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Nicholas P. Vari

Partner
Pittsburgh
+1.412.355.8365
Fax +1.412.355.6501
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Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • J.D., University of Akron School of Law, 1990, (summa cum laude; Managing Editor, Akron Law Review)
  • B.S.B.A., University of Akron, 1987, (Finance, cum laude)

Admissions

  • Bar of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work
Mr. Vari has over 25 years of experience defending asbestos personal injury and product liability claims in trial-level and appellate courts across the United States. He also counsels clients on strategic and case management aspects of defending mass tort and repetitive tort claims across multiple jurisdictions.

Professional Background

Since joining K&L Gates in 1990, Mr. Vari has appeared on behalf of clients in trial and appellate courts in numerous states, including California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio. He has presented innovative legal arguments regarding asbestos claims across the United States. He frequently lectures and publishes on product liability issues that arise in asbestos litigation. He has been recognized by his peers in both Best Lawyers in America and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.

Mr. Vari’s current practice is focused upon developing and coordinating innovative defense strategies on a national level, and counseling clients on matters of strategy and defense management relating to thousands of asbestos claims pending across more than 45 states and one United States territory. Mr. Vari further maintains an active appellate practice, focusing on product liability issues.

Professional/Civic Activities

  • Best Lawyers in America (2014-17)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2014-16)
  • Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow)

Speaking Engagements

  • Testified – United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Hearing on H.R. 526 – The Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2015 (February 4, 2015)
  • Speaker, ACI – 13th Annual Advanced Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, Philadelphia, PA (2013, 2016)
  • Speaker, Perrin – Cutting Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference – Los Angeles, CA, (2012-15)
  • Speaker, ACI – Annual Advanced Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, Chicago, IL (2013-15)
  • 1st Annual Asbestos Litigation Strategies ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT (2014)
  • Speaker, Perrin – Asbestos Litigation Conference A National Overview & Outlook – San Francisco, CA, (2012-13, 2015)
  • Speaker, ALI/ABA – Third-Party Liability in Product Liability Cases: Impact of California’s O’Neil v. Crane Co. (2012)
  • Testified – Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee Hearing House Bill 1150 (April 8, 2013) (Fairness in Asbestos Claims Transparency Act)
  • Speaker, PBI Fundamental of Civil Procedure – Pittsburgh, PA 2010-2012 (also 2005 and 2008)
  • Speaker, Perrin – Litigating Asbestos Cases in Today’s Economic Environment – New York, NY, (2011)
  • Testified – Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee Hearing House Bill 1, Harrisburg, PA, (March 29, 2011)
  • Speaker, Harris Martin – Pennsylvania Asbestos Litigation Conference – Philadelphia, PA, (2010)
  • Speaker, Perrin – Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference – Chicago, IL, (2010)
  • Speaker, HB – Northeast Judicial Forum on Asbestos – New York, NY, (2009)
  • Speaker, HB – National Asbestos Litigation Conference – San Francisco, CA, (2009)
  • Speaker, Lorman – Contract Litigation From A to Z in Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh, PA, (2006)
  • Kephart v. ABB, Inc., 2015 WL 1245825 (lead counsel for third-party defendant that was dismissed from action based on the Pennsylvania statute of repose)
  • Cuomo v. Crane Co., 771 F.3d 113 (2d Cir. 2014) (addressed government contractor defense relating to federal removal) (briefed)
  • Leite v. Crane Co., 749 F.3d 1117 (9th Cir.) cert. denied 2014 WL 3817554 (2014) (addressed federal jurisdictional issues relating to removal) (briefed)
  • Donner v. Alcoa, 709 F. 3d 694 (8th Cir. 2013) (pulmonary injury claim involving aluminum exposure) (briefed and argued)
  • O’Neil v. Crane Co.. 53 Cal. 4th 335, 266 P.3d 987, 135 Cal. Rptr. 3d 280 (2012) (precedent setting case in California’s highest court involving responsibility for asbestos-containing products made and sold by others) (briefed and argued)
  • Estate of Campana ex rel. Donovan v. Comerica Bank & Trust, P.A., 2012 WL 13714 (U.S.D.C. N.D.W.Va. 2012) (securities broker defense) (lead trial counsel)
  • Betz v. Pneumo Abex LLC, 44 A.3d 27 (Pa. 2012) (single-fiber theory of asbestos liability) (amicus)
  • Surre v. Foster-Wheeler LLC, 831 F.Supp.2d 797 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (published opinion by Federal Circuit Judge rejecting New York precedents regarding liability for asbestos-containing products made and sold by others) (briefed and argued)
  • Woodard v. Crane Co., 2011 WL 3759923 (Cal. App. 2011) (briefed and argued)
  • Hall v. Warren Pumps, LLC, 2010 WL 528489 (Cal. App. 2010) (lead trial and appeal counsel)
  • Schaffner v. Aesys Technologies, LLC, 2010 WL 605275 (Pa. Super. 2010) (briefed and argued)
  • Kuhnle v. Prudential Securities, Inc., 439 F.3d 187 (3d Cir. 2006) (securities broker defense) (lead trial and appeal counsel)
  • Plastipak Packing, Inc. v. DePasquale, 75 Fed. Appx. 38 (3d Cir. 2003) (lead trial and appeal counsel)
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