We are delighted to announce that Law360 has named Lieff Cabraser partner Katherine McBride a “Product Liability Law Rising Star” for 2023. Law360’s Rising Stars are attorneys “under 40 whose legal accomplishments belie their age.” After reviewing more than 1,300 submissions, a team of editors selected 183 honorees. Kara is one of only four product liability law practitioners in the U.S. to make the list.
Law360’s profile highlights Kara’s work on the Fiat Chrysler diesel emissions class action, in which she represented consumers over claims that the auto giant illegally employed secret software to conceal excessive emissions from over 100,000 diesel vehicles. These include Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks sold in the U.S. from 2013 through 2016.
“The case was big to me, in particular and at the time, because I was totally new to the plaintiff’s bar and so everything I did in that case was a first,” Kara noted about her work on the case, the first she was assigned to at Lieff Cabraser.
The judge overseeing the litigation ultimately ordered Fiat Chrysler to pay a civil penalty of $305 million to resolve accusations of violating the Clean Air Act. The settlement ensured substantial cash compensations and an extended warranty to eligible owners and lessees, following the completion of government-required emissions modification to the vehicles in question.
Driven by the potential scale of impact, Kara solidified her commitment to take on large, intricate cases. “These cases often involve interesting legal issues that are challenging to work through,” she said.
“I think it’s a really great balance of being able to impact both our individual clients but also to try and make an impact more broadly in society to hold wrongdoers accountable, ultimately to try and make some structural change,” she added.
Read the full profile of Katherine on Law360’s website.
Congratulations Kara on this prestigious recognition!
About Katherine McBride
A partner in Lieff Cabraser’s New York office, Katherine “Kara” McBride specializes in product defect and consumer fraud cases. Prior to joining Lieff Cabraser, Kara was a Law Clerk to the Honorable I. Leo Glasser of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She earned her law degree from Stanford Law School where she was a Levin Center Public Interest Fellow and participant in the Stanford Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, the Iraqi Legal Education Initiative, and the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project.
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