Matt Holian is a partner in DLA Piper's Litigation practice, based in Boston. His practice involves the defense of pharmaceutical and other medical companies in a variety of cases, with an emphasis on complex, multi-jurisdictional product liability suits. He also has experience with cases involving alleged consumer fraud, trade secret misappropriation and commercial disputes. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Holian also counsels clients regarding research and development issues, including claims by clinical trial subjects, compliance issues and risk mitigation practices. In 2009, he was named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer Rising Star in the area of product liability defense.

Representative of his experience are the following cases:

• In re Chantix (Varenicline) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2092 (N.D. Ala.): Appointed by court as one of Defendants' Liaison Counsel in product liability litigation involving Chantix, an aid to smoking cessation treatment, including coordinating discovery with cases pending in state court.
• In re Bextra and Celebrex Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1699 (N.D. Cal.): Defended Pfizer in product liability and consumer fraud litigation involving selective COX-2 inhibitors, including coordinating discovery with cases pending in state court, assisting with a successful general causation challenge, and implementing a resolution program for numerous cases.
• Baycol Litigation (various jurisdictions): Defended Bayer in product liability litigation involving Baycol, a prescription cholesterol-lowering medication, including serving on six trial teams in three states, taking dozens of depositions, and coordinating discovery in over 700 cases pending in federal and state court.
• Buckingham v. Bayer (San Diego Superior Court): Defended Bayer in consumer fraud litigation involving Aleve; succeeded in obtaining dismissal with prejudice on preemption grounds.
• Defended a clinical trials research company in various suits alleging breach of contract, conversion and trade secret misappropriation, including taking or defending 20 fact and expert witness depositions, responding to dispositive motions and preparing cases for trial.