Food safety attorney William (Bill) Marler has been named to the first-ever list of the Top 50 Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers by the National Law Journal.

“I am deeply honored to have been nominated by my peers, let alone chosen among this prestigious list of amazing people,” said Marler. “I’ve never sought recognition or awards for what I do, but it is a true privilege when those I hold in such high esteem feel the same way about my work. Thank you so very much.”

Marler is best known for spearheading the 1994 precedent-setting class action lawsuit against fast food chain Jack in the Box for serving undercooked meat contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. Four children died and hundreds of other victims fell ill. The case, which resulted in more than $50 million in individual and class action settlements, prompted Marler to start his own firm focused solely on food safety advocacy and litigation. Since 1998, Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, has been directly involved with every major foodborne illness and outbreak. Most recently, the firm is representing the family of one victim who died in the caramel apple Listeria outbreak that hit the U.S. just last month.