Daphne O'Connor

Daphne O'Connor is head of the firm's Washington, D.C. office and co-chair of the firm's Product Liability Litigation practice group. Daphne handles complex product liability and mass tort cases. She has served as national counsel for major pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer products companies with a focus on driving legal strategy, assessing complicated scientific and medical issues, preparing executives for testimony, and positioning cases for advantageous resolution. She also counsels clients on litigation avoidance and affirmative strategies for achieving business goals including regulatory litigation as well as legislative and rulemaking efforts. Daphne is actively involved in working with clients to develop innovative AI tools for litigation and trial purposes with a goal towards increased efficiency and creative problem-solving in the mass tort arena.

Daphne rejoined the firm after having served for seven years as Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Altria Client Services, Inc. In that role, she managed all aspects of commercial and product liability litigation, including trials and appeals in both state and federal courts throughout the country. She handled a diverse portfolio of cases, including personal injury and consumer fraud, class actions and large consolidations, antitrust, contract, environmental, and regulatory cases. She also coordinated major settlements.

Daphne has a deep commitment to pro bono representation. She currently represents reproductive rights organizations in a variety of litigation and regulatory matters. Daphne has taught a Drug Product Liability course at Columbia Law School and teaches currently at the Penn Carey Law School at the University of Pennsylvania.