Matt DePaz

Matt’s practice focuses on the defense of companies in complex litigation. Matt has represented numerous product manufacturers in federal and state jurisdictions, including multidistrict litigation and coordinated state court proceedings. Matt currently serves as co-lead counsel and e-discovery counsel for Sanofi in MDL 3023, Taxotere (Docetaxel) Eye Injury Products Liability Litigation, which is centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. To date, Matt has helped lead the production of company witnesses, preparation of experts, and e-discovery.

Matt has also been a part of the leadership team in MDL 2047, Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation since 2016. Of note, Matt led a team of more than thirty attorneys in the workup of 200 Wave I cases, which resulted in dozens of dismissals. Matt further led strategy for a larger team of attorneys as it litigated hundreds of remanded cases in federal courts nationwide. 

In 2019, Matt served on the Earnest trial team, which secured a complete defense verdict. The jury—only reaching the first question on the verdict form—concluded that plaintiff failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Taxotere caused her alleged injuries. In 2021, Matt served on the Kahn trial team, which also secured a complete defense verdict. The jury—again only reaching the first question on the verdict form— concluded that Sanofi’s label was adequate to warn of the plaintiff’s alleged injury. 

Matt’s practice also extends beyond the pharmaceutical industry. More recently, Matt led a team of Shook lawyers in defending a public health department against lawsuits related to a local COVID-19 health order, including a lawsuit filed by Missouri’s attorney general. After significant motion practice, both lawsuits were voluntary dismissed by plaintiffs. Matt has also served as lead counsel in cases related to paternity testing, medical devices, and data privacy. Prior to his Taxotere involvement, Matt represented Covidien in MDL No. 2187, In re: C.R. Bard, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation, where he contributed on the settlement team. 

Over his career, Matt has gained significant experience working for companies in the health care industry. Matt seconded to a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company to assist with ongoing litigation. Before joining Shook, he also interned at Walgreens where he assisted in-house counsel on various state and federal regulatory matters. And before law school, Matt interned for Shire where he helped train pharmaceutical sales professionals and compose a marketing campaign. 

In addition to his practice, Matt holds leadership positions in local and national bar associations, and he serves in leadership positions at Shook. Matt currently serves on the Board of Directors for Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Board of Trustees for the Missouri Bar Foundation. In 2019, Matt was elected to serve a two-year term as one of Missouri’s delegates to the ABA’s House of Delegates. At Shook, Matt helps lead Associate recruitment on the Search Committee, serving as a Co-Chair of the Summer Associate Program. Matt also contributes to Shook’s DEI efforts, and he recently served as the firm’s LCLD Fellow (2023-24).