Carlos A. Benach

Carlos defends various clients, including major pharmaceutical, medical device and industrial manufacturers, in complex product liability actions. He has represented manufacturers in state and federal courts across the country, including large multidistrict litigations (MDLs) and coordinated state proceedings.

Carlos has worked on several MDLs and mass tort litigations across various states including Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Maryland, Arizona, and others.  In these matters, Carlos has managed all phases of litigation, including pleading motion practice, discovery, expert development and discovery, dispositive and evidentiary motion practice, mediation, and trial. 

Carlos also has an active railroad practice in which he defends various railroad entities in employee lawsuits arising under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, as well as the defense of grade-crossing accidents, derailments, and trespasser claims. 

Aside from case development and management, Carlos focuses his practice on jury trials, where he has been engaged in numerous trials throughout the country, including MDLs, national mass tort claims, consolidated state court proceedings and individual matters. As a key member of the BHR multi-district litigation team, Carlos helped secure a defense verdict in the sole bellwether trial. He has likewise been part of a wide variety of other trial teams that have secured favorable outcomes for clients. 

Since joining Irwin Fritchie, Carlos has been active in the legal community, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Young Lawyer's Division of the Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter, the DRI Diversity Committee Board, and assisting in the representation of children seeking special immigrant juvenile status in state court proceedings. 

Honors & Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021-2022)

William L. Crowe Scholar

Loyola Law Review's "Best Comment" Award for 2014-2015

Loyola Law Review, Executive Board Member

Judge John R. Brown Moot Court Competition, 2014 Best Oral Advocate, 3rd Place Overall in Tournament

Civic Affiliations

• Catholic Charities, Immigration services volunteer attorney
• Riverdale High School. volunteer baseball coach
• The Tennessee Williams/ New Orleans Literary Festival, volunteer judge
• The National WWII Museum, Strategic Revisioning Focus Group

Professional Affiliations

• Defense Research Institute, Committee for Diversity & Inclusion
• Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, Young Lawyers Division Board Member
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel