Alan E. Rothman

ALAN ROTHMAN has more than two decades of experience representing pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer product, chemical, and other companies in connection with more than two dozen Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) proceedings, as well as class actions and individual mass tort product liability litigation. He has successfully argued issues of first impression and jurisdictional and coordination issues in federal and state court. Alan also has extensive end-game strategy experience, serving as settlement counsel with respect to the resolution of mass torts. In addition to his broad MDL experience, Alan regularly counsels clients with respect to corporate structure, successor liability, MMSEA/Medicare compliance, and professional ethics issues.

Alan is an industry thought leader, having authored more than 100 articles regarding MDL and jurisdictional issues, including an ongoing bi-monthly Law360 column for more than 10 years focusing on practice before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and symposiums.

Chambers USA recognized Alan in 2025 for his work in Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide), with one client commenting, “Alan is an incredibly smart litigator.” In 2023, Alan was recognized for his efforts to bring fairness and transparency to multidistrict litigation proceedings with the “Founders Award” by Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ), an organization dedicated to legal/judicial reform. Additionally, in 2018 and 2021, LCJ honored Alan for his work regarding MDL proceedings with the “Outstanding Contributor Award.” He is a past chairman of the New York Coordinated Proceedings subcommittee of the Product Liability Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Alan serves as a Board member of various not-for-profit and educational institutions.

• Successfully represented a major food and beverage company in winning a motion to dismiss in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in a first of its kind product liability action challenging the manufacturing and marketing of so-called “ultra-processed foods.”
• Lead national counsel overseeing settlement and remaining pharmaceutical product liability actions in federal and state court following termination of MDL proceeding.
• Co-lead national settlement counsel for medical device actions in MDL and state court proceedings.
• Representing major pharmaceutical and consumer product companies in MDL and other coordinated proceedings, including proceedings and practice before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, successfully supporting and opposing creation of MDL proceedings.
• Counseling major pharmaceutical companies on issues relating to removal of actions to federal court, corporate structure, personal jurisdiction, Medicare reporting and legal ethics.
• In decision of first impression nationally, successfully orally argued in MDL proceeding deferral of remand issues pending discovery to support fraudulent joinder of in-state defendant.
• In decision of first impression in New York State court, successfully briefed, and secured dismissal of pharmaceutical product claims relating to, liability of clinical trial sponsors and under New York General Business Law Section 349 and 350.
• In coordinated state court proceeding, successfully orally argued in favor coordination of discovery with MDL proceeding.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

Alan previously served for six years as a member of the Product Liability Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and as Chairman of its Subcommittee on New York Coordinated Proceedings. He has also served as a member of the City Bar Association’s Professional & Judicial Ethics Committee. Additionally, Alan has served as an officer and director of various national and local not-for-profit organizations.