Überblick
Asra A. Chatham is co-head of the firm’s product defense practice. She focuses on trials, toxic tort, and product liability defense on behalf of clients in the healthcare, chemical, and manufacturing industries. Asra works with her clients to develop and execute effective trial strategies and has a proven track record securing defense verdicts in high-stakes, multi-week jury trials in venues across the country. She has also achieved favorable results for clients defending novel public nuisance claims brought by State Attorney Generals and municipal governments and in complex commercial disputes, highlighting her comprehensive litigation knowledge.
Asra has extensive experience working with experts and company witnesses across scientific and other technical disciplines to position her clients for success, whether the ultimate goal is a taking a case to verdict or achieving a favorable outcome prior to trial. Beyond the courtroom, Asra is adept at counseling clients facing large-scale, multi-plaintiff litigation on multiple jurisdictional fronts, helping them manage liability, coordinate discovery, and implement cohesive litigation management strategies.
Asra serves as the head of the Miami Office Pro Bono Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice. She worked with a team of nationally recognized pro bono organizations and law firms to obtain a benchmark settlement for victims of one of the largest human trafficking schemes in recent US history, obtained a jury award on behalf of a victim of elder abuse, and has represented children and youth in Florida’s foster care system.
Referenzmandate
- Won complete defense verdicts on 11 of 15 plaintiffs’ claims in a consolidated mass tort lawsuit in Washington state court involving alleged injuries from childhood polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure
- Defeated summary judgment in breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference case brought on behalf of financial services client
- Defended herbicide manufacturer at trial in Pennsylvania state court
- Defended manufacturer of herbicides and PCBs at trial in St. Louis, Missouri state court against claims brought by four plaintiffs alleging they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to weed killer and PCBs. Trial resolved one week into the presentation of evidence
- Won unanimous defense verdict following a seven-week jury trial in Cook County, Illinois state court against claims brought by four plaintiffs alleging they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to weed killer and PCBs
- Won Daubert challenges against two of plaintiffs’ expert witnesses following jury selection in Hawai’i state court, excluding each expert in full, after which plaintiffs’ counsel requested a continuance and stay of the trial
- Defended chemical company at trial against public nuisance claims brought by Oregon Attorney General. Obtained favorable evidentiary rulings resulting in exclusion of significant categories of plaintiffs’ evidence. Trial resolved following jury selection
- Defended company against public nuisance claims based on lawful sale of its product brought by various municipal governments. Litigated cases across multiple jurisdictions through written discovery and depositions prior to class-wide resolution
Auszeichnungen
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Healthcare Law and Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
- Lawyers for Children America, John Edward Smith Child Advocacy Award, 2016
Mitgliedschaften
- Lawyers for Children America, pro bono legal counsel
- American Bar Association, Environment, Energy & Resources Section
Qualifikation
Education
University of Miami School of Law, JD, summa cum laude, 2011
Mills College, BA, with honors, 2006
Admissions
Florida
Courts / Agencies
US District Court for the Middle District of Florida
US District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Languages
English
French
