Expands Firm’s National Product Liability and Life Sciences Capabilities

Continuing the expansion of the firm’s West Coast presence and nationally-recognized product liability and life sciences capabilities, Mintz, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. has added a product liability group to its San Francisco office with the addition of Daniel J. Herling and Michelle Gillette, who join as Members.  The group builds on the thriving litigation, corporate, intellectual property and real estate practice the firm has established in the Bay Area.

“The addition of these outstanding attorneys adds another important strategic dimension to our West Coast presence,” said Robert I. Bodian, Mintz Managing Member.  “Their impressive experience, particularly in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, expands our national products liability litigation practice and further strengthens the capabilities we are able to bring to bear in serving – and growing - our well-established life sciences client base.”

Formerly a Partner at Keller and Heckman, Mr. Herling focuses his trial practice on complex litigation, including product liability, class actions, intellectual property litigation, patent infringement and professional liability, with an emphasis on representing international pharmaceutical, medical device, food, over-the-counter drugs, homeopathic remedies and dietary supplement companies.  Over the course of his career, Mr. Herling has defended more than 3,000 product liability cases in both state and federal courts throughout California and the United States. 

Ms. Gillette, also formerly of Keller and Heckman, is an experienced trial litigator, with an extensive background defending medical device and pharmaceutical companies in product liability actions in individual lawsuits, multi-district litigation and class actions.  She has also represented companies in lawsuits involving unfair competition, unfair business practices, false or misleading advertising, trade secrets, torts, breach of contract and patent infringement. 

 “We are actively building on the momentum we have created in San Francisco, with the addition of experienced lawyers from top firms whose backgrounds complement our core strengths and enhance our offerings,” said Paul Churchill, Managing Member of  Mintz San Francisco office. “These talented individuals, all of whom have a range of options in this market, continue to be attracted to Mintz growth-oriented environment and the opportunity to leverage an extensive, full-service platform to expand their highly-successful practices.” 

“In the wake of several recent court decisions, California is poised to become a hotbed of product liability litigation, particularly in the pharmaceutical and medical device area,” said Mr. Herling.  “With one of the top life sciences practices in the country, Mintz is likely to be at the forefront of this quickly evolving area of the law.  The firm’s core strengths and entrepreneurial attitude made it a natural fit for our capabilities and long roster of national and international clients.”

Named as a Super Lawyer since 2004 and among San Francisco’s Best Lawyers for Product Liability in 2012, Mr. Herling earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Dayton.  He is admitted to practice in California, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 

A graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, Ms. Gillette earned a law degree from the University of Southern California Law Center.