Government Experience

  • Department of Justice: Civil Division—Trial Attorney, Torts Branch, 2003 – 2008

Education

  • College of William & Mary, B.A. (1995)
  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D. (2000)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Columbia

Andrew D. Kaplan

Partner
akaplan@crowell.com
+1.202.624.2699

Andrew D. Kaplan is chair of Crowell & Moring’s Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation Group. He is also a member of the Product Risk Management Group.

Andrew primarily defends medical device, pharmaceutical, and other U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated companies in federal and state court litigation. In what are oftentimes nuanced, product-specific cases, Andrew takes a holistic approach to serving his clients. He understands that litigation should be driven by client goals, and a deep understanding of these goals can often lead to spotting and solving larger issues.

Andrew is a first-chair trial attorney who has led multiple jury and bench trials both in private practice and while serving in the Civil Division, Torts Branch at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Andrew frequently represents clients as national, as well as international, coordinating counsel in mass tort litigation, including mass actions, class actions and multidistrict litigation (MDL). He currently represents clients in two of the largest pharmaceutical MDLs in the U.S. and is national counsel for two medical device manufacturers in their multi-state dockets of product liability litigation. In this centralized role, Andrew helps clients develop and implement their litigation strategy while minimizing risk and maximizing consistency and efficiency. This includes identifying specific areas of need such as regulatory compliance, government reporting, or public disclosures and building a team with tailored expertise. From a global perspective, this includes anticipating the impacts of litigation and regulatory actions in individual countries on a company’s broader strategy.

Informed by his litigation experience, Andrew also counsels clients on risk mitigation and compliance programs. His practice focuses on product risk management issues and responding to related government civil enforcement actions. Through proactive risk management he has helped his clients avoid or lessen the impact of litigation.

Andrew is ranked in Chambers USA 2022 for Product Liability and Mass Torts. Chambers USA notes that he is “held in high regard for the caliber of his advocacy in product liability litigation” and that “he is smart, communicates effectively and understands business complexity and priorities. He spots issues and avoids hurdles others did not see coming." Who's Who Legal (2020-22) also recognizes Andrew for his work in product liability in the life sciences area. While at the DOJ, he received multiple Civil Division performance awards for his work in addition to being selected to instruct trial advocacy and tort seminars at the Department's National Advocacy Center.

Andrew maintains an active pro bono practice focused on representing victims of domestic violence in obtaining and enforcing civil protection orders. 



Representative Matters

Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation
  • Serving as national counsel for an international medical device manufacturer in all U.S. product liability litigation. Over the past decade in this role, the company has never paid a settlement or judgment. 
  • Representing a large U.S. medical device manufacturer as national counsel in mass tort litigation. Leading the defense of the product liability lawsuits across numerous state, federal and international courts. 
  • Serving as lead counsel for a Fortune 20 company in two of the largest pharmaceutical MDLs in the country, including serving in a defense group leadership position in the largest of the MDLs.
  • Serving as national and international counsel for a global company in its entire docket of medical device and pharmaceutical product liability litigation. This engagement has allowed the company to harmonize strategy across jurisdictions, lessen exposure, and lower legal spend. 
  • Litigated dozens of individual medical device product liability actions involving issues related to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and the Premarket Approval (PMA) and Premarket Notification (510(k)) regulatory approval processes.
  • Provided expert testimony on U.S. product liability law in international arbitration between a U.S. medical device manufacturer and an international insurance company. 
Food Industry Litigation
  • Defended a food manufacturer in a consumer protection lawsuit under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act (DCPPA) involving product labeling.
  • Defended a food manufacturer in a putative national class action involving product labeling and advertising.
  • Represented a food trade association in responding to non-party subpoenas in multiple putative class actions involving food labeling.
Risk Management Counseling
  • Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in response to a Federal Food and Drug Administration enforcement action under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), including negotiation of a novel consent decree.
  • Counseled a food manufacturer on litigation risks for product labeling and advertising.
  • Represented a dietary supplement manufacturer in response to an FDA enforcement action.
  • Conducted a product liability risk analysis for a large corporation acquiring a medical device manufacturer.
  • Conducted a product liability/regulatory risk assessment for a medical device and pharmaceutical company.
  • Conducted a risk analysis for an international standards institute regarding its involvement in the review of U.S. medical devices.


Speeches & Presentations

  • "Taking Down the Rising Behemoth: Combatting Plaintiff Tactics That Are Transforming MDLs Into the Machines We See Today" (December 7, 2021). Panelist: Andrew D. Kaplan.
  • "Combatting Extreme Jury Verdicts: Navigating Extraneous Factors That are Influencing Juror Findings," ACI 24th Annual Conference on Drug & Medical Device Litigation (December 10, 2019). Panelist: Andrew D. Kaplan.
  • "Hiring the Right Regional Counsel," 23rd Annual Conference on Drug & Medical Device Litigation, New York, NY (November 30, 2018). Speaker: Andrew Kaplan.
  • "Commercial Contracts, Logistics & Supply Chain: Ways to Create Value and a Sustainable Stream of Affirmative Recovery," RILA’s Retail Law Conference, Atlanta, GA (October 25, 2016). Presenters: Beatrice B. Nguyen and Andrew Kaplan.
  • "Supply Chain and Commercial Contracts Recovery: Deals Gone Bad," Crowell & Moring's Second Annual In-House Recovery Conference, Dana Point, CA (March 10-11, 2016). Presenters: Greg Call, Beatrice B. Nguyen, Andrew Kaplan, and Frank Nuzzi.
  • "Food & Beverage Industry: What Will 2016 Bring?" Webinar (February 10, 2016). Presenters: John Fuson, Michelle Gillette, Andrew Kaplan, and Chalana N. Williams.
  • “Commercial Contracts and Supply Chain,” First Annual In-House Affirmative Recovery Conference, Dana Point, CA (March 19, 2015). Presenters: Andrew Kaplan, Beatrice B. Nguyen, Jennifer Romano, William Moore (Hewlett-Packard Company)
  • "Food Class Actions," Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) Food Week: Advertising, Labeling, and Litigation Conference, Washington, D.C. (February 24, 2015). Presenter: Andrew Kaplan.
  • "Arbitration Clauses After Concepcion," Blue Cross and Blue Shield Western Operations Conference (July 9, 2013). Presenter: Andrew Kaplan.
  • "The Class Action Rules Have Changed," Blue Cross and Blue Shield Western Operations Conference (July 9, 2013). Presenter: Andrew Kaplan.
  • "Navigating High-Profile Litigation and Administrative Enforcement," Crowell & Moring Advertising and Product Risk Management Seminar (March 19, 2013). Moderator: Andrew Kaplan; Panelists: Kevin C. Mayer, Keith J. Harrison, and John Fuson.
  • "Litigation Risk Mitigation: Getting Inside the Mind of a Plaintiff’s Lawyer," Crowell & Moring Product Risk Management Seminar (October 19, 2011). Moderator: Lynn Parseghian. Panelists: Andrew Kaplan, Tracy Roman.


Publications



Client Alerts & Newsletters



Press Coverage



Firm News & Announcements

June 1, 2022 Chambers USA 2022 Ranks 70 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 37 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
February 4, 2016 Litigation Note: Corin Wins Summary Judgment
January 14, 2014 Crowell & Moring Elects Five New Partners and Promotes Fourteen Associates to Counsel
October 5, 2011 Crowell & Moring Consumer Product Safety Seminar to Feature Senator Mark Pryor and Other Key Government Officials