Beard, Kevin L.

Geoff Beach provides counseling services and litigation defense in cases involving product liability claims, including cases by individual plaintiffs, large class actions, and claims by governmental bodies. He also addresses claims asserted under state consumer protection act laws, including private plaintiff class actions and actions brought by state attorneys general. A large proportion of Geoff's practice relates to legal claims predicated on advertising and marketing practices and programs for consumer products. He has an extensive background in substantive issues that arise in this context, including those related to consumer behavior, consumer perceptions, consumer research techniques, the impact of advertising and marketing on consumer preferences, and consumer purchase behavior.

Recently, Geoff has represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a variety of matters. These include the federal government's RICO litigation against the tobacco industry, numerous individual smoking and health tort cases, and litigation brought by various state attorneys general challenging specific business practices of Reynolds under the national Master Settlement Agreement.

Geoff presented "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire: Lessons from the Tobacco Experience" at the Association of National Advertisers, Advertising Law and Business Affairs Conference in New York City in 2007.