At this stage of my career, the same conviction that has guided my work from the beginning continues to shape how I practice law: clients deserve relentless effort, careful judgment, and advocacy grounded in tireless preparation. I feel a deep responsibility to people whose lives have been upended by powerful institutions. Whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table, my focus remains on leveling the playing field for the people and families I represent.
Overview
Elizabeth (“Beth”) Graham has built her career representing people, families, and small businesses facing powerful corporate defendants in high-stakes litigation. After an early stint as national defense counsel in coordinated product liability and environmental matters, Beth has helped build and lead litigation efforts involving environmental disasters, defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and institutional misconduct affecting thousands of people. In many of these matters, the imbalance of power is stark. Beth’s role — often alongside court-appointed leadership teams — has been to ensure that the voices of those harmed are not lost amid complexity, delay, or sheer scale.
Beth is widely recognized for her ability to navigate both the adversarial and collaborative dimensions of high-stakes litigation. While she is an experienced trial lawyer who is prepared to fight when necessary, she is equally known for her capacity to build consensus among diverse stakeholders, co-counsel, and leadership committees. In mass tort litigation, meaningful results are rarely achieved alone. Beth’s approach reflects an understanding that durable justice often requires coordination, trust, and persistence as much as courtroom skill.
Over the years, Beth has held many court-appointed leadership positions in state and federal proceedings, including serving as Lead Counsel, on Plaintiffs’ Executive and Steering Committees, and Court-appointed Settlement Committees in major MDLs and coordinated actions. She has played key roles in matters resulting in substantial recoveries for people and communities, helping to structure resolutions that reflect both legal rigor and practical fairness.
Beth has been recognized as a “Titan of the Plaintiffs’ Bar,” more than once, because of her rare ability to see the whole picture — a realistic understanding of what it takes to actually litigate a case of that size and knowing that every detail matters. Her effective courtroom demeanor combined with her tremendous compassion for clients have garnered her praise.
Beth writes and speaks regularly on complex and mass tort litigation topics, including at judicial conferences and educational programs sponsored by the American Association for Justice (AAJ); Texas Tech; Mass Torts Made Perfect; The Litigation Series, Mass Tort Leaders Forum; Epiq’s Mass & Class Forum; and Masters of Mass Tort.
Serves as Liaison and lead counsel in California’s Gilead Tenofovir cases and Coordinated Action, JCCP 5043, a ground-breaking case in which she represents thousands of people harmed by the negligent decisions made by California Biotech giant Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of certain HIV drugs
As one of three Lead Class Counsel appointed by the Federal Court, Beth recently negotiated a $600 million settlement in the In re East Palestine Train Derailment cases on behalf of individuals harmed by the Norfolk Southern train derailment and explosion in East Palestine, Ohio, which released a cloud of toxins into the surrounding area. The settlement, approved in September 2024 and affirmed by the Sixth Circuit in 2025, provides substantial payments to residents and businesses in East Palestine and the affected surrounding communities.
Beth currently represents numerous survivors of sexual assault committed by clergy in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. Archdioceses
Appointed as California Liaison Counsel, a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Law & Briefing Committee, and a lead negotiator in the In re Essure Product Cases (JCCP 4887) settlement, Beth achieved a resolution which provided $1.6 billion in overall compensation to injured women.
Beth served as Co-Lead Class Counsel in the In re Columbia Gas Explosion Cases (Mass. Sup. Ct.) where she was a principal negotiator of the $143 million class action settlement.
Lead negotiator on the Settlement Committee appointed by the court, as well as a PSC member, in In re Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2775).
Served as Co-Lead on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and as Chair of the Law & Briefing Committee in In re Zofran (Ondansetron) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2657).
Previously served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In re Power Morcellator Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2652)
Member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In re Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2768)
Co-chair of the Law & Briefing Committee for In re Xarelto Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2592).
Represents victims of the Paradise, California Wildfires (2018), victims of sexual assault, and families suffering as a result of environmental contamination and disasters.
Represented Rosette Pambakian, a former female executive of dating app Tinder in her sexual assault and retaliation claims against Match.com entities, including litigation of forced arbitration provisions, ultimately resolving Ms. Pambakian’s claims successfully before trial.
Prior to joining G&E, Ms. Graham served on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and represented victims in the In re Sulzer Hip Prosthesis and Knee Prosthesis Liability Litigation (California JCCP No. 4165). She has served as Lead Counsel on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in high profile class actions such as Borman Automotive v. American Honda Motor Corp. (MDL No. 1069), one of the country’s first successful civil RICO cases, which resulted in an aggregate $435 million settlement; and litigation against Chrysler based on its Minivan Doorlatch failures and ABS brake defects. She has also represented hundreds of families injured by environmental contaminants, including radon, arsenic and rocket fuel, resulting in confidential settlements in excess of $25 million. Ms. Graham also has vast experience as a consultant to other mass tort firms that seek her advice in structuring their cases.
Outside the Office
Outside the office, I split my time between the West and East coasts. I love the outdoors, am an avid hiker, a certified scuba diver and frequent traveler who has explored some of the world’s most remote marine environments. I am drawn to the discipline and focus that scuba requires, as well as the perspective it brings—an appreciation for preparation, calm under pressure, and the ability to adapt when conditions change.
I am also a devoted advocate for animal rescue. I have fostered and rescued numerous dogs over the years and currently share my home with two very rambunctious Lab-mix rescues. My commitment to rescue work reflects the same values that guide my legal practice: patience, responsibility, and a belief that care and consistency can change outcomes.
On an even more personal note, I am fortunate to be married to another trial lawyer, who understands my commitments and appreciates our bi-coastal lives. I am the proud mother to identical twin sons, and a “bonus” son and daughter. Family remains the most important force in my life and is a constant reminder of what is at stake in world.
Credentials
Education
St. John’s University School of Law (JD, St. Thomas More Scholar, 1989)
St. John’s University (BA, 1986)
Admissions
California
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appealsfor the 1st Circuit
US Court of Appealsfor the 4th Circuit
US Court of Appealsfor the 5th Circuit
US Court of Appealsfor the 6th Circuit
US Court of Appealsfor the 9th Circuit
US District Courtfor the Central District ofCalifornia
US District Courtfor the Eastern District ofCalifornia
US District Courtfor the Northern District ofCalifornia
US District Courtfor the Southern District ofCalifornia
Recognitions
Lawdragon Legends, 2024
Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America , 2017-2025
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide, 2020-2025
Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide, 2023-2025
Granted attorney accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023
Law360’s Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar, 2021, 2025
National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazers, 2020
America’s Top 100 Attorneys® Lifetime Achievement award, 2018
