Dykema Hires Bret R. Henry as Senior Counsel
The law firm adds an experienced litigator to its Los Angeles team to support complex tort and product liability cases.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in People
Dykema has hired Bret R. Henry to join its Los Angeles office as Senior Counsel. Henry brings extensive experience in product liability, complex tort, and wrongful death litigation to the firm.
Why it matters
Henry strengthens the firm's defense capabilities for automotive parts manufacturers and suppliers. His background in large-scale discovery and technical litigation will support the firm's national legal operations.
Bret R. Henry joins Dykema after 18 years at Yoka | Smith LLP. His new firm, Dykema, operates a total of 13 offices across the United States.
The players
Bret R. Henry
Bret R. Henry is a seasoned attorney with a J.D. and M.B.A. from Pepperdine University who previously served at Yoka | Smith LLP for nearly two decades.
Dykema
Dykema is a national law firm that maintains 13 offices throughout the United States and focuses on complex litigation and business law.
The details
Henry specializes in managing complex discovery involving technical materials and trade secrets. He will collaborate with in-house legal teams and technical experts to build litigation strategies for clients facing wrongful death and product liability claims.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Dykema announced the hiring of Bret R. Henry.
Market Landscape
This move follows the broader industry trend of large firms scaling their reach by recruiting senior litigators from long-established boutique practices. It positions Dykema to better compete for complex automotive and product liability defense work in the competitive Los Angeles market.
Clients in the automotive and manufacturing sectors can expect expanded access to technical litigation expertise within the firm's Los Angeles office. The addition of Henry may influence the firm's overall approach to managing discovery in high-stakes wrongful death or complex tort cases.
The takeaway
Large law firms continue to prioritize the recruitment of veteran litigators who possess both deep technical knowledge and long-term industry relationships. Legal teams facing complex tort litigation can leverage such senior counsel to streamline discovery and improve technical defense strategies.
Further reading
For more on industry personnel changes, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
