AmLaw Gives Shook Top Product Liability Award

The American Lawyer magazine has named Shook, Hardy & Bacon the Litigation Department of the Year in the Product Liability category. The country’s 200 largest law firms (by gross revenue) were invited to participate in the magazine’s biennial competition, which recognizes the nation’s leading firms in four litigation categories, including product liability, according to American Lawyer Executive Editor Aric Press.

In its January 2008 edition announcing the winners, The American Lawyer reports that Shook “has built the deepest bench of product liability talent anywhere.” Titled “Pharm Team,” the article highlights Shook’s international reputation as a “go-to firm for major pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.” An American Lawyer news release summarizing results of the competition states that since 1970, Shook has served “with notable success as national or national coordinating counsel for 31 drugs and medical devices marketed by 13 companies.” The American Lawyer article also reports on the half-century of favorable results that Shook has achieved nationally and internationally, as well as Shook’s current product liability work, on behalf of tobacco companies such as Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris International.

In judging this latest competition, The American Lawyer evaluated firms based on results achieved from January 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007. During that period, Shook handled an array of product liability matters for a client roster that includes many of the world’s largest multinational companies in the pharmaceutical and medical device, tobacco, automotive, chemical, electronics, health care, construction and design, consumer goods, and food industries.

“It is a tremendous honor for our firm,” Shook Chair John Murphy said. “This was a highly competitive process that included the very best firms across the country that were subject to rigorous due diligence by the American Lawyer editorial team. To have emerged as the winner speaks volumes about the quality of service we provide.”

The American Lawyer award capped a year of honors for Shook. In 2007, the firm was also named Global Product Liability Firm of the Year for the third consecutive year by Who’s Who Legal; recognized on the National Law Journal’s “Defense Hot List” for the second consecutive year; and listed in Chambers USA as one of just seven elite “Band One” firms for national product liability defense.

“Given the number of truly great law firms in the U.S., we are truly honored to be recognized among the best of the best,” Murphy said. “Whether it be bet-the-company products or environmental cases, complex commercial litigation, high-stakes intellectual property matters, or significant corporate law issues, we have a single mission of achieving the very best results for our clients. These awards recognize our ability to get that job done consistently at the highest levels.” To view the American Lawyer article, please click here.