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Hildy Sastre

Partner
'[Hildy is] a very fine trial lawyer,' and 'one of the most eminent trial lawyers in the country.'
— Chambers USA
Miami
About

Hildy Sastre is one of the nation’s most highly regarded trial lawyers, having first-chaired dozens of high-stakes cases for Fortune 100 companies across the country – often in some of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions. She frequently serves as trial counsel in bellwether and first-impression cases and has extensive experience defending multinational corporations in consolidated proceedings and national multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Hildy has secured numerous defense verdicts for clients facing significant high risk litigation throughout the United States. Clients have described her as “a top go-to trial lawyer” and “incredibly good on her feet.”

Hildy is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and Litigation Counsel of America. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, named a BTI Client Service All-Star, and ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA for Product Liability and Mass Torts.

The Daily Business Review named her the Most Effective Attorney in complex litigation following a bellwether defense verdict in a pharmaceutical MDL involving a cancer drug, and Courtroom View Network named one of her victories its top defense verdict of the year.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsProduct LiabilityLife SciencesClass ActionsFood and BeverageBusiness and Commercial Litigation
Bar admissionsFlorida
CourtsUnited States District Court for the Middle District of FloridaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of FloridaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of FloridaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
'[Hildy] bonds very well with juries and is very adept at handling difficult witnesses on cross,' according to a client. One judge noted that 'Hildy is always mindful of her corporate clients’ business interests in skillfully navigating the serious allegations of plaintiffs claiming harm from her clients’ products.'
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Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.A., Florida State University

EXPERIENCE

Life sciences

  • Obtained multiple defense verdicts in bellwether medical-device trials on behalf of pelvic mesh manufacturers, including multi-plaintiff trials
  • Obtained defense verdicts in both the first and second bellwether trials on behalf of a pharmaceutical company manufacturer of chemotherapy medications
  • Obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death trial on behalf of a manufacturer of a FDA recalled surgical device, marking the first-ever trial involving this particular product
  • Secured an MDL-ending summary judgment on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer of medication claimed to cause birth defects

Consumer products

  • Obtained multiple defense verdicts in wrongful death and personal injury cigarette product liability trials
  • Obtained a defense verdict for a chemical company manufacturer in nationwide litigation involving allegations related to the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Hildy was the Co-Chair of the Product Liability Litigation group at a major AmLaw firm for more than 25 years.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Chair, International Association of Defense Counsel State Committee
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • Law360, Trials Editorial Advisory Board, 2022
  • Law360, Product Liability Editorial Advisory Board, 2021
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Member, Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee
    • Former Chair, Women’s Mentoring Committee
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Dade County Bar Association

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper strengthens its national trial bench with acclaimed first-chair trial lawyer...

18 March 2026

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Phone

+1 305 702 8847
(Work, Miami)
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