Thompson Hine LLP, a national law firm known for innovation, is pleased to announce it has added Karen Firstenberg as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on product liability, toxic tort, insurance recovery, and complex litigation.
Firstenberg, who joins from Venable, provides strategic counsel to life sciences companies on product liability, toxic tort, and compliance matters, adding depth to the firm’s product liability litigation and consumer class action resources in California. She represents pharmaceutical, biotech, materials science, and medical device manufacturers, designers, and distributors, including Fortune 500 and 300 companies. She has led nationwide mass tort drug and device litigation in state and federal courts, winning favorable jury verdicts in multimillion-dollar claims involving a wide array of products and has successfully defended clients, including surgical robots, orthobiologics, pain pumps, prosthetic devices, surgical mesh, intraoperative warning devices, lasers, and durable medical equipment in every stage of litigation. Firstenberg also assists medical companies in mitigating litigation and enforcement action risks by advising on U.S. Food and Drug Administration compliance issues for medical devices, Material Safety Data Sheets, premarket approval and other regulatory submissions.
“I have a history with Thompson Hine, having worked with the firm as local counsel many years ago. It was a positive experience that left a lasting impression on me,” Firstenberg said. “The lawyers I worked with were sharp, dynamic litigators – the kind of professionals I want to join forces with. I am thrilled to bring my practice to Thompson Hine, a firm with a stellar reputation in product liability and complex litigation. I look forward to contributing to the future of the Los Angeles office, leveraging the firm’s resources and expertise to achieve the best outcomes for clients and collaborating with my new colleagues.”
In addition to complex product liability claims, Firstenberg litigates class actions, contract issues, unfair business practice claims, medical malpractice, and personal injury litigation. Firstenberg is particularly skilled in offensive discovery, counseling clients on how to identify facts supporting potential claims, and defenses.
Andrew Cox, Thompson Hine’s Product Liability Litigation practice group leader, said, “California long has been at the center of product liability and consumer class action litigation, and Karen’s sophisticated practice in this area will greatly benefit our clients in California and across the country. Her deep knowledge of the medical industry and extensive experience defending manufacturers in medical device and toxic tort matters create strong synergies with our existing practice and will further enhance the services we provide to our clients.”
With roots in the Midwest, Thompson Hine is committed to delivering top-tier legal services and innovative solutions to its clients. The firm’s expansion to Los Angeles in 2024, which added a team of experienced litigators, and its recent hires, including real estate partner William Ticknor and construction partner Mike Viayra in Los Angeles and Christopher K. Larus, William E. Manske, and Rajin Singh Olson in its new Minneapolis office, reflect the firm’s dedication to meeting clients’ evolving needs by increasing its geographic coverage and offering a greater depth and breadth of services.
On July 1, the firm announced that it is growing its intellectual property and technology litigation capabilities across key markets with the addition of experienced IP litigator Rachael Rodman in its Columbus office..