Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Leading defense firm in PFAS-related litigation and counseling

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Overview

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as “forever chemicals”—are a large family of fluorinated chemicals made up of a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. PFAS have historically been used in multiple applications across a broad range of industries, including aviation, personal care products and cosmetics, biotechnology, construction, electronics, paper, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. For more than two decades, PFAS have been the subject of litigation and the target of regulatory efforts, largely due to their alleged exposure-based health impacts. As in many environmental and “toxic tort” litigations, experienced and enterprising plaintiff firms have been refining and improving their strategies for attacking companies involved with PFAS at all levels, and significantly broadened the scope of potential defendants to target.

MG+M has been a leading defense firm in PFAS-related litigation and counseling since the onset of PFAS litigation. Leveraging more than 18 years of PFAS-specific experience and utilizing the technical backgrounds of our attorneys, including toxicology, epidemiology, public health and environmental science, we thoroughly understand PFAS-related science and medicine and the associated nuances and obstacles companies face with PFAS litigation and regulatory compliance. With firsthand, in-house experience, our attorneys comprehensively navigate the intricate legal, business and scientific challenges PFAS clients face.

MG+M’s PFAS litigation and counseling group advises clients on regulatory compliance, best practices for PFAS-related issues, litigation avoidance and defense strategies. When working with PFAS clients, we collaborate with the country’s best experts and investigators and “partner” with our clients to skillfully and efficiently advise them through legal, regulatory and scientific challenges. MG+M also works with its clients to pinpoint other potential sources of contamination and identify federal and state funding sources for PFAS mitigation and/or remediation. We assess PFAS risks and other emerging issues that can lead to further problems, including excessive costs, future liabilities and potential threats of litigation. If litigation arises, our team collaboratively works with our clients to determine the most favorable approach to resolution. MG+M’s innovative litigation strategies have led to unprecedented success in driving down defense and indemnity costs for its PFAS clients.

MG+M is a member of the Plastics Industry Association.

Team
Partner
New Orleans
504 535 2874
Natasha A.
Corb
ncorb@mgmlaw.com
Partner
Boston
617 670 8546
Howard P.
Goldberg
hgoldberg@mgmlaw.com
Partner
Boston
617 670 8519
Brian D.
Gross
bgross@mgmlaw.com
Partner
New York
212 364 2311
Anna
Hwang
ahwang@mgmlaw.com
Partner
San Francisco
415 527 2802
Carrie S.
Lin
clin@mgmlaw.com
Associate
Boston
617 670 8303
Marissa L.
Morte
mmorte@mgmlaw.com
Partner
Boston
617 670 8433
Katharine S.
Perry
kperry@mgmlaw.com
Partner
Chicago
312 754 2496
Daniel J.
Powell
dpowell@mgmlaw.com
Associate
New Orleans
504 620 3043
Mary A.
Reed
mreed@mgmlaw.com
Associate
Chicago
312 668 1151
Emily A.
Sample
esample@mgmlaw.com
Partner
New Orleans
504 799 0502
Max
Swetman
mswetman@mgmlaw.com
Associate
Wilmington
302-504-6786
Yuhanna V.
Whye
ywhye@mgmlaw.com
Experience

Advise leading industry enterprises on handling PFAS claims and avoiding potential litigation.

Handled numerous civil claims asserted by private landowners and governmental entities that involved alleged pollution and contamination of soil, surface waters and groundwater, and coordinated with various state, local and federal regulatory agencies to implement and design assessment and remediation efforts.

Over the past two decades, acted as lead counsel in developing and implementing strategies for handling PFAS use and contamination and potential liabilities for an international manufacturing conglomerate in the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe.

Represent a leader in the plastics manufacturing industry in matters involving groundwater contamination and regulations regarding underground water and sewers.

Serve as National Coordinating Counsel for claims related to PFAS contamination at commercial airports across the United States.

Insights