Biography • Product Liability Defence

Mark Behrens co-chairs the public policy group of Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, an international law firm. For over two decades, Mark has been extensively involved in liability law, defence litigation, civil justice reform and counselling in the prevention of liability exposure. He is a member of the American Law Institute and has served on the adjunct faculty of the American University's Washington College of Law. In autumn 2010, Mark taught advanced torts as a distinguished visiting practitioner in residence at Pepperdine University School of Law in California.

Mark has been listed as one of Washington, DC's 'top lawyers' by Washingtonian magazine. He has authored or co-authored over 137 amicus briefs on behalf of national and state business and civil justice organisations in cases before the United States Supreme Court, seven different federal appellate courts, 29 different state courts of last resort, and seven different state appellate courts. He has also testified before the US Congress and numerous state legislatures.

Mark has published over 50 scholarly articles in leading national journals and law reviews, including the Harvard Journal on Legislation, Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy and Texas Review of Law & Politics. He is a recipient of a Burton Award for Legal Achievement and received an award from several national organisations for major research contributing to civil justice issues. He has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the National Law Journal, and has appeared on radio and television.

Mark is a member of the Washington Legal Foundation's legal policy advisory board, NFIB Small Business Legal Center's advisory board, and the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc.

Mark received his JD in 1990 from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review and received an award for achievement in tort law. He received his BA in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987.