Sarah R. London

San Francisco • Litigation

Sarah R. London has developed a reputation asserting her role as a relentless advocate for those injured by corporate and environmental negligence. Her legal work is highlighted by her leading role in the litigation against JUUL and Altria/Philip Morris. This litigation ended in settlements that not only provided substantial financial relief to thousands of plaintiffs but also enforced sweeping changes in the marketing practices of the targeted companies, aiming to curb the public health crisis around youth e-cigarette use.

The scale of the litigation encompassed more than 8,500 injury cases, 1,400 government entity cases, and 32 tribal cases.

London spearheaded the charge to trial, navigating through an evolving landscape that included the FDA's denial of JUUL's premarket tobacco application and corporate restructuring moves by Altria.

"The resolutions reached in this litigation were unprecedented in speed, scope, and significance," she said. "We reached two historic global settlements: the first with JUUL Labs, Inc. ('JLI') and related Defendants in December 2022 and the second with Altria Group, Inc. ('Altria') (formerly Philip Morris) in May 2023. Together, the settlements provide significant relief to thousands of personal injury plaintiffs, government entities, tribes, and class members who allege harm resulting from the manufacture, labeling, marketing, and sale of JUUL e-cigarette products and will provide much-needed resources to abate the public health crisis of youth e-cigarette use in diverse communities across the country."

London underscores a transformative vision for the legal industry.

"The JUUL litigation reaffirmed that diverse, inclusive teams are the key to driving successful litigation," she said. "We need to keep working to diminish the repeat player advantage and expand opportunities for talented lawyers to rise to leadership roles."

London's caseload isn't confined to tobacco litigation. She has also played a pivotal role in environmental lawsuits, such as the litigation following the Santa Barbara County oil spill, which resulted in a $230 million settlement for affected property owners, workers and the fishing industry. Her approach to these cases underscores a commitment to rigorous legal standards and a dedication to securing justice and compensation for those affected by ecological disasters.