Stokes Roberts & Wagner is an industry leader in the coordination and management of mass litigation.  Where there is high risk or exposure and a common theme of legal issues, Stokes is increasingly called upon to serve as coordinating counsel.  We have a proven track record managing litigation related to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which was one of the largest natural catastrophes in California history.  Our success with mass tort environmental litigation led to our being named national coordinating counsel for all chromium litigation for one of the largest chemical manufacturers in the United States.  We also serve as coordinating counsel for a number of our clients in the employment context, including wage and hour class action litigation.  In this context, our clients also retain us to perform company-wide audits, to design and implement preventive legal strategies, and to conduct training.

We know firsthand how to coordinate and supervise litigation because of our courtroom experience as trial lawyers. From setting good strategy to leading the team through implementation, our attorneys know how to control costs and preserve resources. In addition, Stokes Roberts & Wagner has committed the technological resources to manage the massive amount of documentation generated by litigation.

In our role as coordinating counsel, we communicate as much like business executives as we do attorneys and strive to become an integral part of our clients' executive team. Clients can expect our lead coordinating counsel to:

• Assist them with establishing a uniform system for handling complex litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
• Establish an organizational structure for a team of outside counsel.
• Brief counsel on a monthly basis.
• Develop defensive and offensive strategic plans for counsel.
• Assist the client in determining which cases should go to trial and which should be resolved.
• Select experts and trial counsel.
• Manage, budget and forecast payments.
• Provide technology that allows the client to be informed about the cases and track their progress.
• Manage and maintain the voluminous document and data systems that help reduce the costs involved in complex, extensive litigation.

Litigation Support Technology

The best management systems are built by those who know litigation management. Stokes Roberts & Wagner is proud of the case management system and technology team it has developed. In addition to reducing costs and effort, our case management system can be tailored to the management needs of the client, and then deliver timely, accurate and supportable information about an unlimited number of cases.

We believe our ability to provide clients the customized technology they need in order to make informed decisions is one of our distinguishing talents.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Northridge Earthquake Coordination Counsel

TEAM MEMBERS

Peter B. Maretz