Diane Fleming Averell

• Trial counsel for chemical manufacturer in the defense of product liability claims based on alleged exposure to aromatic amines.
• Science counsel for chemical manufacturer in the defense of product liability claims arising out of alleged exposure to aromatic amines.
• Counsel for two major chemical manufacturers in the New Jersey asbestos litigation, including product and premises liability claims.
• Counsel for petroleum product manufacturers, specialty material manufacturers, and paint manufacturers in the defense of product liability claims arising from alleged exposure to benzene derivatives.
• Lead counsel for flexible packaging manufacturer in commercial litigation.
• Co-counsel for chemical manufacturer in the defense of product liability claims arising out of alleged exposure to dry cleaning solvents.
• Lead counsel for specialty chemical manufacturer in the defense of product liability claims in federal district court for the Western District of New York.
• Lead counsel for air spring manufacturer in the defense of product liability claims filed in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County.
• Co-counsel for HVAC system manufacturer and a design/installation company in the defense of commercial litigation arising out of alleged breach of contract and defect claims.
• Co-counsel for power tool manufacturer in the defense of a product liability/subrogation claims related to an alleged defects in an air compressor.  
  Lead counsel for manufacturer of anti-corrosion products in the defense of product liability claims.
• Co-counsel for major pharmaceutical company in the defense of product liability claims arising out of the ingestion of prescription hormone therapeutics.
• Co-counsel for major pharmaceutical company in the defense of product liability cases arising out of the ingestion of over-the-counter cough/cold medications.
• Co-counsel for major pharmaceutical company in the defense of product liability cases arising out of the ingestion of diet drug medications.
• Co-counsel for tobacco company in the defense of wrongful death/product liability claims filed in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County. 

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. 

• Recognized in BTI Client Service All-Stars 2020.
  A description of the selection process can be found here.
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2020-2022.
  A description of the selection process can be found here. 
• Recognized as one of 2018 NJBIZ Best Fifty Women in Business.
  A description of the selection process can be found here. 
• Recognized on the New Jersey Super Lawyers List, Personal Injury-Products: Defense, 2016 - 2021; New Jersey Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" List, 2009-2010, 2013.
  A description of the selection process can be found here. 
• Recognized by New Jersey Law Journal in their annual "40 Under 40" list of attorneys, 2011.
  A description of the selection process can be found here. 

• Foundation Board Member, International Association of Defense Counsel, February 2021 - present. 
• Member, International Association of Defense Counsel, May 2014 - present. 
• Defense Research Institute, National Director, 2019 - 2022.
• Defense Research Institute, Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee, Chair of Marketing for 2014 - 2016 Seminars.  
• Defense Research Institute, Women in the Law Committee, 2010 to present.  Chair of the Committee 2017 - present; Vice Chair of the Committee 2015 - 2017; Chair of 2015 Women in the Law Seminar; Vice Chair of the 2014 Seminar; Chair of Marketing for the 2013 Seminar; Vice-Chair of Marketing for 2012 Seminar; Networking Chair for Seminars in 2009 - 2011.
• Defense Research Institute, Center for Law and Public Policy, Member of the Issues and Advocacy Committee, 2013 - 2015.  
• Defense Research Institute, Vice Chair of the Partnering with Industry Groups Task Force, 2013 - 2015.
• E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Primary Law Firm Network - Litigation Principal, New Jersey; Member of Marketing and Referral Committee.   DuPont Women Lawyers Network; Co-Chair of Marketing and Referral Committee.

• "Defending 'Serial Litigation': How to Coordinate Strategy and Minimize Legal Spend," New Jersey Law Journal, April 8, 2021.
• "Reimagining Togetherness During the Pandemic," DRI's The Voice, September 16, 2020.
• "So A Funny Thing Did Happen on the Way to the Forum, The Directions for Personal Jurisdiction Challenges Just Got Easier," American Bar Association, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section, The Brief, Spring 2018.
• "Tooey's Trail of Trepidation: The Impact of the Tooey Decision on Asbestos-Related Claims against Employers," IADC Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee Newsletter, March 2016.
• "Location, Location, Location: Drafting Enforceable Forum-Selection Clauses under Atlantic Marine," IADC Business Litigation Committee Newsletter, February 2015.
• "Medical Monitoring - A Recent Ruling in New York," LJN's Product Liability Law & Strategy Newsletter, Vol. 32, No. 12, June 2014.
• "Independent Cause of Action for Medical Monitoring Not in the "New York State of Mind"," DRI The Voice of the Defense Bar, Strictly Speaking Newsletter, May 12, 2014.
• "The Year In Review: Significant Judicial Decisions And Litigation Trends In Toxic Torts And Environmental Law of 2013," DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee, February 2014.
• Editor, "The New Reality of Sales Force Behavior and Management," FDLI Monograph Series, Vol. 2, Num 6, June 2011.
• "Deposition of Plaintiff's Expert - Getting Behind the CV," LJN's Product Liability Law & Strategy Newsletter, Vol. 29, No. 6, December 2010
• "Protecting and Enforcing Protective Orders: Easier Said Than Done," Defense Counsel Journal, April 2004.

• Moderator, "Managing a Crisis and Cultivating Inclusion: The Starbucks Story," IADC 2021 Virtual Mid-Year Meeting, February 15-19, 2021.

• Moderator, "Becoming an Active Ally to Black Women: How to Get Involved, Increase Your Diverse Attorneys, and Educate Others About Racial and Social Injustice," IADC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Panel Discussion, October 8, 2020.

• "Ethical Parameters of Cybersecurity Investigations," Porzio Ethics & Eggs Seminar, Morristown, NJ, November 22, 2019.

• "Stop Pitching and Start Listening: The Key to Building Authentic Relationships," 2019 DRI Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, October 16-19, 2019.
• "Women and Diversity Leadership: Building and Sustaining Diversity Excellence," 2019 DRI Managing Partners and Law Firm Leaders Conference, Denver, CO, September 5, 2019.
• Moderator, "A View From The Bench: Ethical Approaches to Litigation and Settlement, Porzio Ethics & Eggs Seminar, Morristown, NJ, November 30, 2018.
• “We’re Not (Staying) in Kansas Anymore – Winning The Personal Jurisdiction Challenge”, The Trial Network SuperCourse, Laguna Beach, CA, April 21, 2018.
• "Product Liability - 10 Years After Sinclair v. Merck," New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Brunswick, NJ, November 29, 2018.
• "Insight Into the Mind of a Trial Lawyer: An International Perspective," IADC Annual Meeting, Quebec, Canada, July 12, 2017.
• "Managing Strategic Partnerships/Joint Ventures," Business Owners Symposium Series, Morristown, NJ, April 7, 2017.
• Panelist, "Corporate Litigation Update," NJ Corporate Counsel Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, February 17, 2017.
• "Preparing for Electronic Discovery in Litigation," National Business Institute, Newark, NJ, December 7, 2016.
• "Social Media Legal Issues for Owners - Take off Your Marketing Hat and Put on Your Owner Hat," Business Owners Symposium Series, Morristown, NJ, June 17, 2016.
• Moderator, "Partnering with Your Clients," 2016 DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Seminar, New Orleans, LA, March 17, 2016.
• "Cyber Security," The New Jersey Law Journal's In-House Counsel CLE program, Florham Park, NJ, September 15, 2015.
• Moderator, "The Year In Review: Significant Judicial Decisions And Litigation Trends In Toxic Torts And Environmental Law of 2013," 2014 DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Seminar, New Orleans, LA, February 20, 2014.
• "Don’t Waste Our Money: Advice from In-House Attorneys on How to Manage a New Matter in a Shifting Legal Environment," Moderator, 2012 DRI Women in the Law Seminar, Scottsdale, AZ, February 23, 2012.
• "Preparing for the Deposition of Plaintiff’s Expert: Getting Behind the CV," Defense Research Institute, New York, NY, May 12, 2005.