Karen M. Firstenberg
Karen has defended medical devices ranging from surgical robots and ortho-biologics to pain pumps and prosthetic devices, surgical mesh, toxic tort as well as intra-operative warning devices, lasers, medical durable equipment, and more. To prevent litigation and enforcement, she also advises on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance issues for medical device, Material Safety Data Sheets, and other regulatory products. Karen also regularly advises clients on Medicare compliance and reporting issues. In addition, Karen has ample experience assessing and drafting company policies and procedures for FDA and statutory compliance.
In addition to complex product liability claims, Karen litigates class actions, contract issues, unfair business practice claims, medical malpractice, and personal injury litigation. She has won defense verdicts on multi-million-dollar claims and summary judgment rulings and has served as first chair in binding arbitrations. Karen is particularly skilled in offensive discovery, counseling clients on how to identify facts supporting potential claims, and defenses.
Related Practices
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. Case Western Reserve University School of Law 2002
- Dean’s List
- Chief managing editor, Internet Law Journal
- M.A. International Politics Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1999
- The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation for Excellence in Graduate Students Award
- B.A. Political Science and History cum laude, with Distinctive Honors Ohio State University 1995
- National golden Key Achievement Award
- Alpha Lambada Delta Scholar
- Letter of Commendation from Ohio State Legislature
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Product Liability Section, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Member, Litigation Section, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association
Recognition
- Legal 500, Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2024
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, California, 2019 – 2013
Community
Pro Bono
- Karen has provided pro bono legal services to the Holocaust Survivor Reparations Project