San Francisco, Calif. — Mayer Brown has strengthened its mass torts practice by welcoming partners Davina Pujari and Chris Rheinheimer, both of whom previously worked at WilmerHale. Their arrival signals a strategic move for the firm, especially following the loss of a five-partner mass torts team to Jenner & Block earlier this year.
The addition of these two experienced lawyers reflects a larger trend among major law firms seeking to bolster their capabilities in the mass torts sector. Pujari specializes in environmental law, white-collar defense, and crisis management, while Rheinheimer brings expertise in complex litigation within the realms of environmental, energy, and real estate law.
Pujari commented on the increasing challenges facing corporations amid a “more sophisticated and well-funded” environmental plaintiffs’ bar. This shift significantly raises the risks for companies involved in class-action lawsuits and mass torts. She expressed enthusiasm for her new role, highlighting Mayer Brown’s strong commitment to environmental law and mass tort practice as key factors in her decision to join the firm.
Pujari and Rheinheimer transitioned to WilmerHale in 2022 from Hanson Bridgett, a California-based firm. While at WilmerHale, they played crucial roles in defending Norfolk Southern Railway Co. against litigation related to a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this year. Their current portfolio includes representing Tetra Tech Inc. in an upcoming trial concerning its work on remediating radioactive waste at a Navy shipyard in San Francisco.
Michael Olsen, who heads Mayer Brown’s litigation and dispute resolution practice, praised Pujari and Rheinheimer for their impressive trial records and extensive knowledge of both environmental and mass tort issues. Their addition is expected to enhance the firm’s capacity to manage complex legal challenges effectively.
As law firms across the country intensify their hiring efforts in key practice areas, Pujari and Rheinheimer’s commitment to raising the standards of mass tort litigation aligns with the growing need for companies to navigate an increasingly complicated legal landscape.
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