HarrisMartin's MDL Conference Speaker Profiles

Lynn Lincoln Sarko is a nationally-recognized leader in complex litigation, having been selected by federal courts nationwide to serve as lead or co-lead counsel in a wide variety of cutting-edge cases. Since 1991, Lynn has led Keller Rohrback’s diverse and accomplished Complex Litigation Group. In that role, Lynn has not just helped clients win – he has helped them win what they need. He is widely recognized for his ability to lead very complex litigation and his expertise dealing with bet-the-company, crisis lawsuits. He is viewed by judges, clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and opposing parties as the consummate diplomat. Through smart, efficient, strategy and tailored, creative problem solving, Lynn and his team have accomplished outstanding outcomes while minimizing costs and maximizing value.

Lynn currently leads the firm’s team that has filed class action lawsuits alleging Volkswagen deceived consumers by using software to cheat emissions tests in supposedly “clean” diesel vehicles. In addition to his highly-regarded work on behalf of classes of consumers, fishermen, and employees, among others, Lynn regularly represents parties in international legal actions. Currently, Lynn represents sovereign nations, foreign consumers, and institutional clients who are victims of financial and consumer fraud, environmental harm, as well as other corporate malfeasance. Lynn is the driving force behind Keller Rohrback’s involvement in the Global Justice Network (international counsel working together for the benefit of victims), the International Financial Litigation Network (international attorneys handling cross-border litigation), and the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (a global organization of leading asset managers and service providers).

Ken’s practice focuses on litigating product liability and commercial disputes. Over the years, Ken has litigated pharmaceutical and medical device cases involving orthopedic hip and knee implants, coronary angioplasty and stent devices, defibrillators, pacemakers, and several brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals. He has won trial verdicts in complex business litigation matters as well as insurance bad faith lawsuits.

Ken is an accomplished trial lawyer, with extensive experience in both personal injury and complex commercial and class action litigation. Known nationally for his pharmaceutical and medical device litigation practice, Ken served as national litigation counsel for Sulzer Orthopedics in more than 4000 civil actions following a product recall. He has been appointed by federal and state judges to leadership positions in coordinated litigation proceedings involving recalled DePuy hips, Medtronic defibrillators and Zicam nasal products, as well as other cases.

In addition, Ken has acted as settlement counsel; most recently as national settlement counsel for a publicly-traded consumer products company in successfully negotiating and implementing a national class action settlement involving hundreds of PPA cases valued at over $100 million.

Brian Devine is one of the founding partners of Seeger Salvas LLP. His litigation practice focuses on complex product liability matters. And his results speak themselves: In the last few years alone, he has recovered more than $20 million for the plaintiffs he represented and he has helped to guide two defendants out of financial peril by helping to negotiate global product liability settlements of $1 billion and $100 million.

Brian’s unparalleled depth of knowledge of orthopedic implant litigation stems from his years working in the medical device industry. Brian attended law school at night while working as the risk manager at Sulzer Medica, a firm based in Switzerland that made complex medical devices such as pacemakers, heart valves, and orthopedic implants. As Sulzer Medica’s Assistant General Counsel, Brian was responsible for all of the firm’s product liability cases worldwide. When the company suddenly had to recall several thousand hip and knee implants in December 2000, Brian was given lead responsibility for managing the resulting avalanche of litigation. He managed thousands of individual cases and directed attorneys in almost every state in the country. He also managed a federal Multi-District Litigation proceeding and several coordinated state court proceedings. He then took a leading role in negotiating a nationwide class-action settlement which literally saved the company from financial disaster. Brian helped guide Sulzer Medica from the brink of bankruptcy, increasing its share price by 650 percent from $2 per share to over $15 per share after the settlement was confirmed.

In 2002 Brian founded the law firm Seeger Salvas LLP with his partners Ken Seeger and Adam Salvas. At Seeger Salvas, Brian represents plaintiffs in orthopedic and medical implant cases. Brian’s legal and medical knowledge combined with the unique perspective he gained while in-house makes him a formidable adversary. Brian’s skill as an advocate is best proven by his results. In the last few years alone, he has recovered more than $20 million for his clients. He has scored five victories in excess of $1 million, and his largest victory is a $3.7 million settlement on behalf of a single client.

Brian’s experience includes managing litigation at all stages of the lifecycle from pre-litigation through appeal. Additionally, Brian has significant experience managing coordinated actions, both in federal court and state court. In the last few years alone, Brian has participated in four federal Multi-District Litigation proceedings and several state coordinated proceedings. He is currently representing patients affected by the DePuy hip replacement recall.

Brian has been invited to share his unique perspective on product liability litigation with both medical device companies and groups of attorneys representing plaintiffs. He has written extensively about medical device litigation, most recently publishing two articles about medical device litigation in California’s Civil Litigation Reporter.