Kim Brown has represented companies in business and tort litigation for more than 30 years. Her diverse practice includes experience in matters involving complex scientific, technological, and medical issues spanning a broad range of industries. Kim has tried cases to verdict before juries, judges, and arbitration panels, including as lead counsel in a three-month trial in Pennsylvania state court in which Jones Day obtained a $125.7 million verdict in a post-closing adjustment dispute involving the design and construction of a statewide communications system.
Kim has served clients in the energy, specialty chemical, heavy manufacturing, technology, and financial services industries. She has represented clients in high-stakes breach of contract and business tort cases as well as defended claims of toxic exposures and catastrophic personal injuries. Kim frequently works with industry experts to execute defensive trial and Frye/Daubert dismissal strategies.
Kim is chair of the Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement Committee for Jones Day's Pittsburgh Office and is active in the community. As a member of Jones Day's Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Kim leads the diversion court project. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, a former president and board member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and has taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Kim serves as a Pennsylvania Supreme Court-appointed member of the PA Civil Rules Committee and also on the Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence and Pennsylvania Civil Discovery advisory boards and the Women's Leadership Council Executive Committee of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Experiencia
The following represents experience prior to joining Jones Day.
Product Liability/Toxic Tort Litigation
Obtained dismissal for chemical manufacturer following Daubert hearing challenging plaintiffs' expert testimony in chemical exposure case alleging non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.Acted as Northeast regional coordinating counsel and Pennsylvania counsel for breast implant manufacturer. Oversaw local counsel's discovery and trial preparation, evaluated and settled hundreds of cases in more than 10 states, responsible for management of more than 300 Pennsylvania state and federal court breast implant cases, and appointed manufacturers' liaison counsel in breast implant litigation by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Counsel for turbine, compressor, and motor manufacturer in numerous state, federal, and MDL toxic tort actions.
Represented catheter manufacturer in defense of double amputation infant death case.
Western Pennsylvania counsel for asbestos wire and cable manufacturer. Responsible for dismissal without settlement payment of more than 500 state court product liability and negligence actions against client.
Represented chrysotile asbestos supplier in toxic tort actions filed in Western Pennsylvania.
Obtained dismissal of orthodontic device manufacturer in strict liability and breach of warranties action in case claiming cancer caused by orthodontic wire.
Defended a medical oxygen regulator company in a strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranties action filed in state court by a severely burned hospital employee.
Represented a fetal heart monitor manufacturer in a product liability action claiming damage to infant caused by a defective monitor.
Commercial and Insurance Litigation
Represented instrumentation and communications company in multimillion dollar breach of contract action arising out of a spin-off.Represented Fortune 100 companies in the defense of a lawsuit asserting claims of bid-rigging, conspiracy, fraud, bad faith, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of a professional health care liability insurance.
Represented a product return and logistical services company in a conversion action.
Defended financial services companies in actions alleging breach of fiduciary duties, breach of contract, and ERISA violations.
Represented a Fortune 200 company in a federal court trial involving multimillion dollar breach of contract claims and defamation claim against a corporate officer.
Represented two companies in the defense of more than 300 insurance sales practice cases in the Western Pennsylvania state and federal courts that alleged claims of negligence, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, bad faith, and violations of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act. Responsible for case management and strategy, discovery, settlement, and trial.
Represented and obtained summary judgment for a steel company in a $150 million complex breach of contract and warranties action in federal court.
Defended a national construction company in a negligence action alleging breach of contract that resulted in an amputation injury.
Represented home owners in a breach of contract and consumer protection law case against a home inspector.
Represented tobacco wholesale companies in a class action antitrust lawsuit against major tobacco companies that alleged that the Master Settlement Agreement violates federal antitrust laws.
Represented a tank manufacturer and an engineering firm in separate breach of contract and breach of warranties actions involving claims of defective storage and chemical tanks.
Obtained jury verdict in excess of $300,000 for a law firm in breach of contract action with dismissal of malpractice counterclaims prior to trial.
Defended municipal authority before federal district court and Third Circuit in Section 1983 and Pennsylvania Whistleblower Act retaliation action involving the mayor of Pittsburgh.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a multimillion dollar landfill and refuse company plaintiff in Section 1983 action.
Represented municipal authority before federal district court and the Third Circuit in a lawsuit involving complex and first impression equal protection, due process, and constitutional claims filed by unsuccessful contract bidder.
Represented a doll manufacturer and designer in a federal court contempt proceeding involving trademark issues and breach of noncompetition agreement.
- April 2024
Ethics Update: Emerging Issues Commonly Faced By In-House Counsel - November 7, 2023
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics - September 18, 2018
2018 Jones Day’s Speaker Series: New Energy and Environmental Issues Facing Companies Doing Business in Pennsylvania - March 6, 2018
Jones Day Hosts Anti-Human Trafficking Convening for Health Care Providers - November 15, 2017
July 30, 2015
August 21, 2013
March 5, 2013
Lights, Camera, Evidence!, Pennsylvania Bar Institute - August 24, 2017
Jones Day Women in IP Speaker Series: Women in the Courtroom - July 2017
Calendar Control & Discovery Practice in Allegheny County - October 29, 2014
Corporate Playbook; Pittsburgh Diversity Leadership Conference - October 4, 2013
From the Other Side of the Bench: Effective Advocacy in the Western District, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County - September 20, 2012
2012 Speaker Series
Making the Most of the Relationship Between In-House and Outside Counsel
- NITA Master Trial Advocacy Class (1994); Duke University (J.D. 1989); University of Dayton (B.A. 1986)
- Pennsylvania; West Virginia; U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, Western District of New York, and Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia; and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Best Lawyers in America
BTI Client Service All-Star (2022)
Above & Beyond Award (2022, honoring distinguished women in Pennsylvania), City & State PA
Women of Influence Award (2020), Pittsburgh Business Times
Professionalism Award (2018) and The Honorable Carol Los Mansmann Helping Hand Award, for mentoring female lawyers (2006), Allegheny County Bar Association
Pennsylvania Diversity Council Awards (2012, 2016, and 2018)
Lynette Norton Award (2008), Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers