Mark S. Cheffo represents defendants in products liability, insurance and mass torts litigation, serving as national coordinating and trial counsel in both large, complex matters and in individual cases. He has represented pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, designers of bioengineered agricultural products, and sellers of consumer and industrial products. He also has handled insurance sales practices cases and numerous toxic and environmental exposure suits.

His current and prior representations include:

• national coordinating and trial counsel for a major pharmaceutical company in nationwide litigation involving several of the company’s leading prescription medications;

• a major biotechnology company in multidistrict litigation involving a nationwide consumer fraud action;

• several major pharmaceutical companies in connection with the development of risk management initiatives, labeling advice, and document retention and management;

• one of the world’s largest computer manufacturers in class actions challenging alleged product defects; and

• individual and corporate property owners in connection with more than 70 cases alleging pediatric brain injuries from exposure to environmental toxins.

Mr. Cheffo actively manages all stages of pretrial proceedings, and has taken and defended numerous expert and company witness depositions. He has also briefed and conducted numerous Daubert and Frye challenges. Mr. Cheffo has briefed and argued dispositive motions and appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country.

He successfully argued a motion to dismiss a consolidated nationwide consumer fraud class action complaint in an MDL, and served as coordinating counsel of a successful trial team on a summary judgment motion in a pharmaceutical case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. He also argued the appeal in the Ninth Circuit, where the district court’s decision was affirmed. In addition, Mr. Cheffo has conducted many arbitrations and mediations dealing with a host of disputes.

Mr. Cheffo is active in local bar associations, and is a frequent lecturer on products liability issues. He also is very involved in Skadden’s pro bono efforts. He obtained a judgment of more than $1.7 million for liability and legal fees on behalf of 11 restaurant workers in New York’s Chinatown. He also obtained a jury verdict in a defamation case and, while representing the city of New York in Bronx Supreme Court, obtained a directed verdict in a case brought by three plaintiffs who had been shot while in prison.

Mr. Cheffo was nominated for membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel, and was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2009.