John P. Lavelle, Jr., represents clients in crisis management and complex litigation, including product liability, commercial, class action, and election law matters, both at trial and on appeal. John has defended clients in product liability disputes involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nutritional supplements, consumer products, chemicals, and industrial equipment. John’s class action practice includes the defense of consumer products, telecommunications, insurance, and financial services companies in US federal and state courts.
John also counsels clients on state and federal election and campaign finance laws. He served as Pennsylvania state counsel to the Obama for America and Hillary for America campaigns. He also has led statewide and regional voter protection programs for candidates and political campaigns.
John speaks frequently on product liability and litigation issues. He serves as president of the boards of Community Legal Services, Inc. and Philadelphia Legal Assistance. He also serves as a judge pro tempore in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Civil Trial Division. He has served as a special master appointed by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and also as a member of the court’s Merit Selection Panel for magistrate judges. He serves as president of the Princeton University Class of 1985 and is on the board of Marian Catholic High School.
At the beginning of his career, John served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr. of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Medical Devices
Pharmaceuticals
Class Actions
Commercial Litigation
Election Law
Pro Bono
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Listed, Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, Philadelphia: Crisis Management, Complex Litigation, Product Liability (2025)
Listed, The Legal Intelligencer, Power Player (2022)
Recipient, Citizens Bank Achievement Award, Philadelphia Bar Association (2021)
Recommended, Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices, The Legal 500 US (2014–2024)
Ranked, Litigation: General Commercial, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds, Chambers USA (2006–2024)
Ranked, Litigation: Product Liability, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2006–2016)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Philadelphia (2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Philadelphia (2007–2020, 2022–2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law, Philadelphia (2024)
Member, The Legal Intelligencer, Pennsylvania Product Liability Department of the Year (2014)
Member, Philadelphia Bar Association
Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, American Bar Foundation
Member, Defense Research Institute, Inc.
Member, American Law Institute
Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here.