Profile
Evan Holden is a product liability litigator who represents life sciences companies and global product manufacturers. Considered a business partner to his clients, Evan uses a flexible, efficient approach that balances litigation strategy with the business goals of the company. His clients include Fortune 500 companies in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as well as manufacturers of automobiles, industrial equipment, and consumer products. Clients rely upon Evan for cases ranging from mass torts and multidistrict litigation to high-stakes, single-plaintiff catastrophic injuries.
A shareholder in the firm’s Products Liability & Mass Torts Practice, Evan manages complex litigation in federal and state court. He has over a decade of experience defending companies in cases that involve challenging scientific issues in the areas of medicine and engineering. Evan also counsels a variety of manufacturers and distributors on compliance matters, risk assessment, product recalls, and reporting activities governed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, FDA, and other federal and state regulatory bodies.
Evan is listed as a Georgia Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2017-2018), as well as in The Daily Report’s “On the Rise (2018). He is a core member of the GT team that was named The American Lawyer’s 2018 “Product Liability Litigation Department of the Year” and 2018 “Regional Litigation Department of the Year” for Georgia.
Evan is a speaker and author on important legal issues in the field of products liability, including the issue of jury selection in high-stakes trials. He has presented at the Biomedical Engineering and Materials Roundtable of the National Academy of Sciences. Evan is an active participant in the Defense Research Institute and is the Complex Medicine SLG Chair for its Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee. Evan also enjoys mentoring younger attorneys and conveying the importance of understanding clients’ legal matters in the larger context of their business objectives.
Concentrations
- Pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation
- Products liability
- Multidistrict and mass action litigation
- Consumer products
Capabilities
Experience
- National counsel trial team lead for pharmaceutical manufacturer in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state court actions involving prescription chemotherapy medication (docetaxel) alleged to cause permanent hair loss.
- Member of trial team that obtained a complete defense verdict for one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers in a product liability lawsuit related to a surgical airway fire. The plaintiff alleged negligence in the design of the laser-resistant endotracheal tube that was used in the surgery. Following a seven week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $18 million against three co-defendant health care providers, but assessed zero liability to the manufacturer.
- Member of national counsel team for manufacturer of prescription propoxyphene pain medication (generic Darvon and Darvocet) in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state court actions. Obtained complete Mensing dismissal of all claims against client in MDL.
- Member of national counsel team for worldwide medical device manufacturer for matters involving surgical navigation devices, neurovascular catheters, and spinal cord stimulators.
- Member of national counsel team for worldwide medical device manufacturer of insulin pumps, neurological navigation products, laser-resistant endotracheal tubes, and surgical tools.
- Member of national counsel team for manufacturer of surgical mesh, sutures, vascular grafts, and cardiovascular and endovascular prostheses and devices.
- Counsel manufacturers of consumer products in relation to national recalls and compliance activities.
- Represent manufacturer of skid-steer loaders, mini-track loaders and other construction equipment in product liability actions.
- Represent health care professionals in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2023-2024
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2022-2023
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, “40 & Under Hot List,” 2022
- Team Member, a Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year," 2011 and 2021-2022
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Regional Litigation Department of the Year - Georgia,” 2018 and 2021
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," 2017-2018
- Listed, The Daily Report, "On the Rise," 2018
- Team Member, The Daily Report’s "Georgia Products Liability & Mass Torts Litigation Department of the Year," 2013 and 2015-2017
- Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Member, Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee
- Complex Medicine SLG Chair
- Young Lawyer Liaison, 2016-2017
- Young Lawyer Vice-Liaison, 2015-2016
- Member, Young Lawyers Steering Committee
- Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2015-2016
- Vice-Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2014-2015
- Member, Trial Tactics Steering Committee
- Young Lawyer Liaison, 2012-2014
- Member, Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee
Credentials
- J.D., Boston College Law School, 2008
- B.A., Economics, Middlebury College, 2005
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
- New York