HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Updates and Challenges Facing Current High Stakes Mass Tort Litigation Speaker Profiles



Co-Chair W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair W. Mark Lanier

Mark Lanier is consistently recognized as one of the top civil trial lawyers in America. Best known as a zealous advocate for individuals in personal injury and product liability claims against major corporations, Mark brings passion, creativity and an unparalleled ability to connect with juries in courtrooms across the nation.

Co-Chair Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair Erin K. Copeland

Erin K. Copeland is a partner at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs in Houston, Texas. Licensed to practice in Texas and Missouri, Erin devotes her time and resources to advocate on behalf of those who have suffered an injury or loss as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing.

Co-Chair Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault, None Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair Richard J. Arsenault

The Wall Street Journal has described Arsenault as having “national notoriety,” BusinessWeek described him as “a Dean of the Louisiana Tort Bar,” and The New York Times described him as one of the “big players” in the legal community and observed that Arsenault has “repeatedly played a leading role in mass cases.” USA Today featured him as a member of the “Legal Elite” and the New Orleans Times Picayune has referred to him as “an authority on class actions.” U.S. News & World Report has included Arsenault in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Rankings.

Honorable Kenneth W. Starr, former Solicitor General, Pepperdine Law School Dean and United States Federal Court of Appeals Judge, observed that “Richard Arsenault has a stunning ability to brilliantly multi-task.” He has been described by Baylor Law School Professor James Wren as being at the pinnacle of the national plaintiff’s bar, “integral to the process of conceptualizing a national board certification in complex litigation,” and “…an absolute superstar of multibillion dollar plaintiff litigation management. He understands how to direct mega-cases from inception to verdict to collection.”

For more on Richard Arsenault, please click here.

Co-Chair Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia Show/Hide Bio

Co-Chair Thomas R. Anapol

Thomas Anapol has served in a variety of leadership capacities in state and multidistrict litigation (MDL) Plaintiff Steering Committees (PSC). His roles include:

• Co-Lead Counsel in the Biomet metal-on-metal hip implant litigation
• Member of the PSC in the Stryker Rejuvenate & ABG II NJ State coordinated litigation

As a leader in these litigations, Tom was instrumental in negotiating both the Biomet and Stryker global settlements. He also currently serves on the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant MDL and on four Pelvic Mesh MDL PSCs.

Aaron M. Heckaman, Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC, Houston

Alexandra Walsh, Walsh Law, Washington, DC

Ashlie Case Sletvold, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise, LLP, Cleveland

Blake Deady, President, Archer Systems, LLC, Houston

Bradley D. Honnold, Goza & Honnold, Overland Park, KS

C. Andrew Childers, Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC, Atlanta

Catelyn McDonough, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia

Chelsie Green, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL

Dawn M. Chmielewski, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault, None

Dena Young, Berger Montague, Philadelphia

Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann, DiCello Levitt, Birmingham, AL

Dustin C. Carter, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault, None

Hailey Watts, Watts Guerra LLP, San Antonio, TX

Hon. John (Jack) Garvey (ret.), Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC, Nashville, TN

Justin Presnal, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, College Station, TX

Katherine Cornell, Pulaski Law Firm, PLLC, Houston

Lauren McGeever, Vice President, Class Action and Mass Tort Solutions, Epiq, New York

Lee Floyd, Breit Biniazan, Richmond, VA

Melanie H. Muhlstock, Parker Waichman LLP, New York

Michael A. London, Douglas & London, P.C., New York

Mike Daly, Pogust Goodhead, Philadelphia

Priscilla E. Jimenez, Kline & Specter PC, Philadelphia

Raymond C. Silverman, Parker Waichman LLP, New York

Richard D. Meadow, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Robert J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego

Robert Marcino, Chief Project Officer at ARCHER Systems, LLC, Philadelphia

Sarah S. Doles, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL

Sara Papantonio, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL

Sean P. Fahey, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, Philadelphia

Seth A. Katz, Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C., Englewood, CO

Stacy Hauer, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN

Thomas R. Kline, Kline & Specter PC, Philadelphia

Timothy Becker, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN