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Capabilities

Toxic & Environmental Torts

King & Spalding lawyers have successfully litigated, tried, and resolved toxic tort and environmental cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States, including in the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions. We have handled vast and overlapping discovery obligations, navigated thorny legal theories, defeated class certification, tackled complex technical and scientific issues, and managed difficult facts.

We provide comprehensive resolution options for clients facing complex cases asserting myriad claims due to alleged contamination or toxic exposures. Our lawyers are at the forefront of many of the high-exposure and high-profile environmental cases in the country including cases related to alleged exposure to naturally occurring substances and solvents such as:

  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • Perchloroethylene (PCE)
  • Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
  • Paraquat
  • Ethylene Oxide
  • Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and other “Forever Chemicals”
  • Asbestos
  • Talc
  • MTBE
  • Other claimed toxins

We understand our clients’ business objectives, assess their challenges, identify litigation and resolution options, and develop and implement strategies to resolve individual cases or litigation dockets – whether through trial, arbitration, mediation, or settlement. We partner with our clients to address litigation in a cost-effective manner that meets our clients’ strategic goals.

We are nationally recognized by leading industry publications such as Legal 500, where we are ranked in Tier 1 for toxic tort work, and Chambers & Partners where we are ranked as an “Elite” firm for product liability and mass torts work; and our team has achieved favorable outcomes for clients in a wide range of industries.

Experience. Our lawyers handle individual, class and mass joinder cases brought by all types of plaintiffs, from property owners to water districts to consumers. We are well-versed on the claims in these cases, including personal injury, fear, increased risk of disease, medical monitoring, property damage, and business losses.

Technical Understanding. We have strong technical backgrounds. Our understanding of the scientific, medical, and technical issues in toxic tort and environmental cases is built on decades of practice, having presented and cross-examined hundreds of experts in diverse scientific disciplines. Our lawyers can translate complex environmental and scientific issues into language that judges and juries can understand.

Relationships. We have a network of local counsel, including trial-tested veterans in the most difficult, plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in the country, and we are supported by experienced appellate counsel.

Trial. We have a deep bench of first-chair trial lawyers. We try high-exposure cases and win.

Class Actions. We have achieved success in every facet of class action litigation, defeating class certification in virtually every state and against every conceivable theory of recovery.

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Ranked as an “Elite” firm for product liability and mass torts work


Chambers USA, 2022

Tier 1 firm for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Toxic Tort, Automotive/Transport and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices


Legal 500 US, 2022

Environmental Practice Group of the Year


Law360 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2018

Band 1 for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite


Chambers USA, 2022-2023

Band 1 for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts: Toxic Torts


Chambers USA, 2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices


Legal 500, 2020-2021, 2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Automotive/Transport


Legal 500, 2020-2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Consumer Products


Legal 500, 2023

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Recognition

Ranked as an “Elite” firm for product liability and mass torts work


Chambers USA, 2022

Tier 1 firm for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Toxic Tort, Automotive/Transport and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices


Legal 500 US, 2022

Environmental Practice Group of the Year


Law360 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2018

Band 1 for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite


Chambers USA, 2022-2023

Band 1 for Nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts: Toxic Torts


Chambers USA, 2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices


Legal 500, 2020-2021, 2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Automotive/Transport


Legal 500, 2020-2023

Tier 1 for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Defense – Consumer Products


Legal 500, 2023