Wendy R. Fleishman

A partner in our New York office, Wendy R. Fleishman is a passionate and experienced lawyer for the injured and the loved ones of those who died due to the wrongful misconduct of others. With more than thirty years of courtroom experience to draw upon, a large part of Wendy’s practice today consists of representing patients prescribed drugs with undisclosed and dangerous side effects or who received defective medical devices .

Wendy has served in leadership roles in significant Multidistrict Litigation cases in federal and state courts involving pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and personal health products, including a recent appointment to the Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the IVC Filter Injuries Litigation . Wendy’s leadership roles in other cases include the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG-II hip implant litigation, Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implant Litigation, Yaz and Yasmin litigation, DePuy hip implant litigation, Medtronic Sprint Fidelis heart lead, the Guidant cardiac defibrillator, the Ortho Evra Patch litigation, and contaminated contact lens solution litigation against Bausch & Lomb and Abbott Medical Optics.

Wendy devotes a part of her practice to a wide range of individual catastrophic injury cases. Her expertise includes vehicle accidents based on design defects, as well as serious and complicated medical malpractice cases.

Since 2006, Wendy has been named a New York Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine. She is an AV+ rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which indicates she is regarded as preeminently qualified by her peers. She has been named in the top 100 trial lawyers in America. Wendy is an officer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. She is a Life fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the New York State Delegate to the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, and past President of the American Association for Justice’s Section on Tort, Environmental and Product Liability Litigation.

Published Works & Appearances

•Moderator, “Jurisdiction: Defining State Courts’ Authority,” Pound Civil Justice Institute Judges Forum, Boston, MA, July 2017
•Speaker, “Diversity in Mass Torts,” AAJ Education Programs, Boston, MA, July 2017
•Speaker, “Mass Torts & Criminality,” JAMS Mass Torts Judicial Forum, New York, NY, April 2017
•Speaker, “Settling Strategies for MDLs,” JAMS Mass Torts Judicial Forum, New York, NY, April 2016
•Moderator & Chair, “Toxic, Environmental & Pharmaceutical Torts,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD, July 2014
•“Where Do You Want To Be? Don’t Get Left Behind, Creating a Vision for Your Practice,” Minority Caucus and Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, July 22, 2013
•“Ethics of Fee Agreements in Mass Torts,” AAJ Education Programs, July 2009
•“How to Find, Understand, and Litigate Mass Torts,” NYSTLA Mass Torts Seminar, April 2009
•Co-Author with Donald Arbitblit, “The Risky Business of Off-Label Use,” Trial Magazine, March 2005
•Co-Author, “From the Defense Perspective,” Scientific Evidence, Chapter 6, Aspen Law Pub, 1999
•Editor, Trial Techniques Newsletter, Tort and Insurance Practices Section, American Bar Association, 1995 - 1996, 1993 - 1994
•Editor and Co-Author with James J. Brown, “Proving and Defending Damage Claims: A Fifty-State Guide”

Honors & Awards

•Life fellow, American Bar Foundation
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
•“Top 100 Trial Lawyers,” The National Trial Lawyers
•Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of “Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs,” 2019, 2020
•American Association for Justice, Board of Governors Outstanding Achievement Award, 2019
•“10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys in New York,” American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2019
•“Super Lawyer for New York Metro,” Super Lawyers, 2006-2019
•“New York Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation, 2013-2016
•Legal 500 recommended lawyer, 2013
•“Lawdragon Finalist,” Lawdragon, 2009

Past Employment Positions

•Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York, Counsel, 1993 - 2001
•Fox, Rothschild O’Brien & Frankel, Partner, 1988 - 1993
•Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Associate, 1984 - 1988
•Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Assistant District Attorney, 1977 - 1984

In the News

•October 15, 2019
Wendy Fleishman to Discuss Juul E-Cigarette Litigation at Opening Session of “Mass Torts Made Perfect” Fall 2019 Conference Day 2
•September 28, 2019
Wendy Fleishman Named Co-Lead Counsel in Riddell Sports Section of NFL Concussion Litigation
•March 29, 2017
Wendy Fleishman to Speak at Mass Torts Judicial Forum in New York City
•April 5, 2016
Wendy Fleishman Featured at Mass Torts Judicial Forum
•September 25, 2015
Dangerous Side Effects of Johnson & Johnson’s Drug Risperdal Subject to Comprehensive Investigation
•August 10, 2015
Wendy Fleishman Elected to AAJ Board of Governors
•July 22, 2015
Children Poisoned By Laundry Pods: Consumer Reports Highlights Danger