ALAN ROTHMAN RECEIVES LCJ FOUNDERS AWARD FOR MDL LEADERSHIP

Alan Rothman, a partner with Sidley & Austin, is the 2023 recipient of LCJ’s Founders Award; given in recognition of his contributions to LCJ’s advocacy for procedural reform of multi-district litigation proceedings. Alan’s deep engagement on behalf of MDL transparency and fairness have had a profound impact on continuing LCJ’s advocacy on the issue. In June, the Judicial Conference’s Standing Committee adopted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules to publish draft FRCP 16.1, specifically addressing the needs of MDLs. The public comment period on the draft rule will begin later this summer.Alan is a partner in Sidley’s product liability practice and is based in New York. His professional successes are too lengthy to recite, but he is highly regarded for his more than two decades of experience in representing pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer product, chemical and other companies in connection with more than 20 MDLs, as well for his work in class actions and individual mass tort product liability litigation. He has successfully argued issues of first impression, and jurisdictional and coordination issues in federal and state court. He is the author of a widely read bi-monthly Law360 column, “And Now a Word from the Panel,” which recently celebrated its 10th year. The Founders Award was presented to Alan at LCJ’s recent membership meeting in Washington, DC. Alan’s on-going contributions to LCJ’s advocacy previously made him a two-time winner of LCJ’s outstanding contributor award. His work continues to inform LCJ’s efforts going into the public comment period on draft Rule 16.1.