By J. Stephen Bennett, Patrick Reilly and Eldin Hasic ( January 18, 2019, 2:43 PM EST) -- Team-based specialization in mass tort litigation[1] serves a client's strategic and financial interests. Through specialization, each lawyer on the mass tort defense team maximizes his or her contribution by drawing on their individual experience and strongest talents and carrying over their developed networks, skill sets and relationships from previous mass torts to the litigation at hand. One of the core tenets of the team-based approach is the use of settlement counsel to focus on strategic initiatives and end-game resolution efforts. In turn, this frees trial teams to focus on litigation, leaves diplomatic avenues open for discussion with opposing counsel separate from the heated battle lines of the litigation, and promotes efficiency through reliance on counsel with specialized skill sets needed to marshal the strategic and administrative aspects of favorable mass tort resolution....