Reed Smith announced the return of former partner Matthew D. Jacobson to the firm’s product liability practice in its Life Sciences Health Industry Group. He will reside in the firm’s Miami and Washington, D.C., offices.
Jacobson originally joined Reed Smith as an associate in July 2014 and advanced to partner in January 2021. He joined Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach offices in August 2023.
“I am delighted to return to Reed Smith, which has been home to me for most of my professional life,” said Jacobson. “Since leaving the firm last year, I have literally been on the phone and collaborating daily with my former colleagues at Reed Smith on behalf of a mutual client, one of the world’s largest medical technology companies. We also recently co-tried a case together in the Southern District of Ohio. In the end, it just made sense to rejoin the team and continue to provide seamless service to all our shared clients.”
With deep experience in drug and device liability litigation, Jacobson predominately focuses on managing massive cases, including class and multidistrict actions. In his big picture role overseeing complex litigation, he ensures strategies and themes remain consistent when multiple teams are in trial in different venues. And at the same time, Jacobson excels at the smallest details -- managing teams, workloads, workflow, fact and expert discovery, motion practice, trials, and every aspect of large-scale litigations in state and federal courts.
In addition to organizing and overseeing the most complex and contentious matters for product liability trials, working alongside his clients, Jacobson has also developed a broad range of novel case theories and defenses.
Jacobson also assists companies in responding to government investigations and advises pharmaceutical, medical device, 3D printing and health care clients on liability and regulatory issues. For more than a decade he has been a thought leader, speaking and publishing on issues related to the intersection between 3D printing and products liability.
“Matt has a skill set and litigation management approach which will benefit all our clients,” said Janet Kwuon, co-chair of the Life Sciences Health Industry Group. “He will continue to be a key part of the team handling one of the largest mass product liability cases currently underway in the country. We are delighted he’s back aboard.”
Since May 2022, Jacobson has also served part-time as a judge advocate general (JAG) in the U.S. Army Reserve.
A graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, he was a law clerk for the Honorable James P. Salmon of the Court of Special Appeals in Maryland following graduation.
“We are delighted to bring back an exceptional product liability litigator like Matt as we continue to increase our capabilities on behalf of our life sciences and health care clients in Washington, D.C., and Miami,” said Scot Hasselman, co-chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group. “He brings a strong record of success and client service.”
Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group comprises of over 50 experienced and diverse partners leading teams across our U.S. and global offices – which makes us among the few genuinely global practices. Firmwide, over 150 attorneys represent the world’s largest medical device, pharmaceutical and other health care companies, including pharmacies, distributors, providers, and industry investors. Collectively, the group is recognized not only for its wins, but for being thought leaders on products liability litigation who shape the industry landscape.
Original source can be found here.