Tammy's practice emphasizes the defense of complex class actions and multidistrict litigation alleging unfair business practices, false advertising and product liability claims. Tammy is a partner in the firm's Global Product Liability Group. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the firm's Class Action and Complex Litigation Practice Group. She represents consumer goods manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, fuel retailers, tobacco companies, and cell phone manufacturers in complex class action litigation. She has successfully defeated class certification in nationwide and statewide class actions in trial courts and on appeal in courts throughout the country. Most recently, Tammy defeated class certification in the Central District of California of a nationwide class of pet owners who premised their claims on product liability allegations and consumer protection violations.

With more than a decade of litigation experience, Tammy has also coordinated the defense of cases brought by individual plaintiffs involving multiple defendants in courts around the country. She was part of the team that developed and implemented the strategy leading to the defeat of more than 50 statewide tobacco class actions. She also served as trial counsel for Lorillard Tobacco Company in a statewide class action trial in New Orleans, Louisiana, that lasted two years. The team successfully defeated the plaintiffs' request for medical monitoring relief in one of the few medical monitoring cases to go to trial. Tammy is regarded by her clients as having an innovative and common sense approach to problem-solving. She has developed and conducted programs for clients and co-counsel on defending class actions and preparing cases for trial. Tammy was recognized as a “Californian Litigation Star” in the 2010 edition of Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, published by Legal Media Group.

Tammy is a firm marketing partner and the administrative partner of the San Francisco office, assisting the managing partner in all aspects of office management and office growth. She is a member of the firm’s Management Council and Women's Management Council. She is also involved in the firm's mentoring program and serves as the formal or informal mentor for numerous firm associates. Tammy is the author of "The Functional Effect of Eliminating Gender Bias in Jury Selection: A Critique and Analysis of J.E.B. v. Alabama," 48 Oklahoma Law Review 173 (1995).

Presentations

“Defeating Product-Liability-Based Consumer Fraud Class Actions,” 2009 ABA Section of Litigation Joint CLE

"Assessing Defenses to Class Cert – in Light of IPO and Its Progeny – Challenging the Loss Causation and Market Efficiency," 2008 Defense Research Institute Annual Meeting

"Recent Trends in Class Actions Violations Involving the Automotive Industry,” 2008 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation

"The Evolution of Medical Monitoring Claims in Class Actions," National Forum on Class Actions and Complex Litigation

"The role of FRCP 23(c)(4) in employment class actions,” Shook, Hardy & Bacon Annual Employment Law Update

"Looking Back at the Class Action Fairness Act After the First Year,” Shook, Hardy & Bacon Annual Update on the Law

Tammy is a member of the California and Missouri bars, the American Bar Association-Product Liability Section, the Bar Association of San Francisco, Queen's Bench, and the Defense Research Institute.

Tammy is admitted to practice before the state courts of California and Missouri, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the federal district courts of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

1996   J.D., with highest honors, University of Oklahoma School of Law

1993   B.A., Oklahoma State University

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