NEW ORLEANS, LA –Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore is pleased to announce that Jay M. Mattappally, Darleene D. Peters, and Ali A. Spindler, and have all been elected Partners. The appointments will be effective as of January 1, 2022.

Jay M. Mattappally, J.D. Loyola College of Law; M.E.M. Duke University; B.S.E Tulane University. Jay focuses his practice on the defense of product manufacturers, including medical device, pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer-product manufacturers in individual and mass-tort actions. Jay is experienced in all phases of the litigation process, including discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, and trial. Jay also utilizes his scientific background to work closely with technical witnesses and experts, as well as investigate complex scientific issues relevant to a particular case. Before attending law school, Jay received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, during which time Jay performed extensive research and literature review on orthopedic implants. Jay also helped lead a team design project to design a mounting system for a patient with Muscular Dystrophy. After college, Jay received a Master’s degree in Engineering Management with a focus on assisting companies in the market assessment of their respective technology platforms. Prior to joining Irwin Fritchie, Jay worked with corporate clients on scientific and legal issues involving a variety of complex technologies in the field of intellectual property.

Darleene D. Peters, J.D. Loyola College of Law; M.B.A Loyola College of Business; B.S. Xavier University of Louisiana. Darleene represents pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in Louisiana and throughout the country, in federal and state court, as well as in numerous multi-district litigation (MDL) matters. She has extensive experience with all phases of litigation, formulating strategic approaches in the defense of these matters, assessing and identifying lawsuit merits, and devising creative settlement strategies. Darleene actively managed and participated in the comprehensive affirmative discovery and motion practice for the MDL transvaginal mesh litigation matters, which, at one time, was one of the largest complex litigation/multi-district products liability litigation in MDL history. She is also involved in the retention, development, and preparation of experts for depositions, hearings, and trials and has worked with numerous experts in various fields, including, but not limited to cardiology, endocrinology, epidemiology, environmental exposures, gynecology/urogynecology, hydrology, infectious diseases, psychiatry, and toxicology, as well as forensic experts. Darleene’s current practice also includes defending corporate clients in environmental and occupational disease hazards cases involving asbestos exposure. She has also handled Railroad Litigation matters including the defense of derailments, grade-crossing accidents, personal injury and wrongful death actions, and trespasser claims. Her Railroad Litigation experience also includes the defense of employee lawsuits arising under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). During her tenure with the firm, Darleene also served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Darleene is a proud native of New Orleans. Darleene also serves as the Chairperson of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Ali A. Spindler, J.D. Tulane Law School; B.A. Louisiana State University. Ali has extensive experience in toxic tort litigation, defending premises owners, employers, and their insurers in all phases of litigation, including discovery, motion practice, expert workup, preparation of corporate witnesses, and trial preparation. She works with teams of expert witnesses from various disciplines to develop litigation strategy and to prepare the experts for depositions and trials. Ali also has extensive experience defending medical device and consumer products manufacturers in multidistrict, federal, and state litigation. Before returning to Irwin Fritchie in 2017, Ali was a senior attorney at Catholic Charities of New Orleans, where she represented children in immigration proceedings. There, she created the agency’s pro bono referral program and supervised cases placed with volunteer attorneys throughout New Orleans. She continues to volunteer as a pro bono attorney for Catholic Charities and other legal services providers.