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Amy Pepke is a partner in the firm's Product Liability and Mass Torts practice group. She represents clients in high-stakes class and mass-action disputes, particularly in product liability and healthcare litigation. Additionally, she has extensive experience defending national and international corporations and individuals in matters ranging from pharmaceutical and medical device liability to toxic torts to intellectual property violations.

Amy has extensive experience in legal strategy, appellate work and trial counsel, particularly in high-stakes litigation. She has served as appellate trial counsel for Johnson & Johnson in pelvic mesh litigation, securing defense wins in all jury trials over the past 2 years and achieving numerous summary judgements.

Notable successes include obtaining affirmations from the Eleventh and Fourth Circuits in the CoolSculpting® and pelvic mesh cases. Amy has also led significant litigation teams, represented major corporations in high-profile cases, and held leadership roles in various organizations.

She is recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers® and she serves on several prestigious legal committees. Amy holds a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and a B.A. from Spring Hill College. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee, multiple U.S. Circuit Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law, Order of the Coif, Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review

B.A., International Business and International Relations, Spring Hill College, with honors

Supreme Court of the United States

Tennessee

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Law Clerk, Judge J. Julia S. Gibbons, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

American Bar Association

Association of Women Attorneys

Federal Bar Association

Leo Bearman Sr., American Inns of Court

Memphis Bar Association

Tennessee Bar Association

Named Key Lawyer


The Legal 500 US, 2024

Named Lawyer of the Year


Best Lawyers in America, 2022

Named Best Lawyers in America


2012-2024

Named a Mid-South Super Lawyer, Civil Litigation: Defense


SuperLawyers, 2012-2021, 2024

Named Top 50 Women


SuperLawyers, 2013-2014

Named Professor


Comparative Criminal Justice, British Studies Program, 1999-2000

Adjunct Professor


University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Fellow


American Bar Foundation

Fellow


Tennessee Bar Foundation

Fellow


Litigation Counsel of America

Fellow


Memphis Bar Association

Named – Delegate of Judge Julia Gibbons, Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference


2010

Named – Appointment, Standing Local Rules Committee W.D. Tennessee, Local Patent Rules, Chair


2012-2018

Named – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2019-present

President – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2022

Named – National Conference of Bar Examiners, Content Scope Committee


2023

Close

Recognition

Named Key Lawyer


The Legal 500 US, 2024

Named Lawyer of the Year


Best Lawyers in America, 2022

Named Best Lawyers in America


2012-2024

Named a Mid-South Super Lawyer, Civil Litigation: Defense


SuperLawyers, 2012-2021, 2024

Named Top 50 Women


SuperLawyers, 2013-2014

Named Professor


Comparative Criminal Justice, British Studies Program, 1999-2000

Adjunct Professor


University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Fellow


American Bar Foundation

Fellow


Tennessee Bar Foundation

Fellow


Litigation Counsel of America

Fellow


Memphis Bar Association

Named – Delegate of Judge Julia Gibbons, Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference


2010

Named – Appointment, Standing Local Rules Committee W.D. Tennessee, Local Patent Rules, Chair


2012-2018

Named – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2019-present

President – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2022

Named – National Conference of Bar Examiners, Content Scope Committee


2023

Matters

Pelvic Mesh Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2327, United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: Lead motion practice team, expert motions; appellate trial counsel.

Appellate/Legal Strategy Trial Counsel sample representations include:

Snowden v. Ethicon (Dallas, TX) Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022, selected as a CVN top 10 defense verdict in 2022.

Shostrom v. Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson; Case No. 1:20-cv-01933-WJM-STV, U.S.D.C. (D. Colo.):  Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022. “Johnson and Johnson Wins Third Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Trial This Year,” Law.com, July 6, 2022.

Shears v. Ethicon, Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-00264, U.S.D.C. (N.D. W.Va.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022.

Herrera-Nevarez v. Ethicon Inc., Case No. 17 C 3930 (N.D. Ill.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict on design defect, failure to warn and negligence claims, 2017.

Hernia Mesh Product Liability Litigation including In re: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2782, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Lead motion practice, expert motions; appellate trial counsel. 

See more

Close

Matters

Pelvic Mesh Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2327, United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: Lead motion practice team, expert motions; appellate trial counsel.

Appellate/Legal Strategy Trial Counsel sample representations include:

Snowden v. Ethicon (Dallas, TX) Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022, selected as a CVN top 10 defense verdict in 2022.

Shostrom v. Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson; Case No. 1:20-cv-01933-WJM-STV, U.S.D.C. (D. Colo.):  Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022. “Johnson and Johnson Wins Third Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Trial This Year,” Law.com, July 6, 2022.

Shears v. Ethicon, Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-00264, U.S.D.C. (N.D. W.Va.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022.

Herrera-Nevarez v. Ethicon Inc., Case No. 17 C 3930 (N.D. Ill.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict on design defect, failure to warn and negligence claims, 2017.

Hernia Mesh Product Liability Litigation including In re: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2782, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Lead motion practice, expert motions; appellate trial counsel. 

Propecia Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Propecia (Finasteride) Product Liability Litigation, MDL 2331, United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York: Motion team.

Tylenol Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2436, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Motion team.

Cates v. Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., -- F.4th --, 2023 WL 467128 (11th Cir. 2023): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment granted in the CoolSculpting® litigation. See “11th Circ. Freezes CoolSculpting User’s Product Liability Suit,” Law360, July 24, 2023

Donalds v. Ethicon, Inc., 37 F.4th 400, 2023 WL 2446703 (4th Cir. 2023): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh case for insufficient proof of causation. See Ethicon And J&J Snag 4th Circ. Win In Pelvic Mesh Appeal,” Law360, March 10, 2023

Donaldson v. Johnson & Johnson, -- F.4th --, 2022 WL 2145276 (7th Cir. 2022): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh case for insufficient proof of causation. See “J&J Keeps Victory Over Defective Mesh Claims At 7th Circ.,” Law360, June 15, 2022

Clabo v. Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. et al., 982 F.3d 989, 2020 WL 7331496 (6th Cir. 2020): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh suit on the basis of statute of repose. 

Obtained favorable resolution of multi-million dollar verdict in a pharmacy liability case for one of the nation’s largest pharmacies: Appellate counsel.

Obtained summary judgment for manufacturer of metalworking fluids in mass torts case involving over 200 plaintiffs with claims exceeding $100 million. 

Defense of mass tort case involving exposure to industrial chemicals in national venues including Madison County, Illinois, and Wayne County, Michigan.

Prosecution and defense of commercial cases involving business disputes, unfair competition and breach of contract.

Prosecution and defense of commercial cases involving claims for patent infringement, antitrust and Lanham Act violations. 

Member of Deferred Prosecution Federal Monitor Team for a medical device company.

Internal Corporate Investigations and Compliance Reviews.

Advice and services involving creation, review and negotiation of broad range of commercial sourcing and procurement contracts, with an emphasis on healthcare regulatory and compliance issues.

Representation of hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and insurance companies in civil litigation on local and national level.

Represented Plaintiffs in two separate class actions against major credit card processors alleging violations of Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and breach of contract, achieving nationwide multi-million dollar recoveries for class members.

Matters

Pelvic Mesh Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2327, United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: Lead motion practice team, expert motions; appellate trial counsel.

Appellate/Legal Strategy Trial Counsel sample representations include:

Snowden v. Ethicon (Dallas, TX) Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022, selected as a CVN top 10 defense verdict in 2022.

Shostrom v. Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson; Case No. 1:20-cv-01933-WJM-STV, U.S.D.C. (D. Colo.):  Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022. “Johnson and Johnson Wins Third Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Trial This Year,” Law.com, July 6, 2022.

Shears v. Ethicon, Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-00264, U.S.D.C. (N.D. W.Va.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022.

Herrera-Nevarez v. Ethicon Inc., Case No. 17 C 3930 (N.D. Ill.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict on design defect, failure to warn and negligence claims, 2017.

Hernia Mesh Product Liability Litigation including In re: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2782, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Lead motion practice, expert motions; appellate trial counsel. 

See more

Close

Matters

Pelvic Mesh Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2327, United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: Lead motion practice team, expert motions; appellate trial counsel.

Appellate/Legal Strategy Trial Counsel sample representations include:

Snowden v. Ethicon (Dallas, TX) Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022, selected as a CVN top 10 defense verdict in 2022.

Shostrom v. Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson; Case No. 1:20-cv-01933-WJM-STV, U.S.D.C. (D. Colo.):  Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022. “Johnson and Johnson Wins Third Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Trial This Year,” Law.com, July 6, 2022.

Shears v. Ethicon, Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-00264, U.S.D.C. (N.D. W.Va.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict, 2022.

Herrera-Nevarez v. Ethicon Inc., Case No. 17 C 3930 (N.D. Ill.): Pelvic mesh product liability case; defense verdict on design defect, failure to warn and negligence claims, 2017.

Hernia Mesh Product Liability Litigation including In re: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2782, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Lead motion practice, expert motions; appellate trial counsel. 

Propecia Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Propecia (Finasteride) Product Liability Litigation, MDL 2331, United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York: Motion team.

Tylenol Product Liability Litigation, including In re: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2436, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Motion team.

Cates v. Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., -- F.4th --, 2023 WL 467128 (11th Cir. 2023): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment granted in the CoolSculpting® litigation. See “11th Circ. Freezes CoolSculpting User’s Product Liability Suit,” Law360, July 24, 2023

Donalds v. Ethicon, Inc., 37 F.4th 400, 2023 WL 2446703 (4th Cir. 2023): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh case for insufficient proof of causation. See Ethicon And J&J Snag 4th Circ. Win In Pelvic Mesh Appeal,” Law360, March 10, 2023

Donaldson v. Johnson & Johnson, -- F.4th --, 2022 WL 2145276 (7th Cir. 2022): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh case for insufficient proof of causation. See “J&J Keeps Victory Over Defective Mesh Claims At 7th Circ.,” Law360, June 15, 2022

Clabo v. Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. et al., 982 F.3d 989, 2020 WL 7331496 (6th Cir. 2020): Obtained a ruling affirming summary judgment in a pelvic mesh suit on the basis of statute of repose. 

Obtained favorable resolution of multi-million dollar verdict in a pharmacy liability case for one of the nation’s largest pharmacies: Appellate counsel.

Obtained summary judgment for manufacturer of metalworking fluids in mass torts case involving over 200 plaintiffs with claims exceeding $100 million. 

Defense of mass tort case involving exposure to industrial chemicals in national venues including Madison County, Illinois, and Wayne County, Michigan.

Prosecution and defense of commercial cases involving business disputes, unfair competition and breach of contract.

Prosecution and defense of commercial cases involving claims for patent infringement, antitrust and Lanham Act violations. 

Member of Deferred Prosecution Federal Monitor Team for a medical device company.

Internal Corporate Investigations and Compliance Reviews.

Advice and services involving creation, review and negotiation of broad range of commercial sourcing and procurement contracts, with an emphasis on healthcare regulatory and compliance issues.

Representation of hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and insurance companies in civil litigation on local and national level.

Represented Plaintiffs in two separate class actions against major credit card processors alleging violations of Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and breach of contract, achieving nationwide multi-million dollar recoveries for class members.

Credentials

J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law, Order of the Coif, Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review

B.A., International Business and International Relations, Spring Hill College, with honors

Supreme Court of the United States

Tennessee

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Law Clerk, Judge J. Julia S. Gibbons, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

American Bar Association

Association of Women Attorneys

Federal Bar Association

Leo Bearman Sr., American Inns of Court

Memphis Bar Association

Tennessee Bar Association

Named Key Lawyer


The Legal 500 US, 2024

Named Lawyer of the Year


Best Lawyers in America, 2022

Named Best Lawyers in America


2012-2024

Named a Mid-South Super Lawyer, Civil Litigation: Defense


SuperLawyers, 2012-2021, 2024

Named Top 50 Women


SuperLawyers, 2013-2014

Named Professor


Comparative Criminal Justice, British Studies Program, 1999-2000

Adjunct Professor


University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Fellow


American Bar Foundation

Fellow


Tennessee Bar Foundation

Fellow


Litigation Counsel of America

Fellow


Memphis Bar Association

Named – Delegate of Judge Julia Gibbons, Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference


2010

Named – Appointment, Standing Local Rules Committee W.D. Tennessee, Local Patent Rules, Chair


2012-2018

Named – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2019-present

President – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2022

Named – National Conference of Bar Examiners, Content Scope Committee


2023

Close

Recognition

Named Key Lawyer


The Legal 500 US, 2024

Named Lawyer of the Year


Best Lawyers in America, 2022

Named Best Lawyers in America


2012-2024

Named a Mid-South Super Lawyer, Civil Litigation: Defense


SuperLawyers, 2012-2021, 2024

Named Top 50 Women


SuperLawyers, 2013-2014

Named Professor


Comparative Criminal Justice, British Studies Program, 1999-2000

Adjunct Professor


University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Fellow


American Bar Foundation

Fellow


Tennessee Bar Foundation

Fellow


Litigation Counsel of America

Fellow


Memphis Bar Association

Named – Delegate of Judge Julia Gibbons, Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference


2010

Named – Appointment, Standing Local Rules Committee W.D. Tennessee, Local Patent Rules, Chair


2012-2018

Named – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2019-present

President – Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court


2022

Named – National Conference of Bar Examiners, Content Scope Committee


2023