Drug & Medical Device Litigation 2010

Be a Part of the 15th Anniversary of the Event that Shapes the Industry

Every December for the past 14 years, leading drug and medical device lawyers have gathered in New York to share spectacular networking and learning opportunities, and to craft effective strategies for overcoming new litigation challenges. This event has grown to become the premier industry showcase for hearing expert insights unavailable in any other forum. ACI’s DRUG AND MEDICAL DEVICE LITIGATION is the very finest opportunity for lawyers all across the U.S. to meet one another and to benchmark their current products liability defense strategies. For the 15th ANNIVERSARY edition of the conference, ACI has assembled a speaker roster that is uniquely qualified to provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the difficult current legal climate. At a time when it is ever more crucial to be fully informed in order to practice at the top of your game, we are pleased to announce that the Chief Counsel of the FDA, Mr. Ralph Tyler, will be the keynote speaker on the first day of our 15th Anniversary conference. On Day 2 we will also be honored with another exceptional keynote address, given by the Hon. John G. Heyburn II, Chairman, United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

The drug and device industries face a landscape that has been complicated by a reinvigorated FDA and by high profile federal and state enforcement actions. Matters relating to manufacturing issues and product recalls, as well as government probes into both pre-market and post-marketing practices, are emerging frequently in civil litigation. In addition, the explosion of social media has created a new playing field where product information can suddenly go “viral” and influence both patients and jurors. Meanwhile, a difficult economy has caused manufacturers and their outside counsel to seek more cost-effective ways to handle product liability litigation. With litigation budgets being closely watched, is it essential to be able to properly assess how real a threat a particular complaint presents to your client, and to be equipped to get rid of many cases quickly and effectively.

As a special feature, this year’s DRUG AND MEDICAL DEVICE LITIGATION will include exciting new group “meet-ups” that kick off the program with unparalleled networking and learning opportunities. As you meet new colleagues and consider the issues raised in dynamic hypotheticals with the help of in-house counsel facilitators, you will immediately begin to reap the benefits of this premiere program. In addition, the judicial panel this December will feature a special focus on complex multi-district litigation and include renowned leaders from the bench with distinguished records of industry mass torts oversight.

This year’s special 15th Anniversary conference, featuring a stellar faculty of industry leaders, will provide you with the information and tools you need to successfully overcome changing threats brought by plaintiffs’ counsel. Our faculty of over 20 in-house counsel from leading pharmaceutical and device companies and renowned litigators will share the methods that have worked for them in recent battles, and provide specific advice for both defeating claims and for litigating efficiently and cost-effectively. Particular areas of focus will include:

  • Dissecting plaintiff complaints and finding and successfully arguing their insufficiencies
  • Surmounting defense challenges raised by the presence of co-defendants
  • Formulating defenses for the increasing number of claims that reference both brand and generic products
  • Developing litigation plans that make more strategic use of regional counsel
  • Minimizing the negative impact of drug and device recalls
  • Defending cases in high-risk jurisdictions

New York City, with its vibrant cultural opportunities, has been the home for the DRUG AND MEDICAL DEVICE LITIGATION program since its inception. This year’s conference returns to the landmark Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel, a unique venue that provides excellent networking opportunities for the over 500 drug and medical device industry professionals attending the conference.

 


2010 Lead Sponsors

Shook Hardy Greenberg

HR Shook Hardy

 

Sponsored by:

dechert