04.15.2014

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Press Releases

Addition of Product Liability Partner Julie L. Hussey Strengthens Local and National Practice

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 15, 2014) - Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Julie L. Hussey has joined the firm’s San Diego office as a partner in the Product Liability practice.  Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Hussey was a partner with DLA Piper in its San Diego office.  Hussey is the fourth partner to join Perkins Coie’s San Diego office this year, following the additions of Tom Millikan, Joe Reid and Laura Zagar in February.

“Perkins Coie is delighted to welcome Julie to the firm’s growing presence in San Diego,” said Matthew Bernstein, Office Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s San Diego office.  “Julie’s pharmaceutical litigation practice complements the work of our patent litigators in San Diego and her counsel to manufacturers of consumer healthcare products in labeling and unfair competition issues supports the efforts of the attorneys in Perkins Coie’s food and beverage practice and food litigation practices in California.  We are tremendously happy that Julie has joined our firm.”

A trial attorney noted for her achievements in class action, mass tort and complex litigation, Hussey serves as national counsel in the defense of global pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers, and food and beverage companies.  Hussey has extensive experience defending clients against high-exposure claims involving product liability, consumer fraud, unfair competition, false and misleading advertisement, “All Natural” labelling, and toxic torts.  She has managed sophisticated litigation related to injury and damage claims against manufacturers of dietary supplements, tires, paint, automotive and aviation products.  In addition, she has represented clients in higher education and telecommunications facing fraud and other consumer-based allegations.  In her practice, Hussey typically handles cases entailing multiple jurisdictions, high-volume claims, expert-driven testimony and the need for efficient case management using electronic discovery and other legal technology tools.

“Julie brings significant pharmaceutical and medical device product liability experience to Perkins Coie,” said Bruce Campbell, chair of Perkins Coie’s Product Liability practice.  “Her substantive experience in drug and medical device, food and beverage, toxic tort and class action litigation matters immediately deepens and broadens the scope of our existing high level of counsel and client service that is expected from Perkins Coie and the product liability practice.  Julie is a wonderful asset to Perkins Coie’s deep bench of litigators and we welcome her to the firm.”

Hussey earned her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law where she was the lead articles writer for The Journal of the Legal Profession and received her undergraduate degree from the Mississippi University for Women.  She is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute and the Food and Drug Law Institute.  In addition to her legal work, Hussey was a project manager volunteer for the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Legal Assistance program and a Hurricane Katrina Legal Volunteer for the Mississippi Center for Justice.

Perkins Coie’s Product Liability team, with more than 70 product liability attorneys in 11 offices across the United States, has successfully handled product liability cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars.  The firm’s attorneys have the depth and experience to advise both national and international manufacturers regarding product liability risks and can provide experienced counsel should those manufacturers face liability claims in court.  The practice provides clients with counseling on product liability containment and lawsuit avoidance, litigation and trial representation and global, national and regional claims coordination and representation before government agencies.  The practice is ranked by Chambers USA  Band 1 for Aviation Litigation (2009 - 2013) and The Legal 500 United States recommended the  practice in Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Aerospace/Aviation (2009 - 2013).

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Media Inquiries: Please email Justin Cole, Head of Media Relations.