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John Kalas
Partner
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
john.kalas@nelsonmullins.com
John is first and foremost a trial lawyer. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most difficult and complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase. His practice — both at trial and in discovery and motions practice — is focused on deconstructing the core scientific and liability...
John is first and foremost a trial lawyer. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most difficult and complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase. 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 hearings, and served as trial counsel in multiple cases in jurisdictions nationwide.
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 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
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals.
- Successfully argued Daubert motions and tried first case in serial litigation involving allegations those alleged exposures led to the development of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in New Mexico State court.
- Trial counsel in first case involving similar allegations in Hawai’i State Court. Successfully argued multiple motions and trial team secured summary judgment minutes prior to opening statements.
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to best-selling agricultural chemical. Pursued an aggressive pre-trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution of wrongful death and personal injury claims regarding the development of acute myeloid leukemia.
- 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 experts.
- Served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully argued motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and worked to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel.
- 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.
- 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
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
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals.
- Successfully argued Daubert motions and tried first case in serial litigation involving allegations those alleged exposures led to the development of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in New Mexico State court.
- Trial counsel in first case involving similar allegations in Hawai’i State Court. Successfully argued multiple motions and trial team secured summary judgment minutes prior to opening statements.
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to best-selling agricultural chemical. Pursued an aggressive pre-trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution of wrongful death and personal injury claims regarding the development of acute myeloid leukemia.
- 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 experts.
- Served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully argued motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and worked to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel.
- 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.
- 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
Professional Activities
- Member, Atlantic Legal Foundation Science Advisory Council (2019–2023)
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member, New England Legal Foundation
John is first and foremost a trial lawyer. Clients look to John to provide creative and aggressive representation in their most difficult and complex cases, and often engage him in the pretrial phase. 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 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
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to multiple agricultural and industrial chemicals.
- Successfully argued Daubert motions and tried first case in serial litigation involving allegations those alleged exposures led to the development of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in New Mexico State court.
- Trial counsel in first case involving similar allegations in Hawai’i State Court. Successfully argued multiple motions and trial team secured summary judgment minutes prior to opening statements.
- Trial counsel for major chemical manufacturer in litigation involving alleged consumer exposures to best-selling agricultural chemical. Pursued an aggressive pre-trial strategy that led to a favorable resolution of wrongful death and personal injury claims regarding the development of acute myeloid leukemia.
- 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 experts.
- Served as science liaison counsel for multiple trial teams — successfully argued motions regarding scientific issues and corporate conduct both before and during trial and worked to develop cross-examination and direct-examination materials for trial counsel.
- 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.
- 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
- Litigation
- Products Liability
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- Toxic Torts/Asbestos
Industries
- Member, Atlantic Legal Foundation Science Advisory Council (2019–2023)
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member, New England Legal Foundation
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