Laura A. Sexton
Partner / Chicago

P: 312-881-5950
F: 312-380-7023

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Laura has amassed a tremendous track record representing Fortune 500 corporations in complex litigation. She has defended major corporations in cases involving products liability, mass torts, class actions, antitrust disputes, and other complex commercial disputes.

Laura’s specialty is leveraging scientific and technical evidence to win cases. In one federal MDL, Laura’s Daubert motions resulted in the exclusion of two key plaintiff experts and the eventual dismissal of almost 1,000 cases. In another federal MDL, Laura represented a Fortune 50 company in a products liability case remanded for trial. There, she helped to develop the medical theory that debunked plaintiff’s theory of causation—ultimately resulting in a favorable verdict.

Laura has experience in all aspects of litigation, from large-scale discovery to brief-writing to depositions to trial work. She has deposed plaintiffs, treating physicians, and experts in litigation across the country, and has served on multiple trial teams.

Laura is a proud mother of three and is committed to helping other working parents advance in their career.

  • PFAS Environmental Litigation

    National counsel for chemical manufacturer in thousands of environmental and products liability claims in state and federal courts nationwide brought by individuals, municipalities, and states alleging groundwater contamination and personal injury as individual claims, consolidated proceedings, and class actions.

    Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. v. Lafarge North America Inc.

    Represents a defendant in an opt-out antitrust case alleging that a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices in the drywall industry violated the Sherman Act.

    Pro Slab Inc. v. Argos North America Corp.

    Represents a defendant in a putative class action alleging a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and/or allocate territories and customers in certain markets for ready-mix concrete.

    Premier Concrete LLC v. Argos North America Corp.

    Represented a defendant in a case alleging a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and/or allocate territories and customers in certain markets for ready-mix concrete and cement. Obtained full dismissal with prejudice at the pleading stage.

    In re Mirena IUD Products Liability Litigation

    Represented Bayer in a federal multidistrict litigation in New York. After a multi-day Daubert hearing, the Court excluded all of the Plaintiffs’ general causation experts in October 2018. In June 2019, the Court granted summary judgment for Bayer and dismissed all cases in the MDL.

    Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Pelvic Repair System Litigation

    Represents Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in federal litigation involving pelvic mesh products. Served on the trial team for a case tried in the Northern District of Illinois claiming personal injuries allegedly caused by pelvic mesh used to treat stress urinary incontinence. The jury rejected the vast majority of plaintiff’s claims, awarding only past medical expenses. Also served on a trial team for another case remanded for trial in the Northern District of Illinois, which settled on favorable terms shortly before trial.

    In re Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation

    Represented Janssen in litigation regarding personal injuries allegedly caused by Xarelto, an anticoagulant developed by Janssen and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Served on MDL case work-up team tasked with taking depositions of plaintiffs and treating physicians in cases across the country.

    In re K-Dur Antitrust Litigation

    Represented Merck in the class action and consolidated opt-out antitrust lawsuits brought by wholesalers and major pharmacy retail chains that directly purchased K-Dur® 20, an extended-release potassium chloride supplement. Plaintiffs claimed that a June 1997 patent settlement with a generic maker of K-Dur® 20 was anticompetitive. The matter settled shortly before trial.

    • Associate, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP
    • Associate, Sidley Austin, LLP
    • The University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with honors)
      • Kirkland & Ellis Scholar (for grades in top 5% of class)
      • Sidley Austin Prize for Excellence in Brief Writing
      • The University of Chicago Law Review, Member
    • The University of Chicago (B.A.)
      • Honors
      • Dean’s List

  • Dear Bar Examiners: We Still Need Breast-Pumping Accommodations, Above The Law (July 27, 2023)

    Product Tying and Bundling: When is it illegal under US antitrust law?, Corporate Disputes (Jan.-Mar. 2023)

    Eliminating the Mommy Track, Above the Law (Dec. 2022)

    The ‘Natural’ Cases: An Update After FDA’s Request for Comments, Natural Products INSIDER (February 3, 2016)

    Cosmeceuticals: The Next Wave of Class-Action Litigation, Natural Products INSIDER (February 3, 2016)

    Beware of “Subject To and Not Waiving” in Discovery Responses, American Bar Association, Products Liability, News & Developments (May 21, 2015)

    Federal Preemption of Food Labeling Claims, BNA’s Product Safety & Liability Reporter (January 12, 2015)

    Supreme Court Allows Lanham Act Challenges to Food Labels, American Bar Association, Products Liability, News & Developments (July 7, 2014)

    • Co-Chair, ABA Young Lawyers Subcommittee
    • Chair, MothersEsquire PumpUpTheBar Campaign
    • The Legal 500, General Commercial Disputes, Key Lawyer (2023)
    • Selected for Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List (2022, 2023)
    • Selected by Super Lawyers as an Illinois Rising Star (2018-2023)
    • Selected by Lawdragon as among the “all-star litigators” “who excel at representing principally corporations and other organizations” in complex litigation, especially product liability, in the 500 Leading Litigators in America guide (2023, 2024)
    • Federal Bar Association, Chicago Chapter, Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service (2017)
    • Graduated from the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy
    • State of Illinois
    • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois