Angela C. Agrusa

From Chipotle to T-Mobile and Motel 6, Angela Agrusa has defended some of the country's most iconic brands in high-stakes cases where the court of public opinion threatens to derail a company's image.

As managing partner of DLA Piper's Los Angeles office, Agrusa specializes in defending clients in bet-the-brand litigation that has drawn headlines and shaped legal precedent. In the past five years, she has successfully represented clients in more than 50 putative class actions, with a combined potential exposure of over $100 billion.

Agrusa currently is leading the defense of Danone, the makers of Dannon yogurt and Silk brand plant-based milks, in a first-of-its kind litigation in which a California nonprofit is suing 10 of the country's largest consumer product brands over their alleged contribution to plastic pollution. Earth Island Inst. v. Danone US, et al. RG18912553 (San Mateo Sup. Ct., filed Feb. 2020).

Agrusa is also defending Nurture, a subsidiary of Danone, in a series of putative class action and product liability lawsuits tied to allegations of dangerous levels of arsenic and other heavy metals in baby food. In Re Nurture Baby Food Litigation, 1:21-cv-01217-MKV (S.D. N.Y., filed Feb. 10, 2021).

Agrusa said the past two years have been some of the busiest in her life as she guides her clients through public relations nightmares and legal challenges. Agrusa said misinformation and public scrutiny are always major concerns in highprofile cases that can often take years to litigate.

"I think the challenges with these kinds of cases is that they're provocative on filing and the complaint can read very much like an indictment on a company or companies that at their core are trying to do things in the public's best interest," she said. "People are incredibly invested in what they've built, and when that is challenged, it's really satisfying for me to work with clients in a way that's productive."

Her solution is to maintain a sense of calm, control and strategy for her clients.

"You're dealing with people in crisis, and maintaining a clear head and direction is always a challenge as these are critical bets of the brand problems," she said. "It's important to make sure that your clients feel like all of their concerns are being addressed and there is a plan at least to have as successful an outcome as achievable."

- Kelly Puente