Bio

Jay focuses his practice on the defense of product manufacturers, including medical device, pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer-product manufacturers in individual and mass-tort actions. Jay is experienced in all phases of the litigation process, including pre and post-suit fact investigation, discovery, witness preparation, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions, trial preparation, and trial.

Jay’s scientific and business education and background makes him unique in his practice and lends particularly well to being able to distill complex technical issues in litigation into simpler concepts that can be understood by a jury. He is particularly adept at utilizing this background to work closely with technical witnesses and experts, and also investigate complex scientific issues relevant to a particular case.

Before attending law school, Jay received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, during which time Jay performed extensive research and literature review on orthopedic implants. Jay also helped lead a team design project to design a mounting system for a patient with Muscular Dystrophy.

After college, Jay earned a master’s degree in Engineering Management with a focus on assisting companies in the market assessment of their respective technology platforms.

Prior to joining Irwin Fritchie, Jay worked with corporate clients on scientific and legal issues involving a variety of complex technologies in intellectual property and general transactional and litigation matters.

Experience

Representation of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in multidistrict, federal, and state products liability litigation.

Representation of chemical and consumer-product manufacturer in federal and state products liability litigation in Louisiana.

Identification, retention, and coordination of teams of experts in nationwide mass-tort litigation.

Preparation of expert witnesses, company witnesses, and 30(b)(6) witnesses for depositions in pending federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) surrounding medical implants.

Taking and defending fact, 30(b)(6), and expert witness depositions in state and federal litigation, including multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Representation of steel manufacturer in Clean Air Act action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the District Court for the District of Columbia to compel EPA action.

Representation of steel manufacturer in an administrative action seeking review of a PSD/Title V permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under the Clean Air Act.

Representation of two (2) medical practitioners in a medical malpractice bench trial, resulting in a ruling dismissing the action with prejudice.

Honors & Affiliations

Honors & Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2022-2023)

DRI Young Lawyers, Rookie of the Year Award, 2021-22

New Orleans Top Lawyers, 2021-2022

Louisiana Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2017-2021

Loyola Law Review

Loyola Moot Court

William L. Crowe Scholar

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, Vienna, Austria (2012-13), Honorable Mention, Best Memorandum for Claimant

Judicial Extern, Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Civic Affiliations

  • Member, St. Pius Catholic School Advisory School Board
  • Member, American Institute of Stuttering (AIS) Junior Board

Professional Affiliations

  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), CLE Steering Committee, 2024 IADC Mid-Year Meeting, Miami, FL
  • IADC, Vice Chair of Communications, Social Justice and Pro Bono Committee (2023-2024)
  • IADC, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee, Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee
  • Lawyers for Civil Justice, Civil Justice Fellow - Inaugural Class (2019-2022), Diversity and Young Lawyers Committee
  • DRI, Drug & Medical Device Committee, Online Community Vice Chair (2024)
  • DRI, Drug and Medical Device Committee, Co-Young Lawyer Liaison (2021-2022; 2022-23); Regional Marketing Team
  • DRI, Young Lawyer Committee, Co-Vice Chair of Raising the Bar Subcommittee (2021-2022)
  • DRI, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Steering Committee, Committee Secretary, Marketing Representative
  • New Orleans Bar Association, Drug and Device Committee
  • American Bar Association, Expert Witness Committee
  • Louisiana State Bar Association

News

Publications & Presentations

Publications

  • Co-Chair and Host, Young Lawyer Breakout Panels

    2023 DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, New Orleans, LA

    Speaking Engagement
  • Re-enactment Participant, "Kung Flu": A History of Violence and Hostility against Asian Americans

    2023 DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, New Orleans, LA

    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Chair, Young Lawyer Breakout; Moderator, In-House Counsel Roundtable

    2022 DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, Nashville, TN

    Speaking Engagement
  • In-House Panel – Privacy & Ethics CLE

    2022 DRI Young Lawyers Seminar: Atlanta, GA

    Speaking Engagement
  • Nuts and Bolts of Identifying, Retaining, Prepping, and Defending Experts: Tips for Young Lawyers...

    DRI 2022 Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas, NV

    Speaking Engagement
  • 2021 Products Liability Conference Caselaw Update

    DRI 2021 Product Liability Conference, Nashville, TN

    Speaking Engagement
  • Multi-District Litigation 101: Everything an Associate Needs to Know About Multi-District Litigation

    New Orleans Bar Association (NOBA) Procrastinators’ Program CLE, New Orleans, LA

    Speaking Engagement
  • Shark Tank II – Proposal to Amend FRCP 16 pitched to national and corporate counsel

    Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) Annual Membership Meeting, New York, NY

    Speaking Engagement
  • DRI Rx for the Defense, Volume 27, Issue 1

    Publication
    January 22, 2019
  • IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee Newsletter

    Publication
  • 58 Loy. L. Rev. 981

    Publication
    2012
  • Senior Honors Thesis. Submitted and Presented to the Tulane Biomedical Engineering Department

    Publication
    2008

Admissions

  • Louisiana State Courts
  • Texas State Courts
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • United States Patent & Trademark Office

Education

J.D., Loyola University College of Law (2013)

M.E.M., Master of Engineering Management, Duke University (2009)

B.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University (2008)

International Association of Defense Counsel's Trial Academy, Stanford Law School

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