Overview
Michelle Tessier represents pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and food industry clients, litigating complex product-related disputes in multidistrict litigation and large class action cases. She also counsels clients on preventive strategies and risk mitigation.
Drug, Device & Food Litigation
Michelle has represented multiple medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in product liability and consumer fraud actions pending in multiple state jurisdictions and in multidistrict litigation. She has also represented food manufacturers and distributors in litigation arising from recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks and consumer fraud class actions.
Litigation Experience & Management
Michelle has experience at all stages of litigation, including:
- Evaluating cases
- Counseling clients
- Managing offensive and defensive discovery issues
- Depositions
- Briefing motions
- Negotiating with opposing counsel
- Trial preparation
Michelle is particularly skilled in advanced e-discovery and information management. She has counseled clients on issues related to data storage, litigation holds and electronic discovery and has presented internal and external CLE programs on these issues.
Past Experience
Before joining the firm, Michelle worked as an associate at a law firm in Washington, D.C., practicing antitrust litigation and handling enforcement actions and internal corporate investigations.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
District of Columbia
Virginia
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Education
American University Washington College of Law
J.D. summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, American University Law Review (senior federal circuit editor) (2011)
Georgetown University
B.A. in English and Government, cum laude (2008)
Experience
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2020 1 min readWindow Manufacturer Defends Product Liability Class ActionsProduct Liability Mass Tort Litigation & Settlement Strategies Product Liability Litigation Class Actions
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2020 1 min readIn re Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability LitigationMedical Devices Health & Life Sciences Product Liability Product Liability Litigation
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2020 2 min readCook Medical Litigates National MDL Involving IVC FilterMedical Devices Health & Life Sciences Product Liability Mass Tort Litigation & Settlement Strategies Product Liability Litigation
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2019 1 min readIce Cream Producer Listeria LitigationFood & Agribusiness Food & Beverage Product Liability Product Liability Litigation Recalls, Investigations, Attorneys General & Regulatory Actions
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Privilege Issues in E-Discovery
Internal firm presentation, June 2015 - Cross Border E-Discovery
Women in eDiscovery, April 2014
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center Legal Clinic
- Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
- Successfully represented client in third-party child custody action in Hennepin County District Court
- Successfully represented client in wrongful eviction matter in Hennepin County District Court
- Successfully represented client in deportation defense and asylum in Baltimore Immigration Court
Professional Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association – Food, Drug and Device Law Section
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Women in eDiscovery
Civic Activities
- Leadership Twin Cities, 2017-18 Class — Participant in a nine-month series sponsored by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce that informs people about the critical issues facing the greater Twin Cities community
Honors
- Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017
- District of Columbia Bar Association — Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2013