(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc today announced that Bradley E. Lerman will join the company as Senior Vice President, Litigation. Mr. Lerman, who will be responsible for leading the company’s litigation efforts, will report to Senior Vice President and General Counsel Amy W. Schulman.

Since 1998, Mr. Lerman has served as a litigation partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, where he concentrated his practice in white-collar defense, product liability and securities litigation matters. During his tenure, he served as lead counsel for McDonald's Corporation in the recent wave of obesity litigation, as well as representing Phillip Morris USA Inc. in smoking and health care litigation.

“We are pleased to welcome Brad to Pfizer,” Ms. Schulman said. “As a highly accomplished trial lawyer who has represented a variety of companies, he will be a clear asset as we face new and continuing challenges. Brad will help Pfizer maintain our strong commitment to integrity and compliance while enhancing our solid litigation base.”

Prior to joining Winston & Strawn, Mr. Lerman was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for eight years. Mr. Lerman graduated summa cum laude from Yale University in 1978 and received his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1981.

About Pfizer

Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support. At Pfizer, more than 80,000 colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide.