Julianna D. Coppage
Julie Coppage is a skilled litigator who has represented clients in state and federal courts across the country. Her deep experience in complex civil litigation spans from representing vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturers in products liability, mass torts, and multi-district litigations (MDLs) to representing consumer product and real estate companies and individuals and shareholders in disputes involving breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and allegations of fraud.
Whether her clients are individual professionals, closely held corporations, or Fortune 500 companies, Julie tailors her litigation strategy to align with her clients’ business objectives. She has deposed dozens of fact and expert witnesses including plaintiffs, physicians, and accountants. She has drafted successful briefs at all stages of litigation including motions to dismiss, summary judgment motions, and Rule 702/Daubert motions. She served as second-chair at trial for a consumer product manufacturing company and delivered the opening statement, examined fact and expert witnesses, and successfully argued against direct verdict. She also has significant experience with voluminous discovery productions and has developed cost-efficient strategies for overseeing document review teams analyzing millions of company documents and thousands of plaintiff discovery responses in complex litigations.
Before joining Williams Mullen, Julie worked at an AmLaw 100 national law firm. Prior to law school, Julie gained firsthand experience in federal criminal trial strategy when supporting DOJ Criminal Division trial teams prosecuting technologically complex internet crimes. Julie is listed among Best Lawyers® – "Ones to Watch" for Commercial Litigation (2027).
Julie earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Moot Court, served on the editorial staff of the Georgetown Law Technology Review, and participated in a year-long Criminal Justice Clinic. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she competed on the Columbia University Mock Trial team.
- Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.), 2018
cum laude
- Barnard College of Columbia University (B.A.), 2012
Professional Affiliations
- Defense Research Institute – Member
- Wake County Bar Association – Member
- North Carolina Bar Association – Member
Bar Admissions
- Maryland State Bar
- North Carolina State Bar
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Best Lawyers® – "Ones to Watch" for Commercial Litigation (2027)
Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award Recipient (2025)
Experience
Commercial Litigation, Shareholder Disputes & Business Torts
- Served as second-chair at trial in representation of consumer product manufacturing company and executive / sole shareholder against allegations of tortious interference with contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, fraud, and alter ego. Delivered opening statement, examined four fact witnesses and two expert witnesses, and successfully argued against directed verdict on California invasion of privacy claims.
- Represents company executive / majority shareholder of closely held corporation on claims of breach of fiduciary duty connected to an asset sale: currently in discovery.
- Represents residential development company on breach of contract, tortious interference, and unfair and deceptive trade practices act claims concerning opposing parties’ breach of real property purchase agreement: currently on appeal.
Trial Experience
- Acted as lead associate in high-profile, first-of-its-kind vaccine trial in California state court. Provided on-site assistance and prepared subpoenaed company witness to testify in adverse party’s case-in-chief; supported trial counsel in Daubert hearings, voir dire and cross-examination of experts; and drafted evidentiary objections for thousands of documents on exhibit list.
Pharmaceutical, Vaccine & Product Liability Litigation
- Represented co-promoter of a prescription drug against equitable claims in large, multi-defendant cases brought by governmental and healthcare entities in state courts. Devised successful strategy resulting in dismissal of client from all claims in a state after moving for and obtaining extraordinary relief from state’s highest court ordering dismissal of client at the pleadings stage.
- Defended vaccine manufacturer in federal multi-district litigation in Western District of North Carolina against allegations the vaccine caused POTS and various autoimmune injuries. Prepared company medical-regulatory witnesses for deposition, crafted strategy and prepared offensive and defensive regulatory expert depositions, contributed to successful motion to partially exclude regulatory expert.
- Represented adult vaccine manufacturer in federal multi-district litigation and consolidated cases in New Jersey and California against allegations the vaccine caused viral, neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular injuries. Took and defended fact and expert witness depositions, drafted motions at all stages of the case, played critical role in supporting successful Lone Pine motion disposing of over 1,000 claims.
- Lead associate in case defending manufacturer of a prescription anti-epileptic drug against allegations of genetic defect and neurological injury in the Central District of California. Deposed fact and expert witnesses and drafted successful motion for summary judgment disposing of the case for lack of evidence of proximate causation.
- Represented manufacturer of a brand-name prescription drug against allegations the drug caused kidney injury in a large multi-defendant federal multi-district litigation. Took and supported offensive fact and expert witness depositions and summary judgment and Daubert motions.
- Defended manufacturer of a brand-name prescription iron replacement product in federal consolidated cases against allegations of various injuries purportedly caused by a temporary decrease in phosphate levels. Drafted dispositive and Daubert motions in case set for trial.
