Roger Yoerges Joins Steptoe as Partner in Washington Office

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-493-1027

(August 11, 2008, Washington, DC) Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a leading international law firm, today announced the arrival of Roger W. Yoerges, who joins the firm from WilmerHale, where he practiced for over twenty years. Mr. Yoerges will be a partner in Steptoe’s Litigation Department and head the firm’s Products Liability, Pharmaceutical and Mass Tort Litigation Practice.  He will be based in the firm’s Washington, DC office.

“Roger is an exceptionally well-regarded member of the pharmaceutical industry bar and a top notch litigator in national pharmaceutical and product liability matters,” said Roger Warin, Chair of the firm. “He has been national coordinating counsel and lead trial attorney for a major international pharmaceutical company’s polio vaccine products for over a decade.”

Mr. Yoerges also counsels manufacturers of pharmaceutical products regarding labeling and risk management issues associated with product design and manufacture. In addition, he has handled large class actions, complex commercial disputes, trade secret litigation, non-compete and related employment matters, and FDA litigation.  He also has tried cases involving disputes arising out of oil and gas leases and various large, complex insurance coverage matters, and has been lead counsel in a number of trade secret misappropriation and non-compete disputes, privacy claims, and disputes arising out of corporate acquisitions.

 “Steptoe’s longstanding representation of the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies makes the firm a great fit for me,” said Mr. Yoerges. “I am particularly delighted at the opportunity to lead its growing products liability and mass torts practice, to recruit and develop a team of top-flight litigators, and to represent the interests of clients in this important sector of the US economy.”

“Steptoe’s expertise in national products liability, tort claims and environmental disputes will provide an expanded platform for Roger to further develop his practice,” said Steve Fennell, head of Steptoe’s Litigation Department. “In addition, we expect him to make significant use of our Complex Litigation & Discovery Center and its many resources that provide great advantages to our clients and support to our national litigation practice.”

A 1985 graduate of the Stetson University Law School, Mr. Yoerges is a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, the DC Bar, the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and the Food and Drug Law Institute.  Prior to joining WilmerHale, he was a law clerk for Judge Roger Vinson in the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

About Steptoe & Johnson LLP
With over 500 attorneys, Steptoe & Johnson LLP provides counsel and representation in a wide range of legal fields.  In more than 60 years of practice, the firm has gained a national and international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions.  The firm has offices in Washington, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Century City, London, and Brussels.