Mark A. Packman Senior Counsel / Partner Emeritus

In more than thirty years of law practice, Mark Packman has successfully represented a wide variety of businesses, state and local governments, trusts, and individuals. A highly experienced litigator, Mark has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts across the country. He has also handled arbitrations.

Mark’s practice focuses on the litigation of complex disputes, typically involving hundreds of millions of dollars. He is currently leading the litigation team that represents a Fortune 500 manufacturer of automobile parts in a lawsuit against its insurers for coverage of thousands of asbestos claims. Mark has achieved numerous victories in this case, obtaining favorable rulings on policyholder rights, insurance policy limits, and burden of proof, among others. These rulings have led to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Successfully led a team in multistate litigation on behalf of a manufacturer of safety equipment that sought coverage for a variety of personal injury claims.  Following successful arguments by Mark in the Delaware and West Virginia Supreme Courts, the client obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.
  • Involved in the Firm’s representation of state attorneys general and Indian tribes in ongoing litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of opioids. His involvement has included developing litigation strategy and supervising the drafting of pleadings, discovery requests, and research and strategy memoranda.
  • Handled an arbitration for an asbestos trust involving insurance coverage for thousands of personal injury claims arising from the installation of asbestos–containing insulation. Mark tried the case and obtained tens of millions of dollars in damages from the insurer, plus attorneys’ fees for the Trust. The insurer appealed, and Mark argued this matter before an appellate arbitration panel, which upheld the award.
  • Pro Bono: Represented a young victim of sexual molestation against an insurer that refused to cover the claim.  Mark argued the case in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which held that the claim was covered. Mark has also co-authored amicus curiae briefs in the United States Supreme Court on numerous constitutional issues, including affirmative action, Obamacare, and redistricting.

EDUCATION

  • 1980 — J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
    • Law Review
  • 1977 — A.B., Princeton University
    • Graduated with Honors
    • cum laude

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

  • District of Columbia
  • Cherokee Nation
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals

AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS

  • Selected as a Go-To Thought Leader, National Law Review, 2020
  • Editor, Georgetown Law Journal, 1979-1980
  • Recipient of the “2004 Distinguished Service Award” from the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) for pro bono work on Affirmative Action on Adarand v. Mineta and Grutter v. Bollinger amicus briefs

NEWS & PUBLICATIONS