May 15, 2006
THE DAILY JOURNAL
By William-Arthur Haynes
Greenberg Traurig’s international team of mass torts litigators bolstered its bench last week by capturing a veteran chemical, food and drug specialist to head the firm’s product liability and mass tort unit in the western United States.
Kathleen Strickland, whose management sphere will encompass the firm’s California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas offices, brings nearly 30 years of toxic torts specialization to Greenberg Traurig’s litigation practice in Silicon Valley. She arrives at the firm after six years with Holland & Knight.
“I consider Greenberg’s team as David Letterman’s Top 10 of mass tort lawyers,” said Strickland whose client list includes Genentech, 3M Corp. and ExxonMobil Corp. “We know the same people and sing the same songs.”
William J. Goines, co-chair of the firm’s Silicon Valley office, said Greenberg Traurig would capitalize on Strickland’s skills and experience to expand the practice group’s platform and lengthen the firm’s penetration into national and international markets.
William B. Piels, executive partner of Holland & Knight’s San Francisco office, said Strickland’s move was amicable and would pose no adverse consequences to Holland & Knight’s capabilities.
Strickland said her new managerial role is a “nice opportunity.” But one of many draws to Greenberg Traurig is the opportunity to attract clients in new geographies and to meet the needs of existing clients in the western U.S., where Holland & Knight does not have offices.
Strickland is licensed to practice in California, Colorado, Texas and Washington, D.C., and has tried cases in 14 states throughout her career.
“Greenberg stressed that they let you manage your practice in a way that’s best for your clients,” Strickland said. “And what’s best for my clients is that I can hook them up with lawyers in our other offices.”
Strickland’s move represents another steppingstone in her legal career. Initially, she was at Carroll, Burdick & McDonough, a 75-attorney regional firm based in San Francisco. Recognizing that her practice was in direct competition with the larger national firms when she started working on breast implant litigation, she moved to Holland & Knight, a 1,200-attorney firm with 17 U.S. offices and six international locations.
“Joining Holland & Knight from Carroll Burdick was an opportunity to experience a larger platform,” Strickland said. “Now, with Greenberg Traurig, I can meet the growing needs of my clients on the national and international stage.”
Greenberg Traurig is a 1,600-attorney firm with 24 U.S. offices, including four in California, and three offices overseas.