Yardena R. Zwang-Weissman

As the deputy leader of the global litigation practice, Yardena helps to set the strategy and supports the operational goals of the practice.

A leader of Morgan Lewis’s crisis management team and thought leader on the strategy and practice of legal crisis management, Yardena draws upon her own experience and the resources of the firm to guide clients through high-profile disputes, where strategic coordination, development and implementation of overarching strategy across teams, and management of the multiple components of crisis-driven litigation is essential to the defense.  Yardena represents clients in emergent incident cases and in matters involving the highest degree of sensitivity for the client’s reputational interests.  Whether representing clients in individual matters or mass proceedings, she collaborates to develop litigation-wide strategy to address matters involving novel and fast developing issues related to science, medicine, technology, and the environment.

Among her key representations, Yardena has been responsible for national case coordination, strategy, and litigation leadership defending many large, complex matters often involving various products, services, as well as alleged air, soil, water, and groundwater contamination across jurisdictions, including those in which she served in critical roles on trial teams. She represents clients in cases involving various substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), perchlorate, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dioxin, furan, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), lead, asbestos, benzene, talc, and silica.

While in law school, Yardena served as an extern for Justice Carlos Moreno of the Supreme Court of California and Judge S. James Otero of the Central District of California. She also served as the notes editor for the Hastings Law Journal.

• Served as coordinating and litigation counsel for Sempra Energy and Southern California Gas Company in litigation and regulatory matters involving the Aliso Canyon gas leak in Porter Ranch, California.
• Represents clients in litigation and other matters related to allegations involving exposure to PFAS.
• Secured summary adjudication of various causes of action and then prevailed at trial on remaining claims related to alleged groundwater contamination on behalf of a global manufacturer.
• Represented a leading paper manufacturer in a jury trial regarding multi-billion dollar environmental dispute with a local government that resulted in a defense verdict.
• Secured dismissal of a federal nationwide class action at the pleading stage for a financial services institution involving allegations of unfair competition and fraud.
• Successfully resolved an environmental matter regarding alleged groundwater contamination and cost recovery claims during trial.
• Successfully resolved environmental matters regarding alleged soil and air contamination on behalf of multiple clients prior to trial.
• Managed discovery and trial preparation in the representation of a manufacturer and supplier in hundreds of product liability cases, including developing defenses, working with fact and expert witnesses, and taking dozens of depositions.