Products Liability Lawyer Jennifer L. Ilkka Joins Drinker Biddle

National law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is expanding its Products Liability and Mass Tort Group in Chicago with the addition of partner Jennifer L. Ilkka.

Ms. Ilkka focuses her practice on complex product liability and commercial litigation disputes, including the resolution and/or trial of products, premises and personal injury suits around the country. She handles all aspects of litigation and alternative dispute resolution in both federal and state courts, including e-discovery strategy and compliance, fact and expert discovery, dispositive motion practice, mediation, trials and appeals.

“Jennifer is an exceptional lawyer with impressive first-chair trial experience,” said Andrew C. Kassner, chairman and CEO of Drinker Biddle. “She is a terrific addition to our products liability and mass tort practice, which represents prominent global companies in their most significant and complex litigation.”

Ms. Ilkka served as national product liability counsel for a Fortune 100 manufacturing, technology and service company for more than a decade and has represented a major multi-national pharmaceutical company for several years in various commercial, business, licensing and regulatory compliance disputes. Recently, Ms. Ilkka obtained a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of the manufacturer of an industrial cutoff saw, following a three-week long wrongful death jury trial in Illinois state court (Cook County). The jury deliberated less than an hour before delivering the verdict that exonerated her client. Jennifer’s practice also encompasses pharmaceutical and medical device defense, mass toxic tort litigation, class action defense, consumer fraud and deceptive business practice claims, supplier disputes under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and other commercial, licensing and regulatory matters.

“Jennifer’s experience handling business and commercial disputes nationwide across a broad range of industries is a great strategic fit for our team,” said Michael C. Zogby, co-chair of Drinker Biddle’s Products Liability and Mass Tort Group. “Top-tier litigation talent is what our clients have come to expect from Drinker Biddle, and Jennifer’s addition strengthens an already deep bench of superior trial lawyers.” Ms. Ilkka earned her juris doctor, summa cum laude, from John Marshall Law School and her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude from Lake Forest College.