With six MDL leadership appointments in the last four years, DiCello Levitt Partner, Amy Keller, has more MDL lead counsel appointments than any other woman in that period. Amy spoke with Law.com reporter Amanda Bronstad about the marked increase of women attorneys leading MDLs over the past several years, as well as the trajectory of her ascent in the heretofore male-dominated MDL bar.
As the youngest ever woman to co-lead an MDL—with her appointment in the Equifax data breach litigation—Amy commented on the “thinly veiled sexism” that still exists in the mass tort and class action bars, providing, as an example, an anecdote when another attorney questioned if she would be able to “handle a third case” after already being appointed to serve as co-lead counsel in two other cases. Noting that the questions about juggling work are often posed to women, Amy had never heard that question posed when referring to male attorneys. For more, read “These Are New Faces Leading MDLs. And They Aren’t All Men” (subscription may be required).