Heather K. McDevitt

Partner, New York

Biography

Overview

Heather McDevitt is Chair of White & Case LLP and directs the Firm's strategy and operations around the world. A partner at White & Case for more than 20 years, she previously served on the Firm's global Executive Committee and led its Global Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Industry Group.

Heather has represented clients in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods and oil and gas industries in a wide range of complex matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the United States.

Heather has devoted substantial time and energy to pro bono death penalty and wrongful conviction cases over the course of her career. She is a two-time recipient of the New York City Bar's Thurgood Marshall Award for post-conviction capital defense work in Alabama and leading the Eighth Amendment challenges to Alabama's method of execution by lethal injection.

Bars and Courts
New York
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Supreme Court
Education
JD
Albany Law School
AB
Political Science and English
Wellesley College
Languages
English

Experience

Multiple False Claims Act Cases Involving Prescription Drug Pricing
Representing a major generic drug manufacturer facing a number of cases brought by State Attorneys General and private payers alleging false claims act, fraud and unfair trade practice/consumer protection act claims.

Consumer Class Action for Leading Energy Company
Representing a leading energy company in a putative consumer class action alleging breach of warranty claims in connection with deliveries of allegedly adulterated heating oil.

Dismissal of employment discrimination and wage and hour claims
Representing a leading pharmaceutical company in putative class actions involving claims under Title VII and the wage and hour laws, and obtained dismissal of all claims on grounds of corporate separateness and plaintiffs' failure to justify piercing the corporate veil.

One of largest-ever bankruptcy adversary proceedings in the US
Representing a major overseas bank in one of the largest bankruptcy adversary proceedings ever filed in the US. The claims included, inter alia, fraudulent conveyance, equitable subordination and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty.

Success in pharmaceutical monopolization case
Representing a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in a monopolization case involving allegations of fraud on the United States Patent and Trademark office. She obtained successful resolution on the eve of trial.

Health insurers take on tobacco industry
Representing a coalition of major health insurers in litigation against the tobacco industry. The 10-week jury trial culminated in the first verdict against the tobacco industry by a third-party payer.