Dominic Campodonico is a Partner in the San Francisco office and handles cases in California and nationally on behalf of his clients. He has more than 25 years of experience serving as national litigation coordinating counsel, regional counsel, and local counsel in mass tort, product liability litigation. He has represented manufacturers and distributors in the pharmaceutical, medical device, laboratory products, transportation, personal care and consumer products industries in litigation as well as risk assessments. He has been involved in many Multidistrict Litigation proceedings as well as California Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings, in which he has served as Defense Liaison Counsel.
Dominic has significant experience handling wrongful death and other catastrophic injury litigation, and has developed an extensive network of prominent experts in many sciences and technologies. Dominic also assists his clients with high-stakes matters that frequently occur simultaneously with product liability litigation, such as risk management and compliance, FDA/regulatory issues, government investigations, suits under the federal and California False Claims Act, insurance, and crisis communications.
- Advertising and Promotions, DRI’s FDA Basics for the Drug and Medical Device Lawyer, August 2015
- Corporations Can Improve Diversity and Inclusion by Opposing Laws that May Lead to Discrimination, DRI In-House Defense Quarterly, Summer 2015
- Co-Presenter, Breaking the Cycle: Civility in the Courtroom and Beyond, 2025 Barristers Skills and Leadership Summit, October 2025
- Human Trafficking: Protecting Humanity Across the Seas, Skies, and Lands, International Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2023
- Setting the Climate in Pre-Litigation Negotiations, Practicing Law Institute, 2022; 2023
- Full Stop on Microaggressions: An Interactive Program on How to Understand and Minimize the Role You May Play in Furthering Unintended, Subtle, or Indirect Discrimination, International Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2022
- The Aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop, International Association of Defense Counsel Midyear Meeting, 2019
- Panelist, The Aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop, International Association of Defense Counsel, 2019
- Expert Opinions that Rely on Inadmissible Hearing – the Implications of People v. Sanchez, International Association of Defense Counsel Regional Meeting, 2018
- Panel Discussion Moderator, View from the Bench: Efficient Management of Mass Tort Litigation, DRI Drug & Medical Device Seminar, 2015
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Courts of California
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
- International Association of Defense Counsel, President (2025-2026)
- President-Elect (2024-2025)
- Board of Directors (2021-Present)
- Foundation Board of Directors (2019 – 2022)
- Engagement and Retention Committee (Member 2015-2021, Chair 2018-2020)
- Continuing Legal Education Committee (2020-2021)
- Membership Committee (2020-2021)
- Drug, Device and Biotechnology Vice Chair of Programs and Projects (2016-2018)
- Vice Chair of Annual Meeting Programming (2015)
- Vice Chair of Diversity (2012 – 2014)
- Defense Research Institute, Drug & Medical Device Committee
- Defense Research Institute, Marketing Chair, Diversity Committee (2010 – 2012)
- Defense Research Institute, Diversity for Success Seminar and Corporate Expo Steering Committee (2009 – 2012)
Community Involvement
In his efforts to give back to the community, Dominic has represented numerous clients in pro bono matters, has been an active member of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, and served for five years as a pro bono arbitrator for the Homeless Shelter Arbitration Program of the San Francisco Department of Human Services. He is also a member of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom where he has participated on its Judiciary, Dinner, and Amicus Committees, as well as serving, twice, as a co-chair of the annual fundraising/awards event.
Dominic’s involvement in a broad range of charities includes raising in excess of $70,000 at various events that raise money for research, support and advocacy groups related to breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, senior services, and youth sports. He also served as a member of the board of directors of Under One Roof, the only non-profit retail store of its kind in the U.S., raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for San Francisco Bay Area men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS (2006-2008). He served as a member of the Board of Directors of a local business development district in San Francisco from 2005-2012 (serving as President from 2009-2011). He served on the Board of Directors for the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program (2012 – 2015) and was a member of the Board of Regents of Junipero Serra High School (2011 – 2017), where he coached the Mock Trial Team for eight years. In recognition of his extensive community service efforts, he received the Santa Clara University Social Justice Service Award.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Santa Clara University School of Law, 1996
- Recipient of a Public Interest Law Certificate, 1996
- B.A., University of Arizona, 1993
Clerkship
- Research Attorney, three judges, Los Angeles Superior Court
Honors
- Who’s Who Legal Thought Leader: USA, Life Sciences – Product Liability (2023)
- Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2016-2026)
- Santa Clara University Social Justice Service Award
