Profile
Steve Harkins practices products liability litigation, with a focus on pharmaceuticals and multidistrict litigation (MDL). He works on products liability matters in both state and federal courts ranging from single plaintiff claims to nationwide consumer class action cases, including matters before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation and in consolidated MDL proceedings. Steve is involved in defending manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, industrial chemicals, and consumer products. He also advises clients on recall handling and internal risk management.
Steve previously represented physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals in medical malpractice claims, and represented property owners in general liability matters.
Capabilities
Experience
- Represents pharmaceutical manufacturer in defending multidistrict litigation based on nationwide hypertension drug recalls.
- Assists in defense of pharmaceutical manufacturer in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state-court actions involving a chemotherapy medication.
- Counsels pharmaceutical products manufacturers in relation to regulatory compliance, risk management, and recall handling.
- Represented pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in single-plaintiff product liability litigation involving surgical contrast agent and ophthalmic surgical instrument.
- Represents chemical company in litigation alleging contamination of municipal water supply.
- Handled briefing in successful appeal of $22 million medical malpractice jury verdict.°
- Represented physicians, medical providers, and hospitals in wrongful death medical malpractice claims.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Harkins prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Staff Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2013-2015
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," 2021-2025
- Health Care Law, 2021-2025
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2022-2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution > Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2022-2024
- Selected, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," 2022
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021-2022
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Regional Litigation Department of the Year - Georgia,” 2018 and 2021
- American Bar Association Section of Litigation
- Co-Chair, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Subcommittee, 2020-Present
- Member, Mass Torts Litigation Committee, 2020-Present
- Member, State Bar of Georgia
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA)
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
Credentials
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J.D., magna cum laude, Washington and Lee University School of Law
- Senior Articles Editor, Washington and Lee Law Review
- Order of the Coif
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B.S., Economics, cum laude, Arizona State University
- Graduate, Barrett Honors College
- Georgia
- New York
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit