Susan Paulsrud Welch

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PROFILE

Ms. Welch has extensive experience in toxic tort and environmental litigation, as well as in a wide range of other areas of business litigation, including insurance coverage, contract disputes, healthcare matters, and shareholder derivative claims.

Ms. Welch has represented companies in the oil and chemical, utility and mining industries. These matters have involved a range of legal theories including public and private nuisance, negligence, strict liability and multi-party CERCLA cost recovery. She has handled matters involving alleged air, water, and soil contamination.  She has been involved in multiple toxic tort cases brought by thousands of individual plaintiffs, where, among other things, she has formulated strategies, prepared settlement and negotiation materials, oversaw motion practice, and worked with toxicologists, neurologists and other medical experts to prepare for medical examinations of plaintiffs and trial testimony.  Her work has included cases brought by both U.S. and foreign citizens.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Welch was a litigation partner with Latham & Watkins LLP (Los Angeles, CA). She also served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Welch is a member of the California State Bar. She is admitted to practice in all California courts and all United States District Courts in California.

 

 

Education

  • University of Chicago Law School, J.D. with Honors, 1989
  • Research and Symposium Editor, University of Chicago Legal Form
  • Butler University, B.S. summa cum laude with Highest Honors in Economics and Business Administration, 1986

Representative Cases

  • Represented a public utility in toxic tort matters brought by approximately 4,000 individuals alleging chromium exposure. The matters received significant media attention, including being the subject of a major motion picture. The matters settled on favorable terms before trial.
  • Representing numerous insureds in obtaining insurance coverage, including for communicable disease (COVID-19), cyberattack, construction, environmental, consumer, and intellectual property claims.
  • Represented an insured in breach of contract and breach of fiduciary claims against its third-party administrator.
  • Represented a prior gas station operator in litigation regarding cleanup costs. The matter was successfully resolved after obtaining a favorable summary adjudication ruling on a key issue.
  • Representing a national health care system in an investigation regarding opioid dispensing and prescribing and in litigation regarding the reasonable and customary value of medical services.
  • Represented an investment fund in litigation involving fiduciary claims. The claims against the client were eventually resolved as part of a global settlement that did not require any contribution from the client.
  • Represented an oil recycling company against allegations of product contamination
  • Represented a mining company in a toxic tort matter brought in Colorado by Peruvian citizens alleging exposure to mercury, which work included conducting and coordinating discovery in Peru. The case was resolved after a successful arbitration.