass and toxic torts. Dan has a long history of experience in toxic torts, product liability, medical device litigation, and pharmaceutical litigation in some of the toughest jurisdictions for defendants in the world, successfully resolving and winning cases. He is lead counsel for a major defendant in the most significant MDL in the country, with over 19,000 personal injury cases, property damage and remediation claims, class actions and Attorney General actions.
The expansion of the Mass Torts and Product Liability Practice builds on Jenner's existing work and reputation as a go-to one-stop-shop in this space, providing a full service offering for clients who have some of the most difficult challenges facing companies today. With the addition of Rich and Dan, Jenner can handle all stages of complex multi-jurisdictional litigation from pre-complaint investigation to global resolution. Joining the expanded practice are three additional lawyers in Chicago: Priya Desai as Partner, and Tyler Alfermann and Daniel Rottenberg as Special Counsel.
Priya Desai brings significant experience in product liability and environmental matters, including regulated and emerging contaminants, with knowledge in developing litigation strategy across complex technical matters. A registered patent lawyer, she also handles intellectual property matters in commercial litigation and arbitration. Priya's multidisciplinary background allows her to work effectively with fact and expert witnesses on the scientific and technical issues that are central to modern mass tort litigation.
Tyler Alfermann has managed nationwide PFAS litigation and has significant experience in product liability and consumer lending matters, including successful appellate advocacy before the Seventh Circuit. Daniel Rottenberg brings extensive environmental law experience, having previously served as Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General's Environmental Bureau and as a Climate Litigation Fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
"We are thrilled to welcome this incredible team to the firm," said Dean and Joanna. "Their experience defending clients in the most challenging mass tort and product liability matters, combined with our existing litigation capabilities and our track record resolving some of the largest, most complicated MDLs, creates a practice that can truly serve as national counsel for companies facing these complex challenges from beginning to end."
The expansion comes at a time when mass tort litigation continues to grow across multiple industries and jurisdictions. The expanded practice will handle a broad range of complex MDLs and mass tort matters, including toxic tort claims, product liability litigation, environmental mass torts, and pharmaceutical and medical device cases.
"We are excited to bring our experience to Jenner & Block during such a remarkable period of growth for the firm," said Rich and Dan. "The opportunity to collaborate with colleagues both new and familiar, and to build upon an existing practice that successfully delivers best-in-class service across every dimension of mass tort litigation, is incredibly compelling.”