Allyson has a wealth of experience representing Fortune 500 corporations in high-stakes commercial and products liability litigation. She currently serves as co-lead counsel for Merck in federal multidistrict litigation involving the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. Prior to this appointment, she was a key member of the team that secured a landmark Daubert victory in federal multidistrict litigation involving the Mirena intrauterine device where the court excluded all of plaintiffs' causation experts. The court subsequently dismissed every single one of over 1,200 cases pending in the MDL. In a different Mirena MDL, Allyson briefed Daubert motions to exclude the plaintiffs’ experts and subsequently defended three experts during oral argument at the Daubert hearing. The MDL court ultimately excluded all seven of plaintiffs’ general causation experts and later granted summary judgment – entering judgment in all cases pending in the MDL. As counsel for Bayer in nationwide litigation related to gadolinium-based contrast agents, Allyson led the briefing efforts before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation – successfully opposing plaintiffs’ attempt to form an MDL. She has also played an integral role on multiple trial teams and has shepherded numerous aspects of pre-trial preparation, including drafting successful dispositive motions, managing all aspects of discovery, and deposing fact and treating physician witnesses. An engaged member of the greater Chicago community, she has represented clients in various proceedings on a pro bono basis.
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Gardasil Litigation
Serves as co-lead counsel for Merck in a federal multidistrict litigation involving the HPV vaccine, Gardasil.
In re Mirena IUD Products Liability LitigationRepresented Bayer in federal and state litigation involving Mirena® intrauterine device.
Gadolinium Retention Contrast Dye LitigationRepresents Bayer in nationwide litigation regarding Bayer’s Magnevist® contrast dye. Plaintiffs claim that they developed a variety of injuries as a result of retaining gadolinium in their body following use of Bayer’s gadolinium-based contrast agent Magnevist® and other contrast agents during MRI procedures.
Sportvision, Inc. et al. v. MLB Advanced Media, L.P.Represents MLB Advanced Media, L.P. in patent, trade secret, and contract matter relating to the display of video graphics.
In Re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability LitigationRepresented Janssen in litigation regarding personal injuries allegedly caused by Xarelto, an anticoagulant developed by Janssen and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Served on MDL case work-up team tasked with taking depositions of plaintiffs and treating physicians in cases across the country.
Hurricane Katrina LitigationRepresented large cement company defending against claims by a governmental entity for over $400 million in alleged property damage. Plaintiff brought these claims under maritime law, alleging that a barge that broke free during Hurricane Katrina caused the failure of a floodwall alongside a New Orleans neighborhood. The case settled on terms favorable to our client days before trial.
Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Pelvic Repair System LitigationRepresents Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in federal litigation involving pelvic mesh products.
Consumer Electronics LitigationRepresented Fortune 10 consumer electronics company in patent infringement case brought by SMTM Technology, LLC.
In re West Explosion CasesRepresented fertilizer manufacturer in various wrongful death and products liability suits.
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- Partner, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP
- Associate, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP
- Associate, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
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- Washington University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)
- Order of the Coif
- Washington University Law Review, Senior Editor
- Excellence in Oral Advocacy Award
- Honor Scholar Award
- University of Notre Dame (B.A., Psychology, magna cum laude)
- Minor in Africana Studies
- Washington University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)
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- Member, Board of Directors, Friends of Prentice
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- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Faculty Speaker, Wheel of Fortune: Effective Voir Dire Strategies, IADC Midyear Meeting (Austin, TX, February 2023)
- Faculty Speaker, Opening Statements: Setting the Stage for a Win, Defense Research Institute Women in Law Seminar (Austin, TX, January 2022)
- Selected for Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List (2022-2023)
- Sole selection by The Legal 500 as a 2019 Rising Star in Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
- One of three attorneys recognized by The Legal 500 as 2020 and 2021 Rising Stars in Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
- Selected by Super Lawyers as an Illinois Rising Star (2018-2023)
- Selected by Lawdragon as among the “all-star litigators” “who excel at representing principally corporations and other organizations” in complex litigation, especially product liability, in the 500 Leading Litigators in America guide
- Graduated from the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Trial Academy
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- Goldman Ismail Partners Receive Top Rankings in Benchmark Litigation 2025
- Goldman Ismail Partners Named to Benchmark’s 40 & Under Hot List
- Tarek Ismail Selected for American Lawyer’s Litigators of the Week
- Goldman Ismail Secures First Zantac Victory for GlaxoSmithKline
- Goldman Ismail Secures First Roundup Victory for Monsanto and Nouryon Surface Chemicals in Philadelphia
- Goldman Ismail and Partners Receive Top Rankings in Benchmark Litigation 2024
- Goldman Ismail Partners Named to Benchmark’s List of Top 250 Women in Litigation and the 40 & Under Hot List
- Goldman Ismail and Partners Receive Top Rankings in Benchmark Litigation 2023
- Goldman Ismail Partners Named to Benchmark’s List of Top 250 Women in Litigation and the 40 & Under Hot List
- Goldman Ismail and Partners Receive Top Rankings in Benchmark Litigation 2022
- Goldman Ismail Partners Named to Benchmark’s List of Top 250 Women in Litigation and the 40 & Under Hot List
- Goldman Ismail Tops 2021 Legal 500 Rankings
- Goldman Ismail Elects to Partnership Allyson Julien and Emma Ross
- Second Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Bayer’s Summary Judgment Win in the Mirena IIH MDL
- Goldman Ismail Tops 2020 Legal 500 Rankings
- Goldman Ismail Secures Important Asylum Victory
- Bayer Wins Daubert Ruling Excluding Plaintiffs’ Expert Witnesses in the Gadolinium Retention Contrast Dye Litigation
- Bayer Wins Dismissal of All Cases in the Mirena IIH MDL
- Goldman Ismail Tops 2019 Legal 500 Rankings
- Goldman Ismail Defeats Plaintiffs’ Attempt to Form MDL in Gadolinium Retention Contrast Dye Litigation
- Bayer Wins Daubert Ruling Excluding All Plaintiffs’ Expert Witnesses in the Mirena IIH MDL
- Second Circuit Affirms Orders Dismissing All 1200+ Cases in Mirena Perforation MDL
- Law360 Picks Mirena IUD Products Liability Litigation MDL Ruling as One of Year’s Most Significant
- Federal Judge Dismisses All 1225 Cases in Mirena Multidistrict Litigation
- Second Circuit Affirms Mirena MDL Dismissals
- Landmark Daubert Victory for Goldman Ismail—Federal Judge Excludes Plaintiffs’ Experts
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- State of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois