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October 13, 2023
Join Nashville partner Bob Wade for the in-person Hawaii Regional Compliance Conference hosted by the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). This event offers attendees compliance training throughout each educational session, led by experienced healthcare professionals.
HCCA Hawaii Regional Healthcare Compliance Conference
Idea Exchange
David E. Dukes
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
david.dukes@nelsonmullins.com
David practices in the areas of business litigation, technology litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, patent litigation, securities litigation, and coordination of national litigation. He has served as president of two national lawyer organizations. David also served as managing partner of the firm for over 10 years and currently serves on the Executive Committee.
David practices in the areas of business litigation, technology litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, patent litigation, securities litigation, and coordination of national litigation. He has served as president of two national lawyer organizations. David also served as managing partner of the firm for over 10 years and currently serves on the Executive Committee.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Served as national trial counsel in MDLs in Little Rock, Arkansas; Seattle, Washington; New Orleans, Louisiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina
- Served as national trial counsel for companies in the pharmaceutical, computer, crop science and consumer products industries
- Tried cases in California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and arbitrations in Texas and Geneva, Switzerland
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD, cum laude
- Clemson University, BS, Financial Management
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Served as national trial counsel in MDLs in Little Rock, Arkansas; Seattle, Washington; New Orleans, Louisiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina
- Served as national trial counsel for companies in the pharmaceutical, computer, crop science and consumer products industries
- Tried cases in California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and arbitrations in Texas and Geneva, Switzerland
Media
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America: Product Liability, Intellectual Property, and Class Actions (2023–2024)
- Chambers Global: World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: Trial Lawyers – USA (2020–2022)
- LMG Life Sciences, Star in Non-IP Litigation & Enforcement for Product Liability (2019–2023)
- The Legal 500 United States:
- Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action -- defense: Toxic Tort (2019–2023)
- Dispute resolution: Product liability and mass tort defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (2022–2023)
- Benchmark Litigation
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2020–2022)
- National Litigation Star (2019–2023)
- Local Litigation Star, General Commercial, Product Liability, Securities (2019–2023)
- Columbia Business Monthly "Legal Elite," Business Litigation (2017)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: Trial Lawyers and Product Liability & Mass Torts – Nationwide (2014–2023), Litigation: General Commercial – South Carolina (2014–2023)
Chambers USA 2018 reports that, "David Dukes is an esteemed trial attorney who is particularly notable for his representation of major pharmaceutical and technology companies in high-profile product liability and mass tort cases, often acting in a lead trial counsel capacity. 'He's a really talented trial lawyer,' remarks one interviewee, adding that 'he's the most likeable person I have ever seen in court.'" - The Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers
- International Who's Who of Litigation (2014–2018)
- John W. Williams, Jr. Distinguished Service Award (2013)
- Ortmann Diversity Award (2012)
- International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers (2008–2018, 2021)
- International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defence Lawyers (2003–2018, 2020, 2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2001–2024), Commercial Litigation (2001–2024), Litigation -- Patent (2001–2024), Personal Injury Litigation -- Defendants (2001–2024), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2001–2024), Securities Litigation (2001–2023)
- Lawyer of the Year in Columbia, S.C. for Litigation - Securities (2021)
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (annual compendiums)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers, Class Action (2020–2022)
Professional Activities
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chair, ACTL Sandra Day O'Connor Jurist Award Committee (2019–2020)
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Advisory Board, Emory Law School Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Former Chair, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee (1996–1998)
- Former Faculty, IADC Trial Academy (1994)
- Permanent Member, U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, Richland County Bar Association
- Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association
Community
- Board of Trustees, Clemson University
- Trustee, Belle W. Baruch Foundation, Hobcaw Barony
- Past Chair of Board of Directors, Liberty Fellowship (affiliated with the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network)
- Past Board Member, First Citizens Bank
- Past Board Member, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation
- Past Board Member, Foundation for the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics
- Past Trustee, Business Partnership Foundation, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
- Former Co-Chair, Advisory Board, City Year Columbia
Leadership
- Member, Firm's Executive Committee
- Served as Managing Partner of the Firm from 2001–2011
- During tenure, Firm was awarded the American Bar Association's John Minor Wisdom Award for public service and professionalism
- Past President, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Board of Directors (2002–2008)
- Chairman, Drug and Device Law Committee (1999–2001)
- South Carolina State Chairman (1993–1997)
- Law Institute
- Past Board Chairman and Past President, Lawyers for Civil Justice
- Past Board Member, National Foundation for Judicial Excellence
- Past Member, Advisory Committee of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project, Georgetown University Law Center
David practices in the areas of business litigation, technology litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, patent litigation, securities litigation, and coordination of national litigation. He has served as president of two national lawyer organizations. David also served as managing partner of the firm for over 10 years and currently serves on the Executive Committee.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Served as national trial counsel in MDLs in Little Rock, Arkansas; Seattle, Washington; New Orleans, Louisiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina
- Served as national trial counsel for companies in the pharmaceutical, computer, crop science and consumer products industries
- Tried cases in California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and arbitrations in Texas and Geneva, Switzerland
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD, cum laude
- Clemson University, BS, Financial Management
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- State Attorneys General Actions
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America: Product Liability, Intellectual Property, and Class Actions (2023–2024)
- Chambers Global: World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: Trial Lawyers – USA (2020–2022)
- LMG Life Sciences, Star in Non-IP Litigation & Enforcement for Product Liability (2019–2023)
- The Legal 500 United States:
- Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action -- defense: Toxic Tort (2019–2023)
- Dispute resolution: Product liability and mass tort defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (2022–2023)
- Benchmark Litigation
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2020–2022)
- National Litigation Star (2019–2023)
- Local Litigation Star, General Commercial, Product Liability, Securities (2019–2023)
- Columbia Business Monthly "Legal Elite," Business Litigation (2017)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: Trial Lawyers and Product Liability & Mass Torts – Nationwide (2014–2023), Litigation: General Commercial – South Carolina (2014–2023)
Chambers USA 2018 reports that, "David Dukes is an esteemed trial attorney who is particularly notable for his representation of major pharmaceutical and technology companies in high-profile product liability and mass tort cases, often acting in a lead trial counsel capacity. 'He's a really talented trial lawyer,' remarks one interviewee, adding that 'he's the most likeable person I have ever seen in court.'" - The Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers
- International Who's Who of Litigation (2014–2018)
- John W. Williams, Jr. Distinguished Service Award (2013)
- Ortmann Diversity Award (2012)
- International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers (2008–2018, 2021)
- International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defence Lawyers (2003–2018, 2020, 2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2001–2024), Commercial Litigation (2001–2024), Litigation -- Patent (2001–2024), Personal Injury Litigation -- Defendants (2001–2024), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2001–2024), Securities Litigation (2001–2023)
- Lawyer of the Year in Columbia, S.C. for Litigation - Securities (2021)
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (annual compendiums)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers, Class Action (2020–2022)
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chair, ACTL Sandra Day O'Connor Jurist Award Committee (2019–2020)
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Advisory Board, Emory Law School Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Former Chair, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee (1996–1998)
- Former Faculty, IADC Trial Academy (1994)
- Permanent Member, U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, Richland County Bar Association
- Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association
- Board of Trustees, Clemson University
- Trustee, Belle W. Baruch Foundation, Hobcaw Barony
- Past Chair of Board of Directors, Liberty Fellowship (affiliated with the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network)
- Past Board Member, First Citizens Bank
- Past Board Member, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation
- Past Board Member, Foundation for the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics
- Past Trustee, Business Partnership Foundation, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
- Former Co-Chair, Advisory Board, City Year Columbia
- Member, Firm's Executive Committee
- Served as Managing Partner of the Firm from 2001–2011
- During tenure, Firm was awarded the American Bar Association's John Minor Wisdom Award for public service and professionalism
- Past President, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Board of Directors (2002–2008)
- Chairman, Drug and Device Law Committee (1999–2001)
- South Carolina State Chairman (1993–1997)
- Law Institute
- Past Board Chairman and Past President, Lawyers for Civil Justice
- Past Board Member, National Foundation for Judicial Excellence
- Past Member, Advisory Committee of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project, Georgetown University Law Center
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