Robert Simpson, Barbara Burke and Lauren Greenspoon of Carlton Fields. Courtesy photos.

An attorney and legal consultant covering mass torts and product liability at Hartford's Shipman & Goodwin are part of a four-person team joining Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, the national litigation powerhouse with offices in Hartford.

The new group is led by Robert R. Simpson, whose 25-plus years of experience includes serving as lead trial counsel and national counsel for numerous pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Last year at Shipman, he successfully defended makers of the blood-thinning drug Pradaxa, and he has handled litigation related to other medications, hip implants, pelvic mesh and other products. Simpson served as a member of Shipman's seven-person management committee and led its product liability team.

Simpson is joined by product liability attorney Lauren Greenspoon, nurse consultant-attorney Barbara T. Burke and administrative assistant Ruby Hyde, Simpson's executive secretary.

For Simpson, this all amounts to one of a few big transitions. Having recently turned 50, Simpson and his wife, Camille, just welcomed a fourth baby girl into the world. Camille Simpson is also an attorney who serves as the New England regional vice president of the American Council of Life Insurers.

“It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of prayer and a lot of support,” Simpson said of the ingredients necessary for success and making this latest move. “I've had some wonderful mentoring from a number of people both inside the legal profession and outside. I stand on the shoulders of many people who paved the way for me.”

Simpson said he expects to serve a mix of clients already familiar to him, along with new ones to which he'll be exposed through Carlton Fields' coast-to-coast reach. “The greatest challenge is really just stepping outside of my comfort zone,” he said, noting that embracing challenges is a key to elevating your game. Joining forces with attorneys who are trying cases across the country is part of what Simpson said was attractive to him.

As a defender of major medical and pharmaceutical entities, Simpson said a popular misconception is that the work involves defending the Goliaths of the world against the Davids. He said the playing field is generally more level, considering the large amounts of money and legal power behind some litigants.

“There is an element of what I deal with that involves how my clients are perceived in the media, but my focal point is in delivering the message that I think is important in the courtroom and to a jury. That's what I love to do, and I am actually very honored to represent these health care clients, pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies that are providing means and methods to extend the quality of life for individuals,” Simpson said. “It may sound like I'm drinking the Kool-Aid but I believe that to the core. When you spend the better part of 10 years sitting down with scientists and researchers and you understand these folks have dedicated their lives to finding ways to save lives and improve lives, when I have the opportunity to carry that message to a jury of peers, I'm passionate about that.”

Simpson said he is proud to be joined by two highly experienced lawyers, including Greenspoon, who brings 20 years of experience in product liability and commercial litigation, primarily at Day Pitney. She also served as in-house counsel at Travelers Indemnity Co. for seven years and clerked for U.S. District Judge Donna Martinez. “Lauren is another very fortunate addition to the team, as she has a substantial background in the product liability area, and she also has a very calm and collegial manner. She's a joy to work with and her clients love her,” Simpson said.

Simpson also lauded the “hybrid” experience of Burke, who worked for 17 years as a nurse and several more at Day Pitney before joining Shipman & Goodwin. She has represented hospitals, physicians and other clients in medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability actions. “When you're talking about complex medical issues, Barbara is able to digest all of the medical records, and because of her legal backgrounds doing medical malpractice and product liability work she has been able to dovetail that with the medical background, and that really helps the team build upon how it will represent a case to a jury. She is just an amazing resource to have.” Greenspoon is a James W.  Cooper fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and an elector of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Last but not least, Simpson said he is happy to be bringing along his executive secretary, who he called “the engine of the operation” and has been with Simpson for many years. “[Hyde] keeps the train running on time, all the time, which is fortunate. That means the world to me.”

Shipman & Goodwin managing partner Alan Lieberman said the products and liability team at the firm remains strong and is thankful for Simpson's contributions. “We appreciate Robert's many years of service with the firm and we wish him the best in the future,” he said, noting that Shipman has worked with numerous firms, including Carlton Fields, on past cases. “Our existing team will continue to be busy,” he said.

Stephen J. Krigbaum, co-chairman of Carlton Fields' mass tort and product liability practice, said the addition of the new team will contribute to “continuing growth of our mass tort and product liability platform in the U.S.,” specifically with regard to life sciences and health care. “As the market for pharmaceutical products continues to expand with the aging baby boomer generation, Carlton Fields is well positioned to grow alongside it.”

Gary L. Sasso, Carlton Fields president and CEO, said the addition of this “stellar team” in Connecticut has helped effect “an incredible start to the New Year for Carlton Fields. We bolstered our capabilities in Hartford, Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C., and opened a new office in New Jersey. In total, we added 16 attorneys in the last two months. These diverse—but strategic—additions in targeted industry sectors and core practice areas across our national platform significantly improve our ability to service our clients' needs.”

Carlton Fields has approximately 330 attorneys and government and financial services consultants in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.