Portland Gordon & Rees Partner Nancy Erfle has been named among an elite slate of attorneys as Law360's 2017 MVPs of the Year. Attorneys selected to receive this award have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals.
Competition for this year's MVP award was very high, as Law360 editors received more than 1,000 submissions. Ultimately, only 157 attorneys from 78 firms spanning 32 practice areas were selected to receive the award. Erfle was among only six attorneys to be selected as an MVP for Product Liability.
Erfle's role as national and lead trial attorney for the firm's client Imerys Talc America was what caught the attention of Law360's editors. Imerys is the leading producer of talc for a number of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and industrial uses in North America. Currently, Imerys is involved in a mass tort, with more than 7,000 cases filed nationwide alleging that talc based “body powder products” cause ovarian cancer. Imerys is one of the named defendants in cases pending throughout the country and currently are considered to be one of the most high profile and active current mass torts in the country. More than three years ago, Erfle took the lead on managing the Imerys cases and has put together outstanding trial teams to guide the firm's client through all aspects of the litigation, including trial, in numerous jurisdictions across the country.