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John Kalas

John Kalas

Partner

101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
T 617.217.4613
john.kalas@nelsonmullins.com
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John is a dual threat—he’s a trial lawyer who is well-versed in science. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase in order to place cases in the best posture to win before cases even get to trial. One recent...

John is a dual threat—he’s a trial lawyer who is well-versed in science. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase in order to place cases in the best posture to win before cases even get to trial. One recent example of success in the pretrial phase was his deposition of plaintiff’s lead causation expert in Engilis v. Monsanto – a deposition that set into motion a seminal Ninth Circuit decision resetting Rule 702 jurisprudence in that jurisdiction.  --- F.4th ---- (2025 WL 2315898). His practice — both at trial and in discovery and motions practice — is focused on deconstructing the core scientific and liability themes of the opposition. To that end, he has taken and defended depositions of hundreds of expert and fact witnesses, participated in several multi-day Daubert, Frye, and Sargon hearings, and served as trial counsel in multiple cases in jurisdictions nationwide.

John Kalas

example of success in the pretrial phase was his deposition of plaintiff’s lead causation expert in Engilis v. Monsanto – a deposition that set into motion a seminal Ninth Circuit decision resetting Rule 702 jurisprudence in that jurisdiction.  --- F.4th ---- (2025 WL 2315898). His practice — both at trial and in discovery and motions practice — is focused on deconstructing the core scientific and liability themes of the opposition. To that end, he has taken and defended depositions of hundreds of expert and fact witnesses, participated in several multi-day Daubert, Frye, and Sargon hearings, and served as trial counsel in multiple cases in jurisdictions nationwide.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Served as a “go-to” trial counsel for a major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer and/or occupational exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals. Named trial counsel in state court cases in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Hawai’i, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. Prior to trial, successfully argued Daubert and Summary Judgment motions, limiting the client’s exposure and often placing cases in a favorable posture for pre-trial resolution.
  • Lead science counsel for major chemical manufacturer in decade-long mass tort involving a best-selling agricultural chemical. Developed dozens of experts for use in the litigation and conducted aggressive depositions of opposing experts. Testimony developed led to the exclusion — in whole or in part — of many of those opposing experts. In addition, served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully arguing motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and working to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel. Named science counsel in cases situated in the Northern District of California and state courts in Missouri, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida.
  • Lead science counsel for pre-trial workup involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to chemicals on behalf of major chemical manufacturer. Work-up led to dismissal of actions prior to trial.
  • Lead counsel in pre-litigation evaluation of potential claims involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to agricultural chemicals on behalf of a major chemical manufacturer.
  • Lead counsel for major chemical manufacturer defending potential and actual claims for property damage and commercial damages involving the sale and use of agricultural chemical.
  • Lead science counsel for leading device manufacturer defending claims involving alleged defects in FDA-approved medical device.
  • Provided product stewardship advice to multiple leading agricultural chemical manufacturers regarding interactions with regulatory and pseudo-regulatory agencies and contractual relationships with third parties.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving development of alleged oral and maxillofacial injuries related to use of bisphosphonate product. Contributed to a successful Daubert and trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution for the client of a long-running mass tort. Served on trial teams in New Jersey state court, the Eastern District of New York, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Middle District of Florida.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged impurities present in leading heartburn medication and claims that those alleged impurities caused or contributed to the development of various cancers.
  • Represented multinational corporation in litigation involving the alleged wrongful death of a sub-contractor working at industrial site in Israel. Successfully navigated choice-of-law and contractual issues spanning three continents, resulting in a favorable outcome for client.
  • Represented large U.S. defense contractor in the defense of groundwater contamination claims arising out of the manufacture of munitions in Oklahoma.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2019–2023)
  • Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2010–2018)

Internships

  • Summer Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2009)
  • Legal Intern, General Electric Capital Solutions, London (2008)
  • Legislative Intern, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) (2006)
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Served as a “go-to” trial counsel for a major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer and/or occupational exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals. Named trial counsel in state court cases in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Hawai’i, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. Prior to trial, successfully argued Daubert and Summary Judgment motions, limiting the client’s exposure and often placing cases in a favorable posture for pre-trial resolution.
  • Lead science counsel for major chemical manufacturer in decade-long mass tort involving a best-selling agricultural chemical. Developed dozens of experts for use in the litigation and conducted aggressive depositions of opposing experts. Testimony developed led to the exclusion — in whole or in part — of many of those opposing experts. In addition, served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully arguing motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and working to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel. Named science counsel in cases situated in the Northern District of California and state courts in Missouri, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida.
  • Lead science counsel for pre-trial workup involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to chemicals on behalf of major chemical manufacturer. Work-up led to dismissal of actions prior to trial.
  • Lead counsel in pre-litigation evaluation of potential claims involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to agricultural chemicals on behalf of a major chemical manufacturer.
  • Lead counsel for major chemical manufacturer defending potential and actual claims for property damage and commercial damages involving the sale and use of agricultural chemical.
  • Lead science counsel for leading device manufacturer defending claims involving alleged defects in FDA-approved medical device.
  • Provided product stewardship advice to multiple leading agricultural chemical manufacturers regarding interactions with regulatory and pseudo-regulatory agencies and contractual relationships with third parties.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving development of alleged oral and maxillofacial injuries related to use of bisphosphonate product. Contributed to a successful Daubert and trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution for the client of a long-running mass tort. Served on trial teams in New Jersey state court, the Eastern District of New York, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Middle District of Florida.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged impurities present in leading heartburn medication and claims that those alleged impurities caused or contributed to the development of various cancers.
  • Represented multinational corporation in litigation involving the alleged wrongful death of a sub-contractor working at industrial site in Israel. Successfully navigated choice-of-law and contractual issues spanning three continents, resulting in a favorable outcome for client.
  • Represented large U.S. defense contractor in the defense of groundwater contamination claims arising out of the manufacture of munitions in Oklahoma.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2019–2023)
  • Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2010–2018)

Internships

  • Summer Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2009)
  • Legal Intern, General Electric Capital Solutions, London (2008)
  • Legislative Intern, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) (2006)

Media

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Professional Activities

  • Member, Atlantic Legal Foundation Science Advisory Council (2019–2023)
  • Member, Defense Research Institute
  • Member, New England Legal Foundation
  • Member, Lawyers for Civil Justice
  • Member, Bement School Capital Campaign Steering Committee

John is a dual threat—he’s a trial lawyer who is well-versed in science. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase in order to place cases in the best posture to win before cases even get to trial. One recent... example of success in the pretrial phase was his deposition of plaintiff’s lead causation expert in Engilis v. Monsanto – a deposition that set into motion a seminal Ninth Circuit decision resetting Rule 702 jurisprudence in that jurisdiction.  --- F.4th ---- (2025 WL 2315898). His practice — both at trial and in discovery and motions practice — is focused on deconstructing the core scientific and liability themes of the opposition. To that end, he has taken and defended depositions of hundreds of expert and fact witnesses, participated in several multi-day Daubert, Frye, and Sargon hearings, and served as trial counsel in multiple cases in jurisdictions nationwide.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Served as a “go-to” trial counsel for a major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer and/or occupational exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals. Named trial counsel in state court cases in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Hawai’i, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. Prior to trial, successfully argued Daubert and Summary Judgment motions, limiting the client’s exposure and often placing cases in a favorable posture for pre-trial resolution.
  • Lead science counsel for major chemical manufacturer in decade-long mass tort involving a best-selling agricultural chemical. Developed dozens of experts for use in the litigation and conducted aggressive depositions of opposing experts. Testimony developed led to the exclusion — in whole or in part — of many of those opposing experts. In addition, served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully arguing motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and working to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel. Named science counsel in cases situated in the Northern District of California and state courts in Missouri, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida.
  • Lead science counsel for pre-trial workup involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to chemicals on behalf of major chemical manufacturer. Work-up led to dismissal of actions prior to trial.
  • Lead counsel in pre-litigation evaluation of potential claims involving allegations of birth and developmental defects following exposures to agricultural chemicals on behalf of a major chemical manufacturer.
  • Lead counsel for major chemical manufacturer defending potential and actual claims for property damage and commercial damages involving the sale and use of agricultural chemical.
  • Lead science counsel for leading device manufacturer defending claims involving alleged defects in FDA-approved medical device.
  • Provided product stewardship advice to multiple leading agricultural chemical manufacturers regarding interactions with regulatory and pseudo-regulatory agencies and contractual relationships with third parties.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving development of alleged oral and maxillofacial injuries related to use of bisphosphonate product. Contributed to a successful Daubert and trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution for the client of a long-running mass tort. Served on trial teams in New Jersey state court, the Eastern District of New York, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Middle District of Florida.
  • Counsel for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged impurities present in leading heartburn medication and claims that those alleged impurities caused or contributed to the development of various cancers.
  • Represented multinational corporation in litigation involving the alleged wrongful death of a sub-contractor working at industrial site in Israel. Successfully navigated choice-of-law and contractual issues spanning three continents, resulting in a favorable outcome for client.
  • Represented large U.S. defense contractor in the defense of groundwater contamination claims arising out of the manufacture of munitions in Oklahoma.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Partner, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2019–2023)
  • Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2010–2018)

Internships

  • Summer Associate, Washington, D.C. based Law Firm (2009)
  • Legal Intern, General Electric Capital Solutions, London (2008)
  • Legislative Intern, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) (2006)

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, JD (2010)
  • Elon University, BA (2007)

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Practice Areas

Industries

  • Member, Atlantic Legal Foundation Science Advisory Council (2019–2023)
  • Member, Defense Research Institute
  • Member, New England Legal Foundation
  • Member, Lawyers for Civil Justice
  • Member, Bement School Capital Campaign Steering Committee