Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has taken a leader from Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott's products liability group, adding to its Pittsburgh office.
Wendy West Feinstein joined Morgan Lewis' life sciences group, where she will focus largely on products liability litigation, the firm announced Monday. Feinstein was appointed co-chair of Eckert Seamans' products liability group less than a year ago, and she was leader of the firm's life sciences practice. She has clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and highway products industries, including Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.
"Her practice and her experience are a great fit for our national products liability practice," said John Ferreira, managing partner of Morgan Lewis' Pittsburgh office. "Adding Wendy to that team exponentially expands the capabilities and opportunities we have to represent clients in this region."
In addition to her products liability practice, he said, Feinstein has experience in other areas including contract disputes, intellectual property and unfair competition. Feinstein has also served as outside general counsel for clients, advising them on how to develop business strategies that will prevent litigation. She also counsels companies on employment disputes and has represented foreign countries in litigation in the United States.
In a statement, Feinstein said she was interested in joining Morgan Lewis for its outstanding, diverse litigation group, the breadth of expertise across a number of practice areas, the firm s collegial culture and emphasis on partnering with clients, and its truly global platform.
Ferreira declined to discuss how Feinstein became connected with Morgan Lewis, and whether she is bringing her clients with her. He said conflicts were not an issue.
Morgan Lewis has 34 lawyers in its Pittsburgh office, including a handful of litigators.
In a statement, firm chairwoman Jami Wintz McKeon called Feinstein "an extraordinarily resourceful lawyer."
"Her presence adds a significant new dimension to our Pittsburgh office, while also deepening our litigation capabilities more broadly," McKeon said.
A spokeswoman for Eckert Seamans declined to comment on her departure.