Lauren Michals represents clients in single actions, complex litigation, and multi-district litigation in state and federal court. She serves as local and national counsel in cases involving commercial disputes, foods, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, and asbestos-containing products.
My practice currently focuses on toxic tort, product liability and commercial matters and includes counseling, preventative measures and, when necessary, litigation through to trial and appeals. In particular, it involves food-related claims, product recalls (FDA and CPSA matters), toxic exposure cases and environmental regulations and resulting claims. I regularly counsel clients on regulatory compliance, warranty and indemnification issues. My practice increasingly involves defense of unfair competition, false advertising and California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) litigation.
I have over 20 years of experience representing companies involved in California’s Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement Act) matters including preventive counseling and defense of claims brought by private enforcers, public interest groups and the State of California. I deal with a range of products, such as candy, hardware, snack foods, home goods, and personal care products, and a wide range of chemicals, including lead, acrylamide and phthalates. I regularly counsel clients on compliance and risk mitigation in relation to Proposition 65 and other regulatory matters.
My toxic exposure work includes developing national defense strategies, often involving complex scientific issues, strategic motions and trials. I defend claims arising out of the use of products as well as premises liability, and obtained a significant appellate ruling limiting premises liability claims brought by family members. Products I recently worked on include automotive, construction and personal care products.
My clients include major international corporations as well as small businesses that suddenly find themselves implicated in potential litigation.
I see an increase in actions involving the food industry, ranging from product labeling to the safety of individual ingredients, and especially in the area of unfair competition, slack fill, and false advertising claims. We are developing strategies to prevent and to successfully defend such claims should they arise.
The American Lawyer | December 04, 2020
This week’s “Litigators of the Week“ column by American Lawyer includes the dismissal for outsourcing facility Leiters, Inc. in a multiple-state dispute. Leiters was represented by Chicago partners Ethan Trull, John Ruskusky, and Lisa Sullivan, and associates Bill Kirby and Tina Jonsson; and San Francisco partner Bruce Copeland and counsel Lauren Michals—all in the Complex Commercial Disputes group.
Law360 | July 15, 2020
This article covering recent developments in CERT v. Starbucks, et al., mentions San Francisco Complex Commercial Disputes partner Greg O’Hara and counsel Lauren Michals for representing Kroger and Ralphs Grocery in the case. During Wednesday’s hearing, the judge denied motions for summary adjudication, explaining that defendants can use a recent California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment regulation to defend against allegations they violated a state cancer warning requirement.
University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara, M.A.
University of Michigan, B.A., with honors
California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit