Leading California Proposition 65 Defense Litigator Dennis Raglin Joins Carlton Fields

LOS ANGELES, CA – Dennis Raglin, one of California’s leading Proposition 65 defense litigators, has joined Carlton Fields’ national Business Litigation Practice as a shareholder in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He was most recently a partner and chair of Proposition 65 and Consumer Chemicals Group at Steptoe LLP.

A tenacious litigator who has represented clients in high-stakes and bet-the-company cases, Raglin brings more than 30 years of experience counseling and defending clients regarding California's Proposition 65 right-to-know chemical warnings law. Because of the high risk, these cases rarely go to trial, but Raglin has tried three in the past four years, representing national food manufacturers and securing defense victories in each. He was also part of the team that secured a landmark victory in the California Court of Appeals, establishing that federal law preempts Prop 65 warnings for generic over-the-counter medications. In addition, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolutions for national clients in high-profile Prop 65 suits brought by the California attorney general.

“It’s easy to think of Prop 65 as just a California issue, but in reality, it affects companies across the country that sell into that market,” said Donald Kirk, co-chair of Carlton Fields’ Business Litigation Practice. “Dennis has achieved remarkable success defending clients in these complex, high-stakes cases, and his addition enhances our ability to protect businesses facing significant regulatory and litigation risk.”

Added Michael Hensley, co-chair of the Business Litigation Practice, “Dennis’ arrival cements Carlton Fields’ position as a go-to firm for Prop 65 and consumer chemical litigation. His trial experience, especially in cases few lawyers have ever taken to verdict, will be a tremendous asset to our clients with business interests in California.”

Raglin advises clients on a broad spectrum of state consumer chemical regulations, including PFAS, recycling, packaging, producer responsibility, tools, cosmetics, food, and personal care products. He also has extensive experience defending product liability claims, particularly in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors, and has been a member of multiple multidistrict litigation teams in national litigation.

At Carlton Fields, Raglin joins a national business litigation and trials practice that handles the most complex business trials, arbitrations, and appeals. His addition significantly bolsters the firm’s Prop 65 experience. Last year, a trial team led by Carlton Fields shareholders Lee Stapleton and Scott Menger secured a significant Prop 65 trial victory on behalf of a national food company, with Raglin serving as a defense consultant. That victory, along with Raglin’s trial victories, makes Carlton Fields one of the nation’s most experienced Prop 65 trial firms in the country.

“Prop 65 litigation is a small, specialized bar, and working with Lee and Scott on their trial victory last year really set this in motion for me,” said Raglin. “Carlton Fields has built an impressive team that’s not afraid to take these cases to trial when needed. Joining them is an exciting opportunity to build the firm into a leading Prop 65 powerhouse.”

Raglin earned his J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Riverside.