People
Rob Friedman helps the world's leading companies navigate product-liability risks and challenges. His diverse advisory, litigation and trial practice focuses on the life sciences, manufacturing, consumer products, and technology industries.
Rob Friedman represents leading companies in high-stakes product liability and mass tort matters, with a focus on cases involving complex science, coordinated national strategy, and trial-ready execution. Clients rely on him for clear judgment, disciplined management of large-scale litigation, and the ability to prepare and defend key company witnesses in matters with significant business impact.
Rob has spent more than five years helping lead the national defense of Boehringer Ingelheim in the Zantac litigation, one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history. He coordinated a defense effort spanning more than 150,000 claims across federal and state courts, oversaw a team of more than 100 lawyers and professionals, and helped secure a complete Daubert victory in the MDL and nine consecutive defense wins in challenging venues such as Alameda County and Cook County—without a single adverse verdict.
His practice spans the pharmaceutical, automotive, energy, and emerging technology sectors. He represents Shell Oil Company in multistate environmental mass tort actions brought by State Attorneys General and defends a global manufacturer in PFAS litigation. Rob also advises companies on the evolving intersection of products liability and artificial intelligence, and he will join the faculty of UC Law San Francisco’s AI Certificate Program in 2026.
Rob serves as Associate Talent Partner for his firm’s eight-time Law360 “Practice Group of the Year” Product Liability and Mass Torts group, where he oversees the hiring and development of more than 80 attorneys. A past Mentor Award recipient, he is committed to preparing the next generation of trial lawyers for a rapidly changing litigation landscape.
J.D., Georgetown University, cum laude
B.S.E., University of Pennsylvania
Georgia
State Bar of Georgia
November 25, 2025
King & Spalding Secures Another Victory for Boehringer Ingelheim in Zantac-Related Trial
April 23, 2025
Robert Friedman, who is a finalist for the Daily Report's Best Mentor award, is interviewed
Successfully argued motion to dismiss resulting in complete dismissal of Illinois False Claims Act case against Shell Oil Company.
Member of trial team in Rader v. GlaxoSmithKline, a 2016 trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas that ended with judgment as a matter of law at the close of the plaintiff.
May 19, 2023
FDA Releases Guidance on Testing High-Risk Drug Components for Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol
November 25, 2025
King & Spalding Secures Another Victory for Boehringer Ingelheim in Zantac-Related Trial
April 23, 2025
Robert Friedman, who is a finalist for the Daily Report's Best Mentor award, is interviewed
Successfully argued motion to dismiss resulting in complete dismissal of Illinois False Claims Act case against Shell Oil Company.
Member of trial team in Rader v. GlaxoSmithKline, a 2016 trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas that ended with judgment as a matter of law at the close of the plaintiff.
May 19, 2023
FDA Releases Guidance on Testing High-Risk Drug Components for Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol
November 25, 2025
King & Spalding Secures Another Victory for Boehringer Ingelheim in Zantac-Related Trial
April 23, 2025
Robert Friedman, who is a finalist for the Daily Report's Best Mentor award, is interviewed
J.D., Georgetown University, cum laude
B.S.E., University of Pennsylvania
Georgia
State Bar of Georgia