Product liability, mass torts, and class action claims are no longer limited to the United States—they’ve gone global. With new claimant-friendly frameworks, such as the EU’s latest Product Liability Directive, and an increase in cross-border coordination among plaintiffs’ firms, multinational corporations are facing mounting exposure worldwide. This program explores the accelerating globalization of mass tort and product liability litigation, the key jurisdictions driving this trend, and the evolving strategies required to assess risk and mount effective defenses. Attendees will gain insight into recent global trends, emerging procedural developments, and practical tools for in-house counsel and their outside counsel to mitigate potential liability before it arises and successfully defend claims when they do.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize key global trends and statistical data highlighting the rapid expansion of product liability, mass tort, and class action litigation beyond the United States.
2. Identify new and emerging laws—such as the EU Product Liability Directive—and jurisdictions that have become increasingly hospitable to collective redress claims.
3. Evaluate potential cross-border litigation risks for manufacturers and other corporate defendants and implement proactive risk-mitigation measures.
4. Develop effective defense strategies for managing and resolving international product liability and mass tort claims, including jurisdictional, procedural, and coordination considerations.
5. Apply lessons from recent high-profile global cases to strengthen compliance, corporate governance, and litigation readiness programs.
Chris Campbell is the Chair of DLA Piper’s Product Liability and Mass Tort practice group, one of the world’s largest and most acclaimed teams in product liability defense. A Harvard Law School graduate, Chris has 20 years of experience in mass tort, class action, and complex commercial litigation, including trials and appeals. He has served as global, national, and trial counsel for companies in life sciences, food and beverage, automotive, and insurance sectors.