Environmental & Product Liability

Environmental & Product Liability

Since our inception, we have fought hard for victims of toxic exposures, including unsafe medicines and hazardous environmental pollutants, to obtain justice for our clients and bring corporate polluters to account.


Our highly skilled lawyers have prevailed in matters involving lead poisoning, chemical poisoning, contamination from genetically modified crops, and air and groundwater pollution.

With more than 100 years of collective experience, our practice leaders bring the expertise to lead these complex cases to the best possible outcomes. But we will never lose sight of the human angle in these cases and bring an unparalleled degree of caring for the families we represent.

As seasoned litigators and trial lawyers, we go to work every day knowing that these families have entrusted us as their only means of seeking a fair and just result for the wrong they suffered. We have a proud history of saying “yes” to – and succeeding in – cases that others rejected because they seemed too challenging, expensive or time-consuming.

Hausfeld lawyers have achieved notable success in representing families injured by unsafe drugs and faulty medical devices through “mass torts”, so called because of the large numbers of people injured by similar products. Our lawyers actively lead and settle litigation and when necessary, prosecute jury trials – and have done so for the most important mass torts in recent decades.

Through judicial appointment or specific invitation from our peers, our team is often called upon to lead the substantive and strategic course of mass tort multi-district litigations (MDLs), including where complex medical and scientific issues are involved, on behalf of hundreds and even thousands of plaintiffs.

The Hausfeld team possesses deep experience and knowledge of complex mass tort strategy and management as well as courtroom expertise, combined with expertise in topics ranging from science/expert discovery and related “battle of the experts” Daubert motion practice, and bold global resolution approaches.

When representing communities, families, and workers who have been exposed to hazardous chemicals in neighborhoods, workplaces, or in food and water supplies, not only do they result in serious medical injuries but they can bring economic harm such as diminution of property values, remediation costs, or loss of use and enjoyment damages. Litigating these public health threats requires unique expertise in complex scientific issues and medical causation. For decades the team has worked closely with leading independent scientists, environmental health physicians, toxicologists, and epidemiologists, in preparing and trying cases.

Hausfeld’s commitment to prosecuting public health cases (both unsafe drugs/medical devices and environmental pollutant cases) is also demonstrated by our representation of public entities, including states, counties, and cities. Hausfeld presently represents the largest public water provider in the country (Suffolk County Water Authority) in two drinking water contamination cases and has represented governmental entities in pursuing lead paint abatement and control of the opioids epidemic.

For additional Environmental & Product Liability expertise in:

Belgium
France
Germany
Sweden
The Netherlands
United Kingdom

Four lawyers of our Washington, DC office were recognised as part of "500 lawyers representing the evolution of environmental law, from the early days of preserving the earth to today’s justice leaders, leading the opposition to continued siting of environmentally toxic and otherwise heavy projects in minority and poor communities."

The Lawdragon's 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers Guide 2021

Honored as a finalist in the category of Innovation in Social Responsibility, for the firm's work in the Silicosis matter on behalf of South African gold miners.

The FT Innovative Lawyer Awards North America

Ranked for 'Environment, Social & Governance Risk': International claimant-side law firm Hausfeld is known for its pursuit of social justice and corporate accountability. The firm has offices across the US and Europe but is particularly effective acting for groups and organisations in Europe and the UK fighting for climate justice.

Chambers Global Crisis & Risk Management 2022