McDonough Honored as NLJ Litigation Trailblazer & Pioneer
The National Law Journal (NLJ) recently recognized Shook, Hardy & Bacon Agribusiness & Food Safety Co-Chair Madeleine McDonough among the 50 attorneys selected for its inaugural class of Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers.
“The ‘Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers’ list recognizes those professionals who have acted as real agents of change in their field, elevating—and in some cases, redefining—the ways in which litigation is pursued, cases are defended or trials are handled,” NLJ publisher Tom Larranaga said. “They have raised the bar in several meaningful ways and are establishing important new standards as the legal landscape continues to evolve.”
McDonough has represented more than 65 companies regulated by the Food and Drug Administration over her 25-year career at Shook and told NLJ that whenever possible she helps clients avoid litigation through anticipatory risk management. “I’ve learned that a lot of issues can be resolved before trial,” she said. “If you have to go to trial, we’ll do that. But it’s time-consuming, expensive and often not satisfactory—even if you win.” Ways of preventing litigation include developing a thorough understanding of the opponents, claims, landscape and “trying to work out something that helps everybody.”
McDonough has resolved thousands of claims and cases, often with no or minimal payment by her clients, through establishing strong relationships with opposing counsel, educating counsel and judges about the scientific and medical issues at hand, and developing creative approaches through negotiation, phased litigation techniques, targeted motion practice, and trial, whenever necessary.
Issue 551
