Linklaters continues New York disputes build with Johnson & Johnson litigation chief

Linklaters has added another heavyweight disputes lawyer in New York with the hire of Johnson & Johnson’s global litigation head Erik Haas.

Haas joins as a partner after six years at the pharmaceutical giant, where he served as worldwide vice president of litigation and oversaw some of the company’s biggest legal battles.

Those included Johnson & Johnson’s long-running talcum powder litigation. In July, the company announced an agreement to resolve tens of thousands of claims for at least $5.5 billion.

Announcing his departure in August, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement provided to Reuters that it expected Haas to continue advising the company as outside counsel, including on the talc litigation.

Before moving in-house in 2020, Haas was a partner at New York litigation firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, where he had advised Johnson & Johnson for nearly three decades.

Linklaters global disputes head Alison Wilson said “few litigators have been entrusted with the scale and complexity of matters Erik has led”, adding that he brings a “rare combination of in-house perspective and formidable litigation experience”.

Senior partner Aedamar Comiskey said growing in the US remains a “strategic priority” for the firm and described Haas as “another world-class addition” to its team.

Linklaters builds in New York

The hire continues a run of senior additions for Linklaters in the US, where the Magic Circle firm has increased its partner ranks by more than 75% since 2022 as it looks to compete more closely with top US firms.

Its disputes practice has been a particular focus. Earlier this summer, Linklaters hired a five-lawyer sports litigation team from Paul Weiss led by senior partners Chris Boehning and Daniel Levi. The team is known for its work for FIFA, where Boehning has served as lead counsel.