Karen has spent more than 20 years helping clients efficiently resolve toxic tort litigation.
She plays a key role on teams that primarily defend large companies against asbestos, benzene, and diacetyl exposure claims—most often, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and premises owners across the automotive, chemical, and steel industries. In her practice, Karen takes depositions, handles motions, and works to resolve cases before trial whenever possible, drawing on her knowledge, experience, and strong relationships with opposing counsel and co-defendants to help clients limit alleged exposure and achieve practical, cost-conscious solutions.
Karen’s approach is grounded in careful listening and collaboration. She fosters productive discussions with diligence, reasonableness, and professionalism. Colleagues and clients value her “nose-to-the-grindstone” work ethic and skill in conflict resolution. Over the years, she has learned to work effectively with a wide range of people—and genuinely enjoys doing so.
Karen was introduced to toxic tort litigation during a summer job after college while reviewing documents for an asbestos company in preparation for trial. Immersed in the science and terminology of asbestos-related disease—including mesothelioma and asbestosis—she became fascinated by the field. While in law school, she clerked at a Chicago firm handling asbestos cases, which became her first professional position and launched her long-standing career in this area of law.