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Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference

Co-sponsored by Lawyers for Civil Justice and Kirkland & Ellis LLP

October 18, 2017

Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) accounts for nearly half of all civil cases in federal courts. Although MDLs were designed to be efficient mechanisms for “coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings,” in some instances they have become one-sided forums known for lacking the basic protections afforded to all other cases by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), the Federal Rules of Evidence and appellate review.

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9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Are MDLs working? An Assessment of Centralization

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference

Topics: Litigation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
1450 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Event Video

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Description

Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) accounts for nearly half of all civil cases in federal courts. Although MDLs were designed to be efficient mechanisms for “coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings,” in some instances they have become one-sided forums known for lacking the basic protections afforded to all other cases by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), the Federal Rules of Evidence and appellate review.

Featuring:

  • Malini Moorthy, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Bayer
  • Timothy A. Pratt, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Boston Scientific Corporation
  • Dan Troy, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, GSK
  • Moderator: Prof. Brian Fitzpatrick, Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University School of Law

Speakers

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Eliminating Meritless Claims

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference

Topics: Litigation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
1450 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Share

Event Video

Listen & Download

Description

Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) accounts for nearly half of all civil cases in federal courts. Although MDLs were designed to be efficient mechanisms for “coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings,” in some instances they have become one-sided forums known for lacking the basic protections afforded to all other cases by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), the Federal Rules of Evidence and appellate review.

Featuring:

  • David Bernick, Partner, Paul Weiss LLP
  • Honorable Eduardo Robreno, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Chris Seeger, Founding Partner, Seeger Weiss LLP
  • Andrew J. Trask, Senior Counsel, McGuireWoods LLP
  • Moderator: Doug Smith, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Speakers

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Trying Cases and Settlement

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference

Topics: Litigation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
1450 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Event Video

Listen & Download

Description

Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) accounts for nearly half of all civil cases in federal courts. Although MDLs were designed to be efficient mechanisms for “coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings,” in some instances they have become one-sided forums known for lacking the basic protections afforded to all other cases by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), the Federal Rules of Evidence and appellate review.

Featuring:

  • John Beisner, Partner, Skadden Arps LLP
  • Brian Jackson, Partner, Butler Snow LLP
  • Chris Seeger, Founding Partner, Seeger Weiss LLP
  • Jonathan D. Selbin, Partner, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
  • Moderator: Jeffrey B. Clark, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Speakers

1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
General Reform Ideas and Pending Legislation

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference

Topics: Litigation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
1450 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Share

Event Video

Listen & Download

Description

Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) accounts for nearly half of all civil cases in federal courts. Although MDLs were designed to be efficient mechanisms for “coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings,” in some instances they have become one-sided forums known for lacking the basic protections afforded to all other cases by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), the Federal Rules of Evidence and appellate review.

Featuring:

  • Prof. Jaime Dodge, Director, The Institute for Complex Litigation & Mass Claims, Emory Law School
  • Prof. Maria Glover, Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown Law Center
  • Prof. Francis McGovern, Professor of Law, Duke Law School
  • Kate Comerford Todd, Former Senior Vice President & Chief Counsel, U.S. Chamber Litigation Center
  • Moderator: Mary Nold Larimore, Partner, IceMiller LLP

Speakers

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