Atty. John H. Beisner
John Beisner is the leader of Skadden’s Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation Group. He focuses on the defense of purported class actions, mass tort matters and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts.
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants & More Attorney · Serving Washington, DC
Profile Summary
About John H. Beisner at a Glance
John H. Beisner is a class action and product liability attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar. Educated at The University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1978) and University of Kansas (BA, 1975). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serves clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About John H. Beisner
- John Beisner is the leader of Skadden’s Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation Group
- He focuses on the defense of purported class actions, mass tort matters and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts
- He also regularly handles appellate litigations and has appeared in matters before the U.S
- Supreme Court
- Over the past 25 years, he has defended major U.S. and international corporations in more than 600 purported class actions filed in federal courts and in 40 state courts at both the trial and appellate levels
- Those class actions have involved a wide variety of subjects, including antitrust/unfair competition, consumer fraud, RICO, ERISA, employment discrimination, environmental issues, product-related matters and securities
- He also has handled numerous matters before the Judicial Panel on multidistrict litigation, as well as proceedings before various federal and state administrative agencies, particularly the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Mr. Beisner has advised on numerous high-visibility corporate crisis situations, including congressional hearings, federal agency investigations, state attorneys general inquiries and General Accounting Office reviews
- Among others, he represented Merck in its Vioxx litigation
- He also negotiated a settlement with state attorneys general regarding the Countrywide Finance/Bank of America mortgage lending practices investigation, resulting in a creative loan modification program intended to help more than 400,000 families maintain ownership of their homes
- He was named “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer for his role in this case
- Mr. Beisner is a frequent writer and lecturer on class action and complex litigation issues
- In 2013, he received the Burton Award for Legal Achievement, which recognizes excellence in legal scholarship
- Mr. Beisner also has been an active participant in litigation reform initiatives before Congress, state legislatures and judicial committees
- He has testified numerous times on class action and claims aggregation issues before the U.S
- Senate and House Judiciary Committees (particularly with respect to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005) and before state legislative committees
- For his integral role in crafting the Class Action Fairness Act, Mr. Beisner was recognized with the 2011 Research and Policy Award by The U.S
- Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
- Mr. Beisner repeatedly has been selected for inclusion, and is in the top tier, inChambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of products liability, and he also is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 U.S., Who’s Who Legal and Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
- Mr. Beisner was profiled in an article by The American Lawyer that named Skadden as a finalist in the products liability section of its Litigation Department of the Year contest (January 2012)
- He was named a “Life Sciences Star” in Euromoney’s LMG Life Sciences 2013 in the products liability category
- He also was recognized as one of the 2013 “BTI Client Service All-Stars” by The BTI Consulting Group for providing outstanding client service
- In addition, Mr. Beisner was selected one of Law360’s MVPs of 2011 in the products liability category, which recognizes those who have raised the bar in corporate law throughout the year
- In 2010, Law360 profiled Mr. Beisner in two articles that named Skadden as a “Product Liability Group of the Year” and “Class Action Group of the Year.” A list of the numerous published federal and state court decisions in which Mr. Beisner has played a role is available on request
Practice Areas Explained
John H. Beisner's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John H. Beisner handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Washington.
Class Action in Washington
John H. Beisner is one of 26,226 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in District of Columbia →
Product Liability in Washington
John H. Beisner is one of 65,610 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in District of Columbia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Washington
Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Washington Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Washington-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Washington Choose John H. Beisner
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish John H. Beisner's practice in the field of class action and product liability.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in California, The State Bar of California and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, John H. Beisner can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering class action and product liability, John H. Beisner can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Washington
A Washington-based practice means John H. Beisner attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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John H. Beisner's Practice Areas & Specializations
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