Press Release

Morgan Lewis Expands Leading Toxic Torts Team with 4 Trial Lawyers Across 3 Cities

Monday, January 9, 2023

NEW YORK, January 9, 2023: Morgan Lewis welcomes four highly accomplished trial lawyers to its market-leading toxic tort practice: Paul Scrudato and Jill Berry, who join from ArentFox Schiff as partners resident in New York, and Thomas Burns and Stephanie Spardone, who will join from Foley & Mansfield as a partner resident in Chicago and of counsel resident in Dallas, respectively. All four will continue to serve as lead trial lawyers who coordinate national defense strategies and negotiations for Fortune 500 companies across the United States on product liability, complex mass tort, and toxic tort disputes.

“These talented lawyers have been at the forefront of the ever-growing mass tort and product liability docket and they have well-deserved reputations as leaders in this complex field,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Such cases require a strong, deep bench with significant first-chair trial capability, seasoned negotiation skills, and sophisticated defense strategies, and this group enhances our ability to deliver just that.”

“We know firsthand that these are outstanding and accomplished practitioners who will help us expand our national asbestos and broader mass torts practice,” said Brady Edwards, leader of Morgan Lewis’s mass torts practice. “Their experience and understanding of mass tort and products cases, particularly in the asbestos and talc space, will be of immense value to our clients.”

Paul Scrudato has more than three decades of experience as a leader in asbestos litigation defense, with a formidable reputation as a trial lawyer and negotiator of highly structured settlement agreements. He is known for being selected as lead defense counsel for a prominent domestic defendant in one of the largest and most complicated mass torts in US history, the World Trade Center September 11 Disaster Site litigation.

Jill Berry, also part of the 9/11 litigation team, represents companies across the United States facing product liability and mass tort risk, including manufacturers of consumer products and agricultural and construction equipment. She negotiates complex agreements and participates in joint defense initiatives that shape mass tort litigation dockets. Additionally, Jill participates in the New York City asbestos coordinated joint defense group, leading negotiations with the court and plaintiffs’ bar in litigation management efforts.

Tom Burns is one of the leading mass tort trial lawyers in the United States. He represents clients in asbestos litigation and other product liability and toxic tort matters, including cannabis concentrates, chemical solvents, and bottles. Tom has tried more than 100 mesothelioma cases to verdict in state and federal courts across in the country since 2002. He also has an active pro bono practice and serves as a mentor for lawyers in both client development and trial skills.

Stephanie Spardone has served as national coordinating counsel and has successfully executed defense strategies to minimize liability and risk in cases involving asbestos, silica, benzene, and heavy metals such as cadmium and chromium.