Sierra Elizabeth

Sierra Elizabeth was drawn to Kirkland & Ellis LLP more than a dozen years ago by the prospect of litigating significant commercial cases.

"It's a big law firm -- but we try cases here," said Elizabeth, a partner in the Los Angeles office. "The pandemic has shown that when our clients are in their darkest and scariest moments, we're the ones who get the call."

Elizabeth's phone won't stop ringing. She's co-lead defense counsel for 3M Company in the largest multidistrict litigation in history. In re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, 3:19md2885. (N.D. Fla., Filed April 3, 2019). Current and former U.S. military service members allege that 3M's Combat Arms earplugs were defective, causing them to suffer hearing loss. So far, Elizabeth has secured a complete defense verdict in the second and fifth bellwether trials and looks forward to trying more. McCombs v. 3M Company et al., 7:2020cv0094 (N.D. Fla., Filed January 17, 2020), Blum v. 3M Company, et al. 7:2020cv00122 (N.D. Fla., Filed January 17, 2020).

"Because there are a lot of similarities among the cases, given that they involve the same product, we can learn and refine as we go along," Elizabeth said. "Each case also brings its own challenges because they involve different people under varying circumstances, subject to different laws. It keeps it fresh."

Elizabeth is also co-lead trial counsel for luxury home builder Toll Bros. and its subsidiary Porter Ranch Development Co., in litigation against Southern California Gas Co. and its parent, Sempra Energy. Toll Brothers Inc. and Porter Ranch Development Co. v. Sempra Energy, Southern California Gas Co., et al. BC674622 (L.A. Sup. Ct., Filed Sept 1, 2017). The lawsuit alleges negligence in the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak, considered the largest natural gas leak in U.S. history. The leak, which lasted for over three months, allegedly blanketed the Porter Ranch housing development in noxious fumes.

The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in October 2022, after Elizabeth and her team defeated motions for summary judgment from both SoCalGas and Sempra.

- JenniferMcEntee