Merideth’s practice focuses on all aspects of litigation and risk management, with particular focus on product liability, toxic tort, and environmental litigation, wrongful death and personal injury claims, and general commercial disputes.

Merideth represents clients in product and premises liability litigation involving allegations of toxic exposure (including asbestos, talc, silica, formaldehyde, benzene, coal combustion residuals, and wood dust), environmental litigation (including claims involving PFAS, hexavalent chromium, and petroleum), catastrophic injury and death claims, bacterial food contamination claims, and general product liability matters. Merideth’s experience also includes plaintiff- and defense-side representation in general commercial disputes, including those involving product performance, breach of contract, and post-corporate transaction indemnification claims. Merideth represents clients in jurisdictions throughout the United States and international forums.

Merideth also maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients in child custody and visitation matters arising in the context of domestic violence, as well as guardianship proceedings.

Relevant Experience

  • National coordinating counsel for Fortune 100 and 500 companies in mass tort and toxic exposure litigation in jurisdictions throughout the United States.
  • Provides strategic pre-market litigation risk analysis for manufacturers, including guidance on potential risks of product or process changes, and litigation avoidance.
  • Consults on mergers and acquisitions involving potential and actual tort liabilities.
  • Represents international companies in US-based litigation, including forum and jurisdictional-based defense strategies and international discovery.
  • Led briefing strategy in successful constitutional challenge to Pennsylvania jurisdictional statute.
  • Member of defense team that won dismissal of a high-profile federal lawsuit involving allegations of unsafe COVID-19 working conditions brought against one of the largest meat processing companies in the United States.
  • Completed long-term in-house secondment with industrial equipment manufacturer, managing contract review and negotiation (non-disclosure agreements, sales terms and conditions, licensing agreements), consulting on labor and employment issues and intellectual property matters, and supporting corporate transaction diligence and negotiation.
  • Represented multinational client in a breach of contract matter before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration.
  • Obtained client’s dismissal from a personal injury matter in Richmond Circuit Court after successfully briefing and arguing a plea in bar involving a novel issue of Virginia tort law.

Memberships

  • Member, Virginia Bar Association
  • Board of Directors, Connor’s Heroes

Awards & Recognition

  • Recommended for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Defense - Toxic Tort, Legal 500 United States, 2022-2023
  • E. Randolph Williams Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, 2016-2019

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