WASHINGTON, D.C. � The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform presented its 2011 Research and Policy Award at its 12^th Annual Legal Reform Summit to John Beisner for his numerous publications on important legal reform issues and for his great skill at analyzing policy issues.   

�We�re really thrilled to be able to honor the tremendous work of John Beisner,� said Lisa A. Rickard, President of ILR.  �John�s creative and thoughtful policy analysis sets him apart from other lawyers and has had a major impact on legal reform policy development.� 

Mr. Beisner played an integral role in crafting the landmark Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, and his many policy papers cover important legal reform issues such as class action litigation, discovery, third-party litigation funding, and the cy pres doctrine.  He is a frequent writer and lecturer on class action and complex litigation issues, and has been an active participant in litigation reform initiatives before Congress, state legislatures, judicial committees and the European Union.  In recent years, Mr. Beisner has testified numerous times on civil justice issues before the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees and state legislative committees. 

Mr. Beisner is co-head of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom�s Mass Torts and Insurance Group.  He focuses on the defense of purported class actions, mass tort matters, and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts.  He has advised on numerous high-visibility corporate crisis situations, including congressional hearings, federal agency investigations, state attorneys general inquiries, and Government Accountability Office reviews.  

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world�s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.