Ilana H. Eisenstein

Partner

Chair, US Litigation
Member, Executive and Policy Committees

Ilana helps clients solve their most complex and high-exposure problems.

Emaililana.eisenstein@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 215 656 3351

Philadelphia

About

Ilana H. Eisenstein is the firm's Chair of Litigation.

She is one of the rare lawyers who combines first-chair trial experience with an appellate specialty. Ilana has seen cases through every stage of litigation – from investigation, trials, and appeals to the US Supreme Court.

With a flexible approach to multi-faceted disputes that include civil, criminal, administrative and regulatory components, Ilana helps clients solve their most complex and high-exposure problems.

She is noted for her ability to unravel the individual threads in complicated legal issues. She is particularly adept at developing and managing legal strategy for multi-district litigation and government-facing litigation, and she has deep experience in the life sciences, health care, consumer goods and technology sectors.

Ilana has argued five cases before the US Supreme Court, including cases involving novel questions of statutory interpretation and constitutional law and procedure. She has tried more than a dozen federal jury trials to verdict and led more than 100 federal and state cases to resolution. She previously served as a federal prosecutor and an Assistant to the US Solicitor General with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Ilana is a member of AKD Partners's Executive and Policy Committees.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations

Bar admissionsPennsylvania

CourtsSupreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of PennsylvaniaUnited States Court of Appeals for the First CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Ilana is both a brilliant legal mind but also very practical and has a commercial perspective that is unusual for appellate lawyers.

Chambers USA

She is incredibly gifted when it comes to appellate law, white-collar crime and civil litigation.

Chambers USA

EXPERIENCE

Appellate and Supreme Court Matters

In re: Incretin-Based Therapies Products Liability Litigation (9th Cir. 2022): Briefed and argued appeal for Novo Nordisk successfully defending dismissal at summary judgment of all claims in multi-district litigation on Daubert and preemption grounds
In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Product Liability Litigation (5th Cir. & E.D. La. 2020 – present): Lead appellate counsel for Sanofi handling all appeals and critical motions arising out of the multi-district litigation, including successful defense of dismissals and summary judgment on grounds of warnings causation, statute of limitations, and violations of show-cause procedure
National Preemption Counsel for Medtronic: Coordinate briefing and argument of preemption issues in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels
In re LTL Management LLC (3d Cir. 2023) and In re: Aero Technologies LLC (7th Cir. 2023): Represent the US Chamber of Commerce and American Tort Reform Association as amicus curiae, in support of the ability of businesses to address mass tort liability under the US bankruptcy laws
FTC v. AMG (S. Ct. 2023): Represented the US Chamber of Commerce in amicus brief arguing that Congress did not grant Federal Trade Commission (FTC) power to seek monetary remedies, a position affirmed by the Supreme Court
Furman v. Goodyear Tire (NM 2021): Argued against personal jurisdiction on behalf of Goodyear Tire
Lawrence v. Medtronic (9th Cir. 2020): Represented Medtronic in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming dismissal of a products liability suit on preemption grounds
Microsoft v. United States (S. Ct. 2018): Author of brief on behalf of amici European national trade organizations asking the Court to consider the potential conflict between the Stored Communications Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
*Manuel v. City of Joliet (S. Ct. 2017): Successfully briefed and argued case finding that pre-trial detention without probable cause violates the Fourth Amendment and may give rise to a federal civil rights claim
*Menominee Tribe v. United States (S. Ct. 2016): Briefed and argued case which clarified proper application of equitable tolling principles in a contracting dispute with the federal government
*Ohio v. Clark (S. Ct. 2015): Briefed and argued case finding Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause to be inapplicable to out-of-court statements given by an abused child to his teacher

*Denotes cases prior to joining AKD Partners while in government service

Multi-District Litigation and Trial Court Litigation

In re: Generics Pharmaceutical Pricing Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Pa.): Lead counsel defending major pharmaceutical manufacturer against antitrust claims brought by state Attorneys General and private class actions in multi-district litigation (MDL)
In re GLP-1 RA Products Liability Litigation (E.D. Pa.): National counsel to Novo Nordisk in MDL and related state court litigation
In re: Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation (S.D. Fla./11th Cir.): Handling class action defense and government enforcement actions for major pharmaceutical company in MDL and related state court proceedings
Valmarc v. Nike (D. Or.): Represented Nike defending allegations of trade-secret misappropriation with respect to system for brand authentication
FTC v. American Future Systems (E.D. Pa.): Defending privately held subscription publication business against claims of unfair trade practices brought by the FTC and Pennsylvania Attorney General
Lontex v. Nike (E.D. Pa./3rd Cir.): Counsel for Nike at federal jury trial and on appeal defending against trademark infringement claims
Merck v. Pfizer (E.D. Pa.): Defended Pfizer against trade-secret misappropriation lawsuit

Affirmative Government Litigation

Christiana Care v. State of Delaware: Counsel for Christiana Care in constitutional challenge to state law imposing government take-over of nonprofit corporation governance functions
Pfizer v. Dept of Health and Human Services (SDNY/2d Cir./S. Ct. 2022): Counsel for Pfizer in administrative law and constitutional challenge to agency interpretation of the Anti-Kickback Statute as prohibiting copay assistance for patients to afford a breakthrough treatment for a rare and fatal disease
NetChoice v. Atty Gen. State of Florida (S.D. Fla./11th Cir./SCT): Representing Netchoice, a trade association of Internet and social media companies, in First Amendment lawsuit challenging a Florida statute attempting to regulate social media companies' exercise of editorial discretion on their platforms; preliminary injunction of statute granted, and key provisions affirmed on appeal
Sands Bethworks v. Pennsylvania Dept of Revenue (Pa. 2018): Prevailed in challenging state tax on gaming operations as unconstitutional as a matter of state and federal law

Awards and Recognitions

Chambers USA

Band 4, Pennsylvania Litigation: General Commercial, (2025)
Band 4, Pennsylvania Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, (2022 – 2025)
Band 1, Pennsylvania Litigation: Appellate, (2021 – 2025)

The Legal 500 United States

Recommended, International Litigation, (2025)
Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Toxic Tort – Defense, (2025)
Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices – Defense, (2024 – 2025)
Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Consumer Products (including Tobacco), (2024)

Additional Recognitions

Layton Award, US District Court for the District of Delaware in recognition for service to the Court and to the Bar of the Court, (2023)
Appellate Hot List, National Law Journal, recognizing law firms with significant appellate wins and impressive track records overall, (2022)
Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability, AKD Partners, (2021)
North America Pro Bono Award, AKD Partners, (2021)

Pro Bono

Education

J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School
summa cum laude
Valedictorian

B.A., Harvard University
magna cum laude

Bylines

Co-author, "Why Now Might Be a Great Time to Sue the Government," The Legal Intelligencer, November 6, 2024
Co-author, "Should Third-Party Funders Be Able to Cash in on Whistleblower Cases?" Bloomberg Law, November 4, 2020

Seminars

Media Mentions

Clerk Experience

Eisenstein served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Edward R. Becker of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, after which she was awarded a one-year Bristow Fellowship with the Office of the US Solicitor General.

Memberships And Affiliations

Board Member, Third Circuit Bar Association, (2021 – 2024)
Co-director, Appellate Advocacy Clinic, University of Pennsylvania School of Law, (2019 – 2021)
Public Policy Fellow, Leo Model Foundation, University of Pennsylvania School of Law, (2018 – 2019)
Board Member, Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia, PA, (2017 – 2022)
Board Member, William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA, (2001 – 2022)