LAWYER
Jay Bhimani
Partner | Los Angeles
Jay Bhimani

Jay Bhimani is co-chair of Dechert’s product liability and mass torts practice and a trial lawyer who counsels clients on a range of commercial litigation matters, with a focus on product liability and mass torts. He has served as trial counsel in numerous product liability matters in which the claimed damages were in the hundreds of millions of dollars, including in the largest federal multi-district litigation in history. In the course of his jury trial work, Mr. Bhimani has examined dozens of fact and expert witnesses at trial, including in bellwether cases on key areas such as general and specific causation. The results he has achieved for his clients have been repeatedly profiled in the legal press, including being among the Daily Journal’s “Top Verdicts,” Law360’s “Top Product Liability Cases,” Courtroom View Network’s “Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts,” and featuring in The American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week” column.

Mr. Bhimani also has substantial experience in the field of securities litigation, including serving as counsel in the largest private insider trading action in history and several residential mortgage-backed securities actions brought by a government agency arising out of the 2008 financial crisis.

Mr. Bhimani is recognized by Legal 500 US for his work in the area of Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions – Pharma and Medical Devices, Toxic Torts, and Consumer Products. He is a member of Dechert's nationally recognized team of product liability and mass tort lawyers, ranked Band 1 for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite by Chambers USA and Litigation Department of the Year for Product Liability by New York Law Journal in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Pro bono activities are also a significant part of Mr. Bhimani’s practice. He is a past recipient of Public Counsel’s Pro Bono award for his work obtaining judgments in favor of students defrauded of their life savings by a for-profit school in California.

Product liability litigation

  • A major pharmaceutical company as co-liaison defense counsel in California consolidated litigation involving the claim that the company’s blockbuster H2 receptor antagonist medicine caused patients to develop cancer.
  • A manufacturing company in the largest multi-district litigation in history and several bellwether jury trials involving allegations that a product sold to the military is related to hearing loss suffered by servicemen and women.
  • A major multinational corporation in numerous jury trials, in which the plaintiffs sought tens of millions of dollars in damages, relating to the company’s consumer talcum powder products.

Qui tam and pharmaceutical litigation

  • A prominent healthcare foundation in a qui tam action alleging violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Obtained summary judgment on all pending claims and unanimous affirmance in the 11th Circuit.
  • A supplier of over-the-counter generic pharmaceutical products in a contract dispute with a counterparty, including during expedited proceedings relating to a requested injunction.
Securities and financial services litigation
  • A prominent hedge fund and its principal in a class action in which the named plaintiffs (two pension funds) asserted SEC Rule 14e-3 causes of action relating to stock and options transactions made in advance of the announcement of a proposed merger.
  • The US broker/dealer arm of one of Europe’s largest banking groups and its affiliates in multiple actions brought by the National Credit Union Administration Board on behalf of four liquidated corporate credit unions relating to the sale of billions of dollars of residential mortgage-backed securities.
  • A prominent U.S. investment bank and its affiliates in litigation commenced by CUNA Mutual, an affiliated group of insurance companies, seeking to rescind the purchase of approximately US$72 million of residential mortgage-backed securities.
  • An activist capital management firm in federal securities litigation brought by Botox-maker Allergan, Inc. relating to an unsolicited merger proposal of over US$50 billion.
  • A publicly-traded Maryland real estate investment trust in litigation concerning a hedge fund-shareholder's proposal to nominate additional directors to the client's Board.
  • Six financial institutions in Taiwan with investments in PEM Group, in a suit against HSBC for fraud and aiding and abetting fraud by PEM Group. Defeated HSBC's motions to dismiss and change venue to the British Virgin Islands, at which point the case settled on very favorable terms.
  • The founder and former CEO of a major California mortgage lender in a bankruptcy action for fraudulent conveyance and breach of fiduciary duties related to the failure of the lender. Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of the client.
Complex commercial litigation and investigations
  • A commercial lender in a fraud and breach of contract action arising out of prospective loan transaction with crowdfunded borrower.
  • A movie studio in antitrust litigation filed by distributor alleging a vertical conspiracy to boycott.
  • A casino and resort company in litigation brought by a creditor alleging actual and constructive fraudulent conveyances.
  • A corporation in connection with a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.
  • An auction company and its directors and officers in breach of contract litigation alleging alter ego claims.
  • An overseas development and manufacturing company in breach of contract and fraud action against warehousing and logistics provider that failed to provide promised services.
Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

 

Services Industries
    • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 2006, magna cum laude, College Honors
    • University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 2009
    • California
    • United States District Court for the Central District of California
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
    • English
    • Gujarati
    • Association of Business Trial Lawyers