Profile
Sara K. Thompson is Chair of the firm's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation Practice. She concentrates her practice on defense of products liability litigation, with an emphasis on representing manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other consumer products in state and federal courts nationwide. Sara has experience managing individual, nationwide and mass tort litigation matters involving a variety of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as class action and mass litigation involving personal care products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals in both coordinated and consolidated proceedings and Multi-District Litigations (MDLs). Sara also regularly counsels manufacturers regarding review and drafting of appropriate warning language for product labeling, recalls and reporting, Consumer Products Safety Commission recalls and compliance, and other pre-litigation matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Sara spent four years as a litigation associate with two prominent law firms in Boston, Massachusetts.
Concentrations
- Products liability
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical device
- Litigation
- Consumer products
- Malpractice
Capabilities
Experience
- Defended medical device manufacturer in products liability and sales representative liability lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide.
- Defended brand and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in individual and consolidated products liability actions in state and federal courts nationwide, from trial court through appeals.
- Obtained complete defense verdict at medical malpractice and wrongful death trial against a family practitioner physician in Habersham County, Georgia.
- Defended medical device manufacturer in numerous products liability matters in state and federal courts nationwide involving intrathecal pain pump devices.
- Represented numerous generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in products liability matters involving the alleged drug reaction Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
- Defended neurostimulation device manufacturer and sales representative in four-week trial in Texas alleging products liability, off-label promotion and fraud claims, resulting in complete defense verdict.
- Represented medical device manufacturer in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state court cases nationwide involving cardiac rhythm management devices.
- Defended plastic surgery practice in magistrate court trial of a medical malpractice and contract dispute, to defense verdict.
- Counseled consumer products manufacturers on recalls of consumer electronics and furniture products, from identification of potential defects through CPSC notification and compliance to completion of the recall.
- Represented American automobile manufacturer in products liability litigation in various state and federal courts.°
- Represented European fiber distributor in products liability action following fire and explosion at fabric processing plant.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Thompson prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States
- Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2020-2024
- Leading Lawyer, 2021-2024
- Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action - Defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco), 2020-2020
- Products Liability and Mass Tort Defense - Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2011 and 2019
- Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2020-2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2023-2024
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2024-2025
- Listed, Who’s Who Legal, "International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defence Lawyers," 2022-2024
- Team Member, a Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year," 2011, 2021-2022
- Recipient, Profiles in Diversity Journal, "Woman Worth Watching® in Leadership Award," 2021
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, 2017-2021
- "Rising Stars," 2013-2015
- Shortlisted, Euromoney, "Women in Business Awards - Best in Product Liability," 2020
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Regional Litigation Department of the Year - Georgia,” 2018 and 2021
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
- Team Member, The Daily Report’s "Georgia Products Liability & Mass Torts Litigation Department of the Year," 2013 and 2015-2017
- Listed, Fulton County Daily Report, "Georgia's 40 Under 40," 2013
- Listed, Georgia Trend magazine, "Legal Elite," 2012-2013
- Listed, a Law360 "Rising Star," Products Liability," 2012
- Team Member, The AmLaw Litigation Daily, "Litigator of the Week," March 8, 2012
- Member, Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member, Lawyers for Civil Justice
- Member, Georgia Bar Association
Credentials
-
J.D., cum laude, Boston University School of Law, 2000
- Recipient, Dean's Scholarship
- Director, Esdaile Moot Court
- Edward F. Hennessy Scholar
- G. Joseph Tauro Scholar
-
B.A., cum laude, Florida State University, 1997
- Dean's List
- Student Senator
- National Merit Scholar
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit