Leading Mass Tort and Product Liability Litigator Kurt Weaver Joins Shook in Chicago

CHICAGO, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kurt Weaver, an accomplished litigator with more than three decades of experience defending clients in complex product liability and mass tort matters, including multidistrict litigation (MDL) and high-stakes commercial disputes, has joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon as a partner in the firm's Chicago office.

Weaver works with clients in a variety of sectors, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and retail and consumer. This has included 13 separate complex product liability cases brought to a jury verdict in the last seven years, as well as serving as lead counsel in a number of high-profile MDLs. In addition, he defends clients in matters involving federal and state statutes and counsels them on litigation, regulatory risks, and advertising and marketing regulations.

"I have tried cases with Kurt and his deep experience leading the defense of clients in MDLs and securing successful outcomes for global clients at every stage of litigation makes him an ideal addition to our team," said Bill Geraghty, co-chair of Shook's Product Liability Litigation Practice. "His background strengthens our ability to defend consumer products, pharmaceutical and commercial clients in the most complex, high-stakes matters."

Representative matters Weaver has led include representing a chemical and product manufacturer in the pending MDL brought against the entire per- and polyflouralkyl (PFAS) and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) supply chain alleging product liability, personal injury and other claims; representing a multinational conglomerate in an MDL alleging defective firefighter turnout gear; and representing a university in connection with a multidistrict putative class action alleging a failure to warn football players of the adverse effects of concussions, among many other contentious matters.

"I have admired Kurt for a long time. His courtroom mastery and reputation for defending product manufacturers across industries make him a strategic asset to our national practice and our Chicago office," said Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough.

"I've worked closely with Shook on many matters for decades and am excited to join the firm and contribute to its outstanding record of successfully defending top global companies in their most challenging disputes," said Weaver.

About Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Founded in 1889, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. has 18 offices in the United States with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and business litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security and regulatory counseling.

SOURCE Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.