Lori Leskin Named to The National Law Journal's 2023 ‘Class Action/Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazers’ List

The National Law Journal (NLJ) named Arnold & Porter partner Lori Leskin as one of its 2023 “Class Action/Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazers.” The list highlights attorneys who are “agents of change in their respective practice areas.”

The NLJ specifically recognized Leskin for her role in defending several clients in complex PFAS matters, where she was faced with the challenge of simplifying a “rapidly developing area of science with the legal parameters restricting the analysis at the motion to dismiss stage.” These matters include some of the first PFAS contamination cases filed against the cosmetics and fast-food industries.

In discussing the changes that have resulted from the early decisions on these cases, Leskin said courts have acknowledged that “hypothetical terms like PFAS is not enough” and that plaintiffs “need to plead their cases with some degree of specificity in order to maintain a federal cause of action.”

“The precedent that will be set by this early round of PFAS cases remains to be seen,” Leskin told the publication. She added that other litigators and the marketing and advertising sector are likely to be affected, creating “another layer of interest on the new frontier of PFAS and product liability.”

Leskin serves as co-chair of the firm’s Consumer Products Practice Group and handles all aspects of litigation strategy for complex nationwide and multidistrict litigations. She has over 30 years of experience representing consumer product and pharmaceutical companies as national, strategic and trial counsel in mass and class action litigation across the country.