Class Action for Attorneys: Hot Topics in 2012

Tiffany Cheung is a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP. Her practice is concentrated in federal, state, and multidistrict complex litigation, with a focus on consumer class actions. Ms. Cheung has successfully defended clients in disputes involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and various unfair competition, consumer fraud, and antitrust laws in federal and state courts throughout the United States. In addition, she has represented clients in investigations and actions brought by government officials, including the Federal Communications Commission and various state Attorneys General. Her clients span a wide range of industries, including the pharmaceutical, retail, and insurance industries, with an emphasis on telecommunications companies. Ms. Cheung is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

Luanne Sacks concentrates in consumer and employment class action defense. She is also a skilled trial lawyer and has handled diverse complex commercial litigation matters. Ms. Sacks provides both litigation and counseling services to clients in many industries, including computer hardware and software, consumer retail sales, medical devices and manufacturing. She has also advised and represented financial institutions and consulting companies regarding litigation matters related to mergers and acquisitions and privacy matters. She is co-chair of DLA Piper’s Class Action.The respected research publication Legal 500 recommends Ms. Sacks, noting that she is regarded as an “accomplished lawyer” for class action cases. Ms. Sacks has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer in every year since 2005 as the result of a joint research project conducted by Law & Politics and San Francisco magazines. She has also been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 2007 to 2009 and again in 2012.

Daniel P. Shapiro is national co-head of the Commercial Litigation Practice. He is co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Consumer Law Class Actions and Derivative Suits Subcommittee and is a member of the advisory board for the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. publication Class Action Litigation Report. Mr. Shapiro has extensive experience litigating complex class actions in courts around the country including class action litigation brought under federal (’33 Act and ’34 Act) and state securities laws, RICO, the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and numerous other state and federal consumer protection laws. Mr. Shapiro also has litigated significant business disputes of virtually all types, including disputes arising out of the purchase and sale of businesses and securities, disputes regarding business valuations, the negotiation and formation of contracts, the enforcement of representations and warranties in contracts related to a sale, and product liability defense.

Eric Y. Kizirian is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP and is the Vice-Chair of the firm’s Class Acton and Mass Torts group. Eric has broad experience in the defense of purported class actions and other complex litigation in state and federal courts seeking relief under California’s Unfair Competition Laws (Bus. & Prof. Code Sec. 17200), California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code 1750 et seq.), and for various consumer product liability claims. His clients include various automotive manufacturers, medical product manufacturers, makers of children’s clothing, and other consumer products. He has been selected as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Law & Politics Media Inc. in 2006, 2007 and 2012. Eric received his J.D. from Southwestern Law School with high honors, and his B.S. from University of California, Los Angeles.

Christopher M. Murphy is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Chicago office. He focuses his practice in the areas of class actions and complex commercial litigation. He heads the Firm’s Class Action group. He also heads the Chicago Trial Department.Chris has substantial experience defending clients in class action and multi-party lawsuits in state and federal courts, including consumer fraud, securities and RICO class actions. He has obtained dismissals of class allegations and defeated motions for class certification in both state and federal courts. He has also successfully argued appeals of class action decisions in state and federal appellate courts. Chris has argued before the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation.