Mass Torts on the Rise: Top Firms Double Down on High-Stakes Litigation

In a June 16 feature of The American Lawyer, Margie Grossberg, Founder and CEO of Benchmark Legal Search Partners, was quoted alongside industry leaders discussing the surge in high-stakes products liability and mass torts defense work among elite law firms.

The article spotlights Kirkland & Ellis – currently the world’s highest-grossing law firm – for its aggressive expansion into this area, including the addition of approximately 100 litigators in 2025 and the launch of a new litigation-focused office in Philadelphia. Kirkland’s move reflects a broader trend among top-tier firms responding to increasing demand for complex, bet-the-company litigation in areas ranging from pharmaceuticals and consumer products to social media and environmental exposures.

“Firms are really expanding their litigation teams to handle these complex disputes that are multibillion-dollar battlegrounds,” Margie told The American Lawyer. “It’s very sophisticated, highly sophisticated matters where clients’ operations are really at stake.”

The article explores how rising litigation volumes, evolving plaintiff strategies, and client appetite for top-tier defense are driving talent demand—and reshaping the competitive landscape of mass torts and product liability litigation.

Read the full article by Business of Law reporter, Jon Campisi, and litigation reporter, Aleeza Furman, here.