Product Liability
Named a "Litigation Powerhouse" by Law360
Hughes Hubbard’s Product Liability and Mass Tort group advises clients on their most complex and consequential product matters in the United States and around the world. We are a highly experienced team of specialists trusted by leading companies to manage critical litigation, investigations, and related disputes that often unfold across multiple forums and jurisdictions.
Our Experience and Strategic Role
Our lawyers play central roles on many of the largest and most significant product cases in the country, often as key members of nationwide virtual firms. In these matters, we are deeply involved in shaping strategy, developing themes and witnesses, trying cases, and coordinating seamlessly with clients and co‑counsel. We work collaboratively to achieve exceptional results in a manner that is efficient, disciplined, and aligned with our clients’ business objectives.
Industry Experience
We have extensive experience across a wide range of industries, with particular depth in federally regulated sectors, including pharmaceuticals, prescription biologics, medical devices, specialty chemicals, automotive, aviation, and tobacco. This experience gives us a deep understanding not only of the products themselves, but also of the business, scientific, and regulatory considerations that surround their design, manufacture, marketing, and use. We work closely and effectively with in‑house scientists, engineers, physicians, and business teams to develop informed and practical litigation strategies.
Integrated Litigation and Investigations Experience
We regularly help clients navigate high‑stakes product matters not only in court, but also in parallel government investigations and enforcement actions, often under intense public and media scrutiny. Our experience allows us to anticipate and manage the broader implications of product disputes beyond the courtroom, providing coordinated and pragmatic advice across all fronts.
Global Perspective and History
We have been active in the products arena since the inception of mass tort litigation in the 1970s and have been involved in many of the largest and most widely publicized product litigations in history. Over decades of work in this area, our matters have frequently involved parallel class actions, securities litigation, government investigations and prosecutions, and international disputes. This long‑standing, cross‑proceeding experience enables us to advise clients holistically, with an eye toward how developments in one forum may affect exposure and strategy in others, both domestically and globally.
These capabilities have led companies to rely on Hughes Hubbard as a core strategic partner in their most demanding product liability and mass tort matters.
Our Experience
Representation of a Belgium-based pharmaceutical manufacturer in connection with its involvement in the national Opioid litigation.
Retained by a multi-billion dollar global mining company to provide counselling related to ongoing talc toxic tort litigation and to perform an audit of existing counsel’s work.
Representation of an animal health company in putative nationwide class actions in New Jersey and Quebec, Canada in relation to its industry-leading anti-parasitic medicine.
Representation of a global pharmaceutical company in the Proton Pump Inhibitor (“PPI”) litigation in which Plaintiffs claim that this class of drugs causes kidney injuries. The PPI cases are coordinated in a federal MDL in the District of New Jersey.
Representation of a chemical company in product liability litigation alleging water contamination.
Counsel to vaping technology company in connection with litigation and regulatory issues associated with its market-leading e-cigarette products.
National counsel for a major tobacco company in all aspects of a complex product liability litigation including trials and appeals in multiple state and federal courts throughout the country
National counsel to leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in numerous product liability and consumer class action lawsuits involving pain and statin medications, among others
Science and Medical Expert Development Counsel to major cardiac medical device manufacturer in federal court litigation
National counsel to leading chemical manufacturer in four putative nationwide class actions alleging harm from lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate, a wood preservative that has been used for decades throughout the country in playgrounds and homes
Principal counsel to trusts established in bankruptcies of major asbestos product manufacturers to resolve hundreds of thousands of asbestos personal injury and property damage claims
National defense counsel for several companies who have been sued in thousands of asbestos cases throughout the country
Defense of CBS in an alleged toxic workplace exposure matter in West Virginia
Counsel to a major Korean conglomerate in multiple individual and class action lawsuits involving mobile cellular telephone safety
Defense of a leading specialty chemical manufacturer against medical monitoring claims brought by coal workers allegedly exposed to polyacrylamide
National representation of New York Blood Center, Inc. in blood product matters pending in the State and Federal courts
In what was then (1989-90) the largest product liability trial in US history, we served as lead defense counsel to a wallpaper manufacturer in claims arising out of the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel fire that killed 97 persons and injured hundreds more
Defense of over 100 cases involving two of the Big Three US automobile manufacturers in the US in cases throughout New York State
Latest Updates
Fara Tabatabai Recognized as Legal Leader by Profiles in Leadership Journal
Fara Tabatabai has been recognized as a 2025 “Legal Leadership” award winner by Profiles in Leadership JournalHughes Hubbard Acquires Schulman Bhattacharya, Expanding Litigation and Arbitration Practices in Washington, D.C.
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP announced today that it has acquired Schulman Bhattacharya LLC, a premier commercial litigation and arbitration boutique in Washington, D.C.
Amina Hassan Recognized as a ‘Woman Worth Watching in Leadership’ by Profiles in Leadership Journal
Amina Hassan was recognized as a 2025 ‘Woman Worth Watching in Leadership’ by Profiles in Leadership Journal.Popular News & Insights
Robb Patryk Named a Top 25 Industrials and Chemicals Attorney of 2025 by Attorney Intel
Attorney Intel has ranked Robb Patryk fourth on its list of The Top 25 Industrials and Chemicals Attorneys of 2025.
Cannabis Industry May Face Budding Litigation Risk
June 25, 2025 – On June 17, the peer-reviewed journal Heart, co-published by the British Cardiovascular Society, published a systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Toulouse of 24 studies linking the use of cannabis with higher risk of stroke, heart attack,...
Litigation after the Demise of Chevron Deference
July 15, 2024 – As widely anticipated, the Supreme Court last month overruled Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.,1 which directed federal courts to defer to an administrative agency’s “reasonable” interpretation of ambiguous terms in a Congressional statute authorizing the agency to act....
Stay Up to Date
Sign up to receive practical updates, fresh perspectives and helpful guidance delivered straight to your inbox.
Stay connected for our latest news and insights.