HarrisMartin’s Emerging Trends in the Prosecution and Defense of Auto Defect Litigation Conference Speaker Profiles

Mr. Loeser obtained judgments in cases that have returned billions of dollars to millions of consumers and more than $100 million to the government.

Tom Loeser is an accomplished trial attorney who has been involved in consumer fraud cases that have returned billions of dollars to millions of consumers and more than $100 million to the government. Mr. Loeser’s practice involves highly complex matters involving computing and software, and matters where both civil and criminal investigations are involved.

Mr. Loeser, working with Hagens Berman’s managing partner, Steve Berman, helped lead the firm’s work in In re: Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation where Mr. Berman was a member of the PSC, and the firm represented both defrauded consumers and defrauded dealers. Mr. Loeser was involved in the Volkswagen Franchise Dealer Action, where Hagens Berman was lead counsel, and he worked closely with Steve Berman on all aspects of that case through approval of a $1.2 billion settlement with Volkswagen. Also with Mr. Berman, Mr. Loeser successfully prosecuted a nationwide class action against Tesla Motors that resulted in every class member being sent a check for damages related to Tesla’s delay in rolling out its Enhanced Autopilot features.

Attorney Robert Hilliard has been practicing law in the state of Texas for over 35 years, gaining national recognition for his work on many high-profile cases. With his partners, he established Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales LLP in 1985, which became Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP in 2017.

Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP represents clients in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death matters.

For 40 years Bob Hilliard has taken on Big Pharma in the courtroom. He obtained the first multi-million dollar verdict in the Bendictin litigation against drug manufacturer Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals for injuries caused by the morning sickness drug. At the conclusion of trial, the jury found in favor of Mr. Hilliard’s client, awarding a verdict of 33.75 million, including 30 million in punitive damages.

Mark Mester has extensive experience in class action litigation and served for five years as Global Chair of the firm's Consumer Class Action Practice Group.

Mr. Mester has been lead counsel in over 200 consumer class actions over the course of the last 20 years. Mr. Mester is presently lead counsel in numerous consumer class actions pending in Illinois, California, Florida and Missouri.

For many years, Mr. Mester was a member of the firm's Ethics Committee and Pro Bono Committee.

Sharon Nelles, Managing Partner of the Firm’s Litigation Group and member of the Firm’s Management Committee, represents global companies and financial institutions and their boards in every aspect of critical company matters that implicate not only civil litigation but also related regulatory, congressional and criminal investigations and enforcement actions. She is currently active in matters related to the Volkswagen diesel scandal, Goldman Sachs Malaysia and #MeToo workplace investigations.

Ms. Nelles has represented such clients as Moody’s and JPMorgan Chase in managing the fallout of the subprime mortgage crisis. She has done consumer litigation for Volkswagen, Microsoft and Diageo. She has tried cases in state and federal courts on behalf of such clients as Microsoft, Eastman Kodak Company and General Bank, and has represented prominent firms and individuals in proceedings before the Department of Justice, the United States Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, HUD, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and several state attorneys general.

Ms. Nelles frequently conducts investigations for corporate clients, special committees and boards of directors.