People
Kristen is an experienced mass tort and product liability litigator who provides state-of-the-art defense strategies to companies facing high profile, high risk matters. She is known for her sophisticated understanding of jury trends and unique ability to craft messages and trial themes that drive home her client's objectives. Whether serving as national coordinating counsel or trying individual matters, she leverages her knowledge of human behavior to guide juries to the right conclusion for her clients. Kristen serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Toxic and Environmental Tort Litigation Team, which Legal 500 recognized in 2020 as one of the top four such practices in the country and Chambers has ranked as a Band 2 Nationwide practice.
Kristen has been ranked in Chambers USA for product liability and mass tort every year since 2016, with clients praising her “great gift for long-term strategy,” and describing her as “a very skilled trial attorney who is strategic, smart and efficient” and "connects well with judges." The Legal 500 U.S. hails her as “an 'outstanding trial lawyer,' who is 'very talented at developing, implementing and organizing national strategy.'”
Kristen currently serves as national coordinating counsel in several matters, including for the Dow Chemical Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Union Carbide, in relation to its substantial asbestos docket; Johnson & Johnson in its high-profile talc docket in which the company faces allegations that its talcum powder products cause fatal cancer; and Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Multi-District Litigation (MDL) arising from allegations that long term use of the prescription drug Elmiron results in vision issues. In each matter, she directs case work up and strategy for thousands of cases each year, ensuring that a uniform approach is applied and her clients maintain a consistent defense and achieve desirable results nationwide. She also routinely negotiates multi-million dollar settlements involving multiple cases and claims.
Outside of her national coordination work, Kristen is a first chair trial lawyer who has tried mass tort cases in some of the most difficult jurisdictions across the country, including New York, NY; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA and New Orleans, LA;. She has represented clients in a wide variety of toxic tort and product matters over time, including cases alleging exposures to PFAS, TCE/TCA, vinyl chloride and ethylene oxide.
B.A., University of Virginia, with distinction
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
District of Columbia
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Virginia
New York State Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Lead Defense Counsel and National Coordinating Counsel to Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Multi-District Litigation (MDL) alleging that long term use of the prescription drug Elmiron results in unique vision-related issues. Kristen oversees the strategic development of all aspects of the cases, and is responsible for coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
National Coordinating Counsel to Johnson & Johnson in high-profile talc litigation in which the company faces allegations that its talcum powder products causes mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Kristen directs the work up of all mesothelioma cases pending across the country; assists the company with public facing inquiries regarding the product, both within the litigation and externally; and works with a team of lawyers and in house counsel to develop trial themes and presentations.
Lead counsel to Dow and Union Carbide in two mass actions, filed in Louisiana alleging that long time exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) caused breast cancer and other carcinomas in nearby communities.
See more
November 15, 2022
Focus on Forever – November 15, 2022
May 20, 2022
Focus on Forever – May 20, 2022
February 23, 2022
Focus on Forever– February 22, 2022
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Lead Defense Counsel and National Coordinating Counsel to Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Multi-District Litigation (MDL) alleging that long term use of the prescription drug Elmiron results in unique vision-related issues. Kristen oversees the strategic development of all aspects of the cases, and is responsible for coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
National Coordinating Counsel to Johnson & Johnson in high-profile talc litigation in which the company faces allegations that its talcum powder products causes mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Kristen directs the work up of all mesothelioma cases pending across the country; assists the company with public facing inquiries regarding the product, both within the litigation and externally; and works with a team of lawyers and in house counsel to develop trial themes and presentations.
Lead counsel to Dow and Union Carbide in two mass actions, filed in Louisiana alleging that long time exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) caused breast cancer and other carcinomas in nearby communities.
See more
November 15, 2022
Focus on Forever – November 15, 2022
May 20, 2022
Focus on Forever – May 20, 2022
February 23, 2022
Focus on Forever– February 22, 2022
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
June 1, 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes 188 K&S Lawyers and 75 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
B.A., University of Virginia, with distinction
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
District of Columbia
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Virginia
New York State Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association