Carlton Wessel

Carlton E. Wessel

Partner
About

Carl Wessel has unique and extensive experience with regard to litigation encountered by the pharmaceutical industry. He has been practicing law for more than 30 years and has been involved with pharmaceutical litigation from many different perspectives, including as a federal judicial law clerk, a federal prosecutor, a senior level in-house attorney and as a law firm partner.

In 2019, Carl returned to DLA Piper after having served as a Senior Vice President and head of litigation at Pfizer, where he managed all of Pfizer's litigation globally and served on the leadership team responsible for managing the 600 employee Legal Division. Over the years, Carl has managed and litigated almost every type of issue encountered by pharmaceutical clients on a global level, including government litigation (FDCA, Anti-Kickback, False Claims Act, FCPA), antitrust litigation, product liability litigation, securities litigation, intellectual property litigation, employment litigation and complex commercial litigation. On several occasions, he successfully spearheaded global resolutions of high stakes, multifaceted litigation.

Carl also has significant experience managing congressional investigations, conducting internal investigations and counselling pharmaceutical clients on compliance matters. He has authored several publications relating to criminal and pharmaceutical law and is regularly called upon as a speaker to address litigation topics relevant to the industry. 

 
 
Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaMassachusettsNew YorkNew Jersey
Education
  • Juris Doctor, Boston College Law School 1987
  • B.A., History, Columbia University 1984

Clerk Experience

  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1987-1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1989-1990

Connect