GEORGIA – The courtroom lights were hot, the stakes were high, and Brett Mason was still a young associate trying to make sense of it all. She remembers watching her mentor move through evidence with ease, highlighting documents on the projector, weaving facts into a story that the jury could feel.
“I was a very junior associate at the time and had no idea what I was doing,” she said with a laugh. “The first chair lawyer for the trial was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Watching him present the case to the jury, both through his questioning and his skillful use of the evidence, really drove home for me the art of trial presentation. I was hooked from that point on.”
That moment shaped everything that followed. Mason discovered that litigation, like music, was part science and part performance. Long before she entered a courtroom, she had studied voice as her instrument while majoring in music and history in college.
“As a trial lawyer now, I still lean on the training I had as a singer,” she said. “Yes, the law and facts are vital, but equally important is how you present them. Presentation and performance are part of persuasion.”
Today, Mason is recognized as one of the country’s top litigators in health sciences and tobacco litigation. She is a partner with Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. Her work has taken her to courtrooms across the United States, from Massachusetts to the Virgin Islands. She has served as trial counsel or in a trial support role for 20 civil jury trials and one major construction arbitration, a remarkable feat in an era when few civil cases ever reach a jury.
Her cases span mass tort, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in both state and federal courts. She has represented clients including DePuy Orthopaedics, Johnson & Johnson, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, securing complete defense verdicts in multimillion-dollar cases. Mason’s expertise lies not just in her grasp of the law, but in her ability to merge science and storytelling in the courtroom.
“I’ve always been drawn to the scientific side of these cases,” she said. “Understanding the underlying medical or technical facts helps build a stronger, more truthful defense. When you understand the science, you can help the jury understand it too.”
Behind every case, Brett Mason brings a level of preparation that mirrors her musical discipline. Every witness, every document, every motion is part of a larger composition. She is deeply involved in all aspects of discovery, trial preparation, and trial practice, from depositions and witness preparation to developing trial strategy and handling examinations at trial.
The results speak for themselves. She has been part of trial teams that secured complete defense verdicts in high-stakes product liability cases involving medical devices and therapeutic products. In 2024 alone, Mason helped deliver defense verdicts for Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries in multiple cases involving hip implants and pelvic mesh products.
“Every trial is another opportunity to try something creative and see how it works,” she said. “That’s the beauty of litigation. You never stop learning, and you never stop adapting.”
Mason’s approach blends analytical precision with empathy, a quality that sets her apart in a profession that often prizes aggression over awareness. “Doing our best doesn’t mean perfectionism,” she said. “It means self-awareness, paying attention to your own strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out where you need to grow. It also means giving yourself grace when things don’t go exactly as planned.”
That philosophy has carried her through a career marked by both intensity and balance.
When she is in trial, she admits there is no such thing as work-life balance. “When I’m in trial, there is only work,” she said. “But when I’m not in trial, I turn that same focus to the things that fill my cup – exercise, reading, spending time with friends and family. That’s what keeps me grounded.”
Her clarity of purpose has not gone unnoticed. Mason has been recognized among the Best Lawyers in America for product liability and commercial litigation from 2023 to 2026 and was named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List” in Georgia. She is also the recipient of the DRI Richard H. Krochock Award and the G. Duffield Smith Outstanding Publication Award.
While her courtroom record is impressive, Mason’s curiosity about the evolving world of technology and its impact on law has made her a thought leader in a new frontier: artificial intelligence.
As vice chair of the Defense Research Institute’s AI Task Force, she helps legal professionals understand how generative AI is reshaping the practice of law and the industries it serves. “AI is changing everything from evidence discovery to healthcare decision-making,” she said. “It raises questions about liability, privacy, and trust that the legal community is still learning how to answer.”
To bridge that gap, she launched The Good Bot, a podcast exploring the intersection of AI, healthcare, and the law. Through candid discussions with experts in technology and medicine, Mason aims to demystify complex issues that will define the future of legal practice.
“The goal is to make the conversation accessible,” she said. “We talk about everything from data privacy to the use of AI in clinical trials. AI has incredible potential to improve lives, but we need to make sure it’s done responsibly.”
Her approach is pragmatic but rooted in optimism. “Technology is not the enemy,” she said. “It’s a tool. The question is how we use it to serve people rather than replace them. The law should always reflect human values.”
Her leadership in this space reflects her broader belief that lawyers must evolve alongside the world they serve. “The best lawyers are students of change,” she said. “We can’t resist innovation, but we can shape it. We can help ensure that progress remains ethical and equitable.”
Despite her demanding schedule, Mason remains committed to mentoring young lawyers, especially women entering a field that can be both exhilarating and unforgiving. “I’m forever grateful for those who trained me and continue to mentor me,” she said. “It’s vital that I do the same for those coming up behind me. Mentorship not only advances the profession but also strengthens our community.”
Her commitment to giving back extends beyond the courtroom. Mason actively maintains a pro bono practice that focuses on advancing social justice. She represented a Guatemalan woman seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture, winning a reversal of her removal order before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2022, she led a team that successfully defended a prominent rabbi in Atlanta against unfounded claims, resulting in his full dismissal from the case.
These experiences, she said, remind her of why she chose the law in the first place. “The law isn’t just about winning,” she said. “It’s about helping people who need a voice. It’s about fairness.”
Mason’s sense of balance and perspective has also evolved with time. Meditation has become part of her daily rhythm. “Just five minutes of mindfulness can completely change how you handle stress,” she said. “It helps you calm your mind and refocus on what matters most.”
When she talks about success today, it’s not about verdicts or awards. “Success in the courtroom is a defense verdict,” she said. “But success in life is something deeper. It’s about managing your time so you can focus on work that fulfills you, while also making time for family, friends, and community. Those relationships are what make life meaningful.”
Mason is aware that the next generation of lawyers faces new challenges, from the rapid rise of AI to the pressures of a post-pandemic world. Her advice to them is simple: stay curious, stay present, and never lose sight of who you are.
“Get clear on what you want and advocate for it,” she said. “Use your voice. Communicate. The world will always have its opinions, but you are the one who has to live your life.”
After two decades in law, Mason still sees herself as a student, not a finished product.
“Every trial teaches me something new,” she said. “Every case is another chance to grow. The law has a way of shaping you if you let it.”
As she looks ahead, her mission remains clear -- to keep defending what matters most: truth, integrity, and the human element behind every case.
“Law is not just about evidence or argument,” she said. “It’s about people. It always has been.”
