Heidi Levine
Products Liability
Life Sciences
HEIDI LEVINE is a global co-leader of Sidley’s Product Liability and Mass Torts practice. She also serves on the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force. She has defended companies in a wide variety of product liability and mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, toxic torts and other products. Heidi also advises clients on risk management, analysis and prevention, as well as conducts pre-litigation assessments and due diligence. Heidi assists clients in the implementation and enhancement of compliance programs, policies and training, and provides general advice and counsel to clients, largely in the life sciences industry. She also maintains a complex commercial litigation practice.
Heidi most often acts as national litigation counsel in the mass tort context, representing clients in coordinated state and federal actions in multidistrict litigation proceedings, as well as related litigation outside the U.S. As national counsel, she formulates and implements the pre-trial, trial and/or resolution strategy for the litigation and leads the strategy on all other aspects of the engagement, including coordination relating to regulatory, patent and business issues. Heidi also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution, designing and implementing innovative resolution programs for companies faced with complex litigation.
Advocacy on behalf of clients has earned Heidi notable awards and acknowledgement in numerous industry publications, including:
- In 2017, Heidi received the University of Baltimore School of Law’s “Byron Warnken Distinguished Alumni Award.”
- From 2017–2020, Heidi was recognized by Chambers USA in nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts. Sources in the 2018 edition describe Heidi as “‘a really deep, strategic thinker, and a pleasure to work with.’”
- In 2017 and 2009, The Legal 500 US cited Heidi as a recommended lawyer.
- In 2011, The American Lawyer named Heidi to its “45 under 45” list of “The Top Young Women of the AmLaw 200.”
- In 2014, Heidi received the National Organization of Women’s “Women of Power & Influence Award.”
- In 2013, Heidi was honored by the Women’s Venture Fund with the “Highest Leaf Award,” celebrating “trailblazing women business executives who have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to their respective industries and other women.”
- In 2010, Law360 named Heidi among its “10 Product Liability Lawyers to Watch,” commenting that she “has played a leading role in defending several major pharmaceutical companies in mass torts.”
- From 2009–2019, Heidi has been recognized in the Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences, Product Liability Lawyers.
- From 2012–2019, Heidi has been named a “Life Sciences Star” in Euromoney’s Institutional Investor’s LMG Life Sciences, non-IP Litigation section.
- Lawyer Monthly “Women in Law 2014 Award” in recognition of work in the Life Sciences sector.
- Honored in Euromoney’s Product Liability section of the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law, every year since 2013.
- From 2009–2019, Heidi has been recognized as a New York “Super Lawyer” for personal injury defense.
Experience
- Pro Bono
- Memberships and Activities
In 2014, Heidi taught a week-long class in Zambia on the principles of legal writing and analysis to strengthen the legal writing skills of 90 students at the University of Zambia School of Law (UNZA) in an effort to help better prepare them for written school exams, the bar exam and in practice. From 2012 to 2015, she oversaw the free legal clinics provided by the New York City Bar Justice Center in coordination with the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund for first responders seeking coverage for injuries and illnesses caused by the hazards of working at the World Trade Center site following 9/11.
Heidi devotes much of her time to mentoring women in the legal industry in and outside the firm to aid in the advancement of their careers. She currently serves as New York chair of Sidley’s Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women, was co-founder and co-chair of her prior firm’s global women’s initiative from 2006–2016, and serves on the board of Girls on the Run International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring girls using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. She also serves as a mentor to a New York City high school student through Legal Outreach. Heidi serves on the firm’s counsel committee. Heidi is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association and served as vice president on the board of directors of the New York City Bar Fund for six years until 2017. In addition, she is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Drug and Medical Device Committee.
Capabilities
- Products Liability
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- FCPA/Anti-Corruption
- Multidistrict Litigation
- Consumer Products
- Medical Devices
- Preemption
- Pharmaceuticals
- Commercial Litigation and Disputes
- Environmental Torts and Public Nuisance Litigation
- Emerging Health Technology and Products
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation for M&A and Investments in Life Sciences Industry
News & Insights
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- U.S. District Court, E.D. of New York
- U.S. District Court, W.D. of New York
- U.S. District Court, S.D. of New York
- New York
Education
- University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1995 (magna cum laude, Notes Editor, Law Review, Honor Society)
- University of Maryland, B.A., 1992
Clerkships
- Howard S. Chasanow, Maryland Court of Appeals (1995 - 1996)