Scott A. Elder

• National counsel to an international mining corporation in talc mass tort litigation in multiple jurisdictions around the country. 
• Lead counsel in jury trials in Los Angeles and New Jersey involving allegations that cosmetic talcum powder was contaminated with asbestos and caused cancer. 
• National counsel to one of the nation’s largest wireless phone service providers in litigation alleging adverse health effects from the use of wireless phones.
• Represented a manufacturer of over-the-counter medication in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) inquiry related to advertising. The FTC concluded the investigation without requiring any corrective action. 
• Counsel to a leading over-the-counter drug manufacturer in multiple challenges before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. 
• National science counsel to a pharmaceutical company in multidistrict litigation involving 6,000 plaintiffs and associated state court cases. Obtained favorable scientific evidence rulings leading to the exclusion of opinions from six of the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses in three different jurisdictions.
• Represented an international paint and coatings manufacturer in a proposed nationwide class action alleging the sale of defective deck paint. 
• Counsel to a glass products manufacturer in an environmental class action alleging contamination from historic glass manufacturing operations. 
• Represented a national restaurant chain in a purported class action in California alleging false advertising to children. The court dismissed all claims at the motion to dismiss stage. 
• Counsel to a leading maker of vitamin supplements in a purported nationwide class action pending in California alleging consumer fraud and false advertising. The court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. 

Scott Elder is the leader of Alston & Bird’s Products Liability Group and represents corporations in complex litigation throughout the country. Clients call on Scott for his extensive experience in mass torts and class actions as well as in individual cases alleging personal injuries from defective products. He frequently litigates class action cases that intersect the areas of product defect and false advertising and also provides advice on advertising claim construction, product development, and risk mitigation. Scott’s experience in products liability personal injury litigation includes pharmaceuticals, asbestos, silica, chemicals, automobiles, and consumer equipment and electronics. Scott is experienced in multidistrict litigation and serves as national and trial counsel in litigation around the country. He frequently litigates cutting-edge scientific or technical issues involving medical causation and has worked with a wide range of expert witnesses. Scott was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^© 2016–2020. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review and the Order of the Coif.

Bar Admissions

• Georgia

Education

• Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1997)
• Duke University (B.A., 1994)