Biography

Linda Willett, who chairs the firm’s Drug and Medical Device practice group, has substantial in-house and major law firm experience, and as a result offers her clients unsurpassed expertise and perspective on risk management, intellectual property, product liability, commercial dispute, government investigation and corporate governance issues. Ms. Willett had more than a decade of experience as vice president and deputy general counsel for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to going in-house, she was a partner at a law firm specializing in product liability litigation, and while there served as national counsel in breast implant litigation.

Ms. Willett has managed complex litigation, counseled corporate leaders on the development of global business strategies, made challenging risk assessments, and advised on acquisitions and divestitures. During her tenure at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ms. Willett supervised lawyers in almost every practice group. Most recently, she acted as lead counsel for the Health Care Group of companies and also supervised attorneys in the employment, litigation and trademark groups. She has managed external litigation budgets and been in charge of strategic management and resolution of risk issues, including major patent litigation, and government civil and criminal investigations. Ms. Willett also has played a major role in reviewing antitrust, insurance and regulatory disputes. She has negotiated settlements in numerous investigations as well as in major commercial and product liability matters.

She serves as an AAA arbitrator for commercial litigation and is a special master for the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department in the County of New York.

Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments

Deeply involved in diversity and women’s programs, Ms. Willett has won awards from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. She has served on boards for many community organizations and professional associations, including the Learning Spring School, Legal Momentum [women’s rights advocacy], New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and Salvation Army. She has also been a member of other important organizations, such as the Economic Club of New York, European Justice Forum, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and Women’s Forum of New York.

Presentations and Publications

• PLI Conference: Managing Complex Litigation, Panelist – Current Ethical Issues: Ethical Concerns Arising in Settlements. November 2008.

• ACI Drug and Device Forum on Defending Consumer Fraud Economic Injury Claim, Co-presenter for Evaluating the Intersection of Regulatory Oversight and Consumer Fraud Litigation: Incorporating Recent Changes to FDA Regulations and Increased Government Interest into Your Defense Strategy. September 2008.

• ABA Section of Litigation’s Products Liability Committee Panel – International Developments in Product Liability Law. August 2008.ABA Section of Litigation’s Products Liability Committee Panel – International Developments in Product Liability Law. August 2008.

• IBA Corporate General Meeting, Panelist for Workshop – The EU Green Paper encouraging private litigation – the impact on European companies and economies. March 2006. 

• Author – “U.S. – Style Class Actions in Europe: A Growing Threat?” National Legal Center for the Public Interest, Briefly, June 2005.

• Protecting Consumer Interests in Class Actions. A workshop sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission and the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, Panelist for Workshop – Class Actions as an Alternative to Regulation: The Unique Challenges Presented by Multiple Enforcers and Follow-On Lawsuits. September 2004.

• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons – Fifth Annual Conference on Gender-Specific Medicine. Moderator – Barriers to Medical Care Faced by Women in Different Cultures throughout the World. September 2004.

• Co-Author – “The Alien Tort Statute and Its Implications for Multinational Corporations,” National Legal Center for the Public Interest, Briefly. September 2003.

• The National Legal Center for the Public Interest, The General Counsel Briefing. Presentation – “The Criminalization of the CEO.” May 2001.

• Fulcrum, Presentation – “Understanding and Avoiding the Pitfalls of Mass Tort Litigation.” May 2001.

• Fulcrum, Sixth Annual Law Department Leadership Summit, Presentation – “Partnering in Action.” September 2000.

• National Legal Center for the Public Interest Corporate Law on the Edge of the Millennium, Presentation – “The Liability Explosion.” May 2000.

• Lawyers for Civil Justice Annual Meeting & Legislative Conference, Presentation – “The Economic Impact of Class Actions.” April 2000.

• ABA Corporate Counsel Mid-year, Presentation – “What to do (and not to do) When a Corporate Crisis Strikes.” February 2000.

• Editor, Gender Medicine, Law, Medicine, and Ethics.