Barnes & Thornburg Deepens Litigation Bench With Addition of Product Liability Litigator Michael Lisak

Lisak brings substantial experience representing major corporate clients in toxic and mass tort litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device product liability, and environmental and toxic tort matters. He has also represented clients in whistleblower matters involving pharmaceutical sales and marketing practices.

"Michael's arrival reflects our continued commitment to building one of the country's premier litigation platforms," said Litigation Department Chair Randy Brown. "He has spent his career handling the most complex, high-stakes mass tort matters in the country, and his experience — from expert witness development to MDL strategy to trial — will be an immediate and lasting contribution to our practice."

Lisak joins from Sidley Austin. He recently tried and obtained a landmark civil rights verdict on behalf of a client concerning Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment — the first such jury verdict, including punitive damages, concerning solitary confinement in New York.

"Michael is an excellent addition to our office and exactly the kind of seasoned, versatile trial lawyer who makes our Product Liability and Mass Torts practice stronger," said Michael Carrillo, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Chicago office. "His depth of experience in toxic torts and pharmaceutical litigation, combined with his track record in complex national matters, is a tremendous asset to our clients and his presence immediately impacts our team here in Chicago."

Throughout his career, Lisak has distinguished himself in the identification, development, and presentation of expert witnesses for deposition and trial, defending company witnesses and deposing plaintiffs and healthcare providers. He has co-authored numerous publications on presenting scientific evidence at trial and other expert-related topics. Lisak earned his law degree with honors from Chicago-Kent College and his bachelor’s degree with honors from Johns Hopkins University.

About Barnes & Thornburg

Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 850 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise.