Biography
Ron Levine is an accomplished litigator with 35 years of experience advising consumer products companies in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on class actions and other multi-party litigation. A pragmatic advisor who helps clients anticipate, minimize and resolve the financial and reputational damage arising from litigation, Ron regularly counsels clients on crisis management strategies, social media and privacy issues, and professional responsibility concerns.
Exceptional client service is a hallmark of Ron’s practice. He was one of only 125 U.S. litigators named to BTI Consulting Group's Client Service All-Star list, based upon feedback from corporate counsel at major corporations. For the past seven years, Ron has ranked as one of New Jersey’s top 10 product liability litigators by Chambers USA and has ranked nationally for product liability and mass torts. In Chambers USA, clients recommend Ron for his "high-level expertise in labeling, food claims and consumer fraud." He is also recognized for his creativity in "thinking about how to approach a case so that it satisfies the client's objectives," and for being “very thorough, very reliable, and can give accurate answers in a pinch.”
Ron is also a prolific author, who has written dozens of articles on trial practice, tort law and litigation strategy for a variety of national publications. The New York County Lawyers' Association awarded him the Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal, in recognition of his contribution to Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, Fifth Edition, a seminal publication about New York State law, legal strategies and the rules of procedure.
Consumer Products Defense
Ron has extensive experience guiding corporate clients through complex legal challenges involving the manufacturing and marketing of their services and products. Over his 35-year career, he has successfully resolved high-stakes matters in diverse industries, including food and beverage manufacturing, cosmetics, automotive products, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. A formidable litigator, Ron’s reputation is also that of an astute negotiator who can forge mutually beneficial resolutions to consumer product claims. In doing so, Ron espouses the use of the Early Case Assessment framework to evaluate liability, budget for litigation, and determine whether a case is amenable to early resolution.
Focus: Food & Beverage Industry
Many of Ron’s clients are leading food and beverage manufacturers that he advises on class action litigations and investigations related to labeling, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), advertising claims, product recalls, FDA regulations and other concerns. Ron also frequently speaks at industry conferences, where he analyzes legal trends, regulations, and related nutrition and health issues affecting the industry. He is a professor for the Rutgers University Master of Business and Science Program where he teaches food and cosmetics regulation. He chairs the External Advisory Board of Rutgers University's Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health. Ron is also a member of the Director's Advisory Board of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Memberships & Associations
- New York State Bar Association
- Member, Committee of Communications and Publications
- Member, Dispute Resolution Section, Committee on Domestic Arbitration
- Former Chair, Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar
- New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance
- Member, Legal Advisory Board
- Rutgers University New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health
- Chair, External Advisory Board