
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
Government Service
Bar and Court Admissions
Biography
Cases
- After prevailing on a motion to dismiss all of plaintiffs' nationwide class claims, settled all claims individually for a major appliance manufacturer in a class action involving the doors in all of its microwave ovens.
- Won favorable settlement for a technology company against a supplier that failed to fulfill or refund a $1.5 million order of personal protection equipment (PPE) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Managed the global investigations, class action, and commercial litigation dockets for a Fortune 150 products manufacturer.
- Managed North American class action and asbestos litigation portfolios for a Fortune 150 products manufacturer.
- Won a first-of-its-kind defense verdict in Australia against that country's effort to ban an entire category of consumable products.
- Obtained favorable resolutions and dismissals with prejudice of municipality-based class actions in New York and Minnesota in which plaintiffs sought to certify national and state classes of municipal wastewater facilities.
- Successfully defended a manufacturing company against multiple government investigations of false advertising allegations related to the company's fastest growing product category.
- Negotiated pre-suit withdrawals of several threatened ingredient-based class actions alleging false advertising of products as "all" or "100% natural."
- Supervised and managed litigation throughout the Asia Pacific region while leading the integration of legal departments between the parent company and its Chinese subsidiary.
- Led complex litigation and trial teams in Europe, Israel, Canada, and Latin America.
- Achieved favorable resolution for a Fortune 150 company against one of the largest medical device class actions in the company's history.
- Negotiated 97% reduction of a government's proposed civil penalty—in excess of $100 million—against a major manufacturing client.
- Managed and negotiated the largest supplier recovery action in a Fortune 150 client's history, obtaining cash and future indemnity protection well into nine figures.
- Won a preliminary injunction for a product manufacturer in the District of Columbia against the District's attempt to ban an entire category of consumer products.
- Won a favorable verdict, including treble damages, for a large OEM client whose property was converted by a rival company. Secured judgment for fair market value of the converted property as well as the return of millions of dollars of equipment.
- Argued and won before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a first-impression matter involving the retroactive application of Wisconsin's frivolousness statute. The Court reversed the appeals court's denial of attorney's fees. This upheld a summary judgment win for an oil company facing allegations of wrongful termination of a carrier contract.
- Won a defense verdict, including damages and attorneys' fees, after securing successive appellate court reversals of the trial court's denial of a client's right to enforce a restrictive covenant proscribing the operation of a competitor.
- Won reversal of a trial court's order against an 81-year-old pro bono client who was the victim of a predatory contractor. Won double damages and attorneys' fees under Wisconsin's Home Improvement Code.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
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"The Dangers of Imposing Consumer Arbitration Agreements with Class Action Waivers: Mitigating the Emerging Threat of Mass Arbitrations," presented at The Trial Network Product Liability SuperCourse in Minneapolis, (December 2021).
Presentations
Other Articles/Presentations
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"Reaching Across the Border: The Impact of International Class Actions," presented at DRI Class Actions Seminar, Washington D.C. (September 2013).
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"Keeping the Jury Engaged: Demonstrative Exhibits That Educate and Entertain," Panelist, DRI Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas (September 2012).
Other Experience
Associate General Counsel, Kimberly-Clark Corp., 2015-2020
Senior Counsel, Whirlpool Corp., 2010-2015
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors
Kimberly-Clark, General Counsel’s “X” Award for Excellent Results
Nominated for 2020 First Chair Award for Top In-House Talent
United States Chamber of Commerce Tort Reform Advisory Council,
Member, 2013-present
Defense Research Institute
Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers, Director, 2009-2010
Wisconsin Law Journal “2010 Up & Coming Lawyer”
American Bar Association
State Bar of Wisconsin
Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors
Society for Women Against AIDS - Liberia, Director 2009-2015
Whirlpool Foundation, Secretary, 2014
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin, Director 2009-2010
Parklawn YMCA, Director 2005-2007
Personal Interests
Traveling, reading, tennis, movies, outdoors