Johnson & Johnson names new vice president for litigation

Johnson & Johnson is getting a new vice president in charge of litigation about a month after announcing an agreement to resolve tens of thousands of talc lawsuits for at least $5.5 billion, the company said on Friday.

Erik Haas, who has been J&J's global vice president of litigation since November 2020, is stepping down at the end of August, a company spokesperson said. Aviva Wein, who has spent most of her 20-year legal career at J&J, will succeed Haas.

A J&J spokesperson said that Haas has had a “distinguished career and an impactful tenure” at the company.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Erik as one of the Company's trusted outside counsel, advising on our ongoing litigation, including talc,” J&J said in a statement.

J&J did not say where Haas would be going next. He was a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP before joining the company.

J&J also said Wein is a “proven leader” who understands the company's business and legal priorities.