Class actions are the favored vehicle of the plaintiffs’ bar to aggressively attack business products, services and practices on a statewide or national scale. In today’s interconnected and global marketplace, the litigation risks that class actions, federal multidistrict litigations and state coordinated proceedings present can seriously impact a company’s brand and commercial objectives. Heightened government, media, shareholder, employee and consumer scrutiny can create an atmosphere that causes the direct and indirect costs of such litigation to potentially be magnified.
Reed Smith has one of the strongest and most experienced teams of class action defense lawyers in the United States. Our deep and diverse team of trial and appellate lawyers has built a successful track record that places us among the preeminent class action defense practices.
We regularly represent leading companies of all sizes in the defense of such litigation, and in connection with the development and execution of litigation and strategic resolution options in some of their largest, most complex class action cases.
We have defended thousands of putative class actions in state and federal courts across the country, including many filed by top national plaintiffs’ class action firms. Our in-depth understanding of the business realities that you face when your market presence and reputation are at stake allows us to create innovative settlement procedures and other approaches to help you resolve matters at the earliest advantageous opportunity. Knocking a case out with a dispositive motion, or moving to compel arbitration, can bring the dispute to an end without the risk that a jury and more publicity brings to the equation. However, our lawyers are ready to fight certification and try cases when needed and have an excellent track record of success: we try these cases and win, and the plaintiffs’ bar is well aware of our trial skills and capabilities.
In addition to trial experience, Reed Smith has one of the premier appellate practices in the country, led by members of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Our appellate team has handled thousands of matters in most state appellate courts, every federal circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Our broad class action and multidistrict litigation defense experience is complemented and enhanced by our keen focus on particular industries and subject areas. These include:
- Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility issues
- Antitrust
- Consumer/retail
- Employment/wage and hour
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
- Environmental
- False advertising
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- Financial services
- Food labeling
- Health care/managed care
- Insurance
- Intellectual property
- Manufacturing
- Privacy and data security
- Product liability/mass toxic torts
- Securities
- State Tax
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
- Unfair competition/consumer protection (Ca. sections 17200 and 17500)
As businesses have globalized, so has the landscape for class actions. More nations are drafting class action legislation similar to that of the United States. Our international network of multidisciplinary lawyers work together to monitor this quickly evolving field and will act on your behalf wherever your business takes you.
