Faegre Drinker Appoints Tarifa Laddon to Lead Los Angeles Office
Faegre Drinker announced that Tarifa Laddon has been named leader of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Laddon is a partner in Faegre Drinker's nationally recognized product liability and mass torts practice.
“It is a privilege to have Tarifa assume leadership of our Los Angeles office, particularly as we bring our two locations in the city together,” Co-Chairs Tom Froehle and Andrew Kassner said in a joint statement. "She is a talented litigator and consensus builder who will bring the same level of commitment, enthusiasm and creativity that is seen throughout her client work to the appointment. We look forward to working with Tarifa to continue to grow the office and enhance our capabilities in this important market.”
Laddon is a trial lawyer who works to protect the interests of innovative manufacturers of medical devices, food products, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products and various other consumer products in product liability litigation across the country, with an emphasis in successfully defending mass torts. Well known for her community involvement and leadership, Laddon was named one of the “Most Influential Women Attorneys” in 2018 by the Los Angeles Business Journal and serves on the Board of Directors of Bet Tzedek, an internationally recognized non-profit human and poverty rights organization.
“I am thrilled to take on the adventure of leading the Los Angeles office of Faegre Drinker and look forward to working with my colleagues on strategic growth opportunities to capitalize on the exciting combination of two great firms,” Laddon said. “We have an amazing diversity of talent, and the Los Angeles office embodies the deep commitment to clients, community and culture that make Faegre Drinker a special firm.”
Faegre Drinker launched global operations effective Feb. 1, the result of the combination of Faegre Baker Daniels, an international law firm with deep roots in the Midwest, and Drinker Biddle & Reath, a full-service national law firm with storied mid-Atlantic origins. The merger brought together more than 1,300 attorneys, consultants and professionals in 21 locations across the United States, in the United Kingdom and in China.
The launch came just six weeks before the firm began remote operations in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but this has not slowed its integration efforts or plans for strategic growth. The firm has added more than 20 lateral partners and counsel since the beginning of the year, including Judith Praitis, who joined the Los Angeles office earlier this month as a partner in the environment and energy practice. Praitis came to the firm from Sidley Austin, where she held senior practice leadership positions.
In June, Faegre Drinker combined its legacy firms’ Los Angeles offices, advancing post-combination integration efforts and bringing together over 60 attorneys, consultants and professionals in Century City.
The firm’s Los Angeles team practices in a variety of areas, including all facets of business and commercial litigation, product liability, as well as labor and employment, employee benefits, ERISA and business transactions. They have deep knowledge and experience in matters arising in the medical device, pharmaceutical, energy, entertainment, financial services, insurance, technology and real estate sectors.