McConnell's practice focuses on the representation of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including involvement in recent mass tort litigations regarding antipsychotics and diet drugs. He has also handled matters relating to tobacco trials, sales and advertising liability, and shareholder derivative litigation.
"Steve is one of Philadelphia's pre-eminent life science and health care attorneys," Mike Scott, a partner in Reed Smith's LSHI group, said in a statement. "He has earned a reputation as a top litigator in the pharmaceutical world and elsewhere, and is often sought after to take over important cases for trial. We have admired his work and results for some time and share several common clients."
After graduating law school and finishing a clerkship, McConnell became an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California in Los Angeles in 1992. During his tenure there, he investigated and prosecuted criminal cases in the major frauds section involving savings and loan frauds, violations of the securities laws, wire and mail frauds, and money laundering.
He also served as counsel to the Christopher Commission, an independent body that investigated the Los Angeles Police Department in 1991, and as deputy general counsel to the Kolts Commission, an independent body that investigated the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1992.
McConnell has worked extensively in the area of liability for marketing practices and he is a member of the advisory board of Villanova University's Center for Marketing and Public Policy.
Some of his representative clients have included Philip Morris Inc. and Wyeth.
GERALD J. PAPPERT
More than a year after Cephalon Inc. merged into Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the former's general counsel returned to private law firm life.
Gerald J. Pappert, former Pennsylvania attorney general and current chairman of the Pennsylvania Banking and Securities Commission, joined Cozen O'Connor's commercial litigation group as a shareholder in Philadelphia. The former Cephalon general counsel also works closely with Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, the firm's government relations arm, Cozen O'Connor said.
At Cozen O'Connor, Pappert focuses on assisting clients with government investigations, white-collar criminal matters, corporate compliance, government relations and commercial litigation, the firm said.
Pappert isn't unfamiliar with his new firm. He served as a summer associate at Cozen O'Connor in 1987.
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