Jim Stengel,

consistently recognized as a leading lawyer in legal publications such as Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation, represents clients in large, complex and multi-party class action litigation. He has handled significant actions involving the chemical, tobacco and medical device industries. The following are some of his more notable cases.

Union Carbide Corporation. Mr. Stengel is the leader of the Orrick team serving as National Counsel for Union Carbide in asbestos litigation.
The Dow Chemical Company. Representing The Dow Chemical Company with respect to claims relating to silicone breast implants manufactured by Dow Corning Corporation, Mr. Stengel has served as the company’s lead litigation counsel in the Dow Corning Corporation reorganization and as its lead negotiator in the successful efforts to achieve a consensual resolution of that case. He also represents Dow Chemical in ongoing litigation related to the use of the herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust. Mr. Stengel represented the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust in litigation against the tobacco industry to recover tobacco’s share of liability to those injured by occupational and other exposure to asbestos.
Drexel Burnham Lambert. Mr. Stengel was actively involved in litigation concerning individuals and entities in Drexel’s High-Yield Bond Department following Drexel’s collapse and the criminal proceedings involving Michael Milken. This representation included services as Defense Liaison Counsel in the consolidated MDL proceedings, which sought to coordinate the active litigation and, subsequently, the settlement of more than 180 separate class and derivative cases, including In re Michael Milken and Associates Securities Litigation, In the Matter of Trading by Certain Accounts, In the Matter of Certain Transactions by, through or in Conjunction with Drexel Burnham Lambert, and Presidential Life Ins. Co. v. Michael Milken.
Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS). Mr. Stengel was counsel to WPPSS in civil and SEC proceedings arising out of its US$2.25 billion municipal bond default including In re Washington Public Power Supply System Securities Litigation and In the Matter of Transactions in WPPSS Securities. Mr. Stengel was also involved for 12 years in proceedings relating to the proper allocation of construction and financing costs among the five WPPSS nuclear projects in Bonneville Power Administration v. WPPSS and Chemical Bank.