Torrey Peterson

Torrey defends clients in complex product liability actions, specializing in pharmaceutical drug and surgical device litigations. She has represented manufacturers in federal and state court, including large multidistrict litigations, coordinated state court proceedings and class action lawsuits. Torrey splits her practice between Multi-District Litigations (“MDLs”) and Jury Trials.  

Torrey has worked on nine different MDLs or mass tort litigations across seven of the firm’s top clients. She has led Shook’s Mass Tort Task Force that monitors litigations and potential new risks across the country.  

Torrey is co-lead national counsel for In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Eye Injury Litig. (MDL 3023) (“Taxotere II”), where she successfully argued in front of the Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation (JPML).  She conducted Taxotere II’s Science Day presentation with the nation’s leading expert. Torrey is involved in all stages of litigation, from initial case assessment, bellwether and case work up, to company witness preparation, and international depositions, to motion practice. She has successfully drafted dispositive motions for multiple clients in jurisdictions across the U.S., including two landmark MDL orders. Torrey was also part of the team that worked up nearly 700 cases in the In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Prods. Litig. (MDL 2740) (“Taxotere I”) litigation as part of the bellwether, wave, and remand processes. 

Torrey also spends a significant amount of her time in engaged in various trials across the country.  She has worked on numerous trial teams for MDLs, consolidated state court proceedings, and remanded cases. As a key member of the Taxotere multidistrict litigation, Torrey was part of the team that obtained two complete defense verdicts in the first bellwether trials, which was reported in First Taxotere Bellwether Trial Ends in Defense Verdict, and Sanofi-Aventis Wins Second Taxotere Verdict in Jury Bellwether, in Law.com. Likewise, she was part of the team that obtained a complete defense verdict in a six-week Roundup trial. 

In 2021, she was awarded the firm’s Award for Excellence in Professional Development, as someone “who demonstrate a tireless commitment to the professional growth and development of Shook attorneys and professional staff.”  It was remarked Torrey “fearlessly volunteers to take on challenges that will give her the opportunity to learn, grow professionally, and sharpen her litigation skills.”

Specializing in the pharmaceutical and medical device field, Torrey attended Mini-Medical School at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, gaining insight and training in medicine, patient care and surgical techniques from the school’s distinguished faculty.  

Torrey participated in her law school’s civil litigation clinic, where she first-chaired a trial and won, and later was named the school’s Student of the Year. She also interned for the Hon. Rodney W. Sippel, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court of Missouri, Eastern District.