Hariklia Karis, P.C.
Overview
Hariklia (Carrie) Karis is a Kirkland trial lawyer who has extensive lead trial experience in jury and bench trials and arbitration involving personal injury in a broad range of high profile personal injury, product liability and other commercial cases throughout the country. Hariklia was recently recognized by various legal publications as a first class trial lawyer in mass tort and commercial litigation. She was awarded Law360 MVP for Trials in 2022. The American Lawyer named Hariklia “Litigator of the Week” for achieving the first defense win in a bellwether trial involving 3M’s dual-ended combat arms in the largest MDL in U.S. history. She was also recognized by the American Lawyer’s List of Midwest Trailblazers and named a nationwide finalist for The National Law Journal’s Winning Litigator for 2022. Hariklia’s successful defense of General Motors Corporation was chosen as one of the top defense wins by The National Law Journal. She has also been recognized as a Lead Female Trial Lawyer for her work in large exposure civil litigation. In 2018, she was named to Crain’s list of Most Notable Women Lawyers. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, where she taught “Trial Advocacy.”
In her 27 year career at Kirkland, Hariklia has managed and tried massive disaster litigation cases for clients, in which substantial reputational and financial exposure is at risk. She served as co-lead trial counsel for BP in the litigation arising from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in several regulatory agency and government investigations that resulted in numerous nationally televised and highly publicized trials. She also serves as lead trial counsel in the nationwide multi-district litigation involving opioids as well as other pharmaceutical products. She has served as trial counsel for General Motors in state and federal cases arising out of the company’s voluntary recalls related to ignition switches and other safety issues.
Principal Practice Areas
Trial and appellate experience in commercial litigation, product liability, insurance coverage and construction law disputes.
Jury trial, bench trial and arbitration experience in state and federal courts in:
Illinois | Minnesota |
Michigan | Louisiana |
California | Pennsylvania |
New York |
Missouri |
Florida | New Jersey |
Other jurisdictions |
Experience
Representative Matters
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In re Combat Arms Earplugs Litigation (MDL N.D. Fl.)
Representing 3M as lead trial counsel in largest multi-district litigation arising from allegations that a hearing protection device caused personal injuries and achieved first successful defense in bellwether as lead trial counsel. -
Humble v. FIGG Bridge Engineers (Miami-Dade Ct.)
Represented Louis Berger in connection with the collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in over 20 separate lawsuits and several government investigations resulting from numerous fatalities and other catastrophic injuries. -
Martin v. Actavis, Inc. (N.D. IL)
Represented Actavis (n/k/a Allergan) as lead trial counsel in defense of testosterone replacement drug (TRT) that resulted in jury defense verdict after less than one hour of deliberations following a two week trial. -
In re City and County of San Francisco et al. v. Purdue Pharma (MDL, N.D. CA)
Represented Allergan as lead trial counsel in a recent 3 month trial involving prescription opioids. -
General Motors Corp. v. FCA US, et al. (MI St. Ct.)
Representing General Motors in various matter seeking billions in damages for injuries caused by payment of bribes to union officials. -
In re Testosterone Replacement Therapy Litigation (N.D. IL)
Represented AbbVie as trial counsel in the Multi-District Litigation arising from AndroGel, a testosterone replacement drug, achieving the first victory that led to the resolution of the MDL. -
In re Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill MDL 2179 (E.D. La.)
Represented BP as co-lead trial counsel for all of the Multi-District Litigation stemming from its 2010 “Deepwater Horizon” oil spill. Also represented BP as trial counsel before the Marine Board of Investigation, which conducted a trial on behalf of Mineral Management Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to determine the cause of the incident. -
General Motors Ignition Switch Litigation (S.D.N.Y.; Bankr. S.D.N.Y.; Tex. Dist. Ct.)
Representing General Motors in various federal and state court product liability cases arising from its recall of ignition switches in various model vehicles. -
Jakobson v. GM, et al. (Ill. Cir. Ct.)
Represented General Motors as trial counsel on a three-week jury trial in which plaintiffs alleged wrongful death of a family and sought more than $100 million in damages. Case resulted in defense verdict for General Motors and was featured by the National Law Journal as one of the top ten defense verdicts in 2002. -
Alcantar, et al. v. GM, et al. (N.D. Ill.)
Led the defense of General Motors in a wrongful death action alleging manufacturing and design defects resulting in multiple fatalities. Case resulted in a favorable settlement following extensive mediation. -
General Motors Corporation Diesel Exhaust Litigation (E.D.N.Y.; S.D.N.Y.)
Represented General Motors Corporation in numerous product liability lawsuits filed by then current and former New York Transit Authority employees alleging that they sustained various catastrophic injuries as a result of exposure to exhaust from GM’s bus and diesel engines. -
Morgan v. GM (Mo. Cir. Ct.)
Participated in a lengthy trial on behalf of General Motors in a matter alleging wrongful death of Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker, Derrick Thomas, due to a roof strength defect. The case resulted in a defense verdict for General Motors. -
Pierro v. Daewoo Motors Corp., et al. (S.D.N.Y.)
Represented General Motors in a product liability lawsuit involving catastrophic injuries sustained by plaintiff as a result of accident that resulted in a post-collision fuel fed fire. -
Miracle Blade LLC Product Liability Litigation (Ill. Cir. Ct.; Md. Cir. Ct.)
Represented Miracle Blade, as national counsel, in various product liability actions alleging that manufacturing and design defects in their products, which are sold through infomercials, caused serious injuries. -
Ebling, et al. v. Prestwick Square of New Albany Assoc. L.P., et al. (Ind. Super. Ct.)
Represented Dow AgroSciences in defense of a $100 million product liability/personal injury lawsuit alleging serious brain injuries to two siblings from exposure to a Dow pesticide. In 2009, just a few weeks before trial, the case settled favorably. -
General Motors Corporation v. XL Insurance (Bermuda; Arbitration in London)
Represented General Motors in an international arbitration insurance coverage dispute against its excess carrier seeking coverage for underlying tort claims in excess of $100 million. Case resolved in a favorable, confidential settlement. -
Autry v. BP Products NA, Inc. (M.D. Ga.)
Represented BP Products in a putative class action brought by jobbers on behalf of a nationwide class alleging violations of the Uniform Commercial Code. Dismissed on summary judgment and confirmed on appeal. -
Alcorn, et al. v. BP Products North America Inc. (D. Minn.)
Represented BP Products in an action brought by numerous dealership owners and operators in the Twin Cities market alleging that BP unfairly priced its gasoline. Case resolved in a favorable settlement. -
Ameritech Information Systems v. Bar Code Resources (N.D. Ill.; 7th Cir.)
Represented Ameritech Information Systems as lead counsel at trial in a breach of contract dispute involving a computer software system that resulted in a favorable verdict. Affirmed at appeal. -
UPPCO, et al. v. MWH Americas Inc., et al. (Mich. Cir. Ct.)
Represented MWH Americas, the design engineer of a flood control system, in an action alleging breach of contract, negligence, and other theories of recovery resulting from the failure of a system to prevent significant flood damage causing more than $100 million in damages. Successful in dismissing 11 of the 12 claims and settled the remaining claim on favorable terms. -
BP Amoco Chemical Co. v. Flint Hills Resources, LLC (N.D. Ill.; 7th Cir.)
Represented BP Amoco in a case alleging breach of contract and fraud arising out of BP’s sale of a chemical plant and related assets to Flint Hills. Following a three-month trial in 2009, Kirkland won a motion for a directed verdict on punitive damages and a jury verdict in favor of BP on the fraud claim. In 2010, during the pendency of BP’s appeal of the contract claim portion of the verdict, the parties agreed to settle. -
The Dow Chemical Company v. Aetna, et al. (E.D. Mich.)
Represented Dow against multiple primary and excess insurers involving coverage for numerous first and third party environmental sites. Case resolved by confidential settlement in excess of client’s pretrial projections following an eleven-week federal court jury trial. Responsibilities included examination of numerous witnesses at trial and briefed and argued multiple summary judgment motions. Experience included working with several insurance and hydrogeology experts. -
The Dow Chemical Company v. Fireman’s Fund, et al. (E.D. Mich.)
Represented Dow Chemical in a lengthy trial involving insurance coverage litigation arising from alleged environmental pollution at numerous Dow sites. Case resolved in favorable confidential settlement following closing arguments. -
Babcock & Wilcox Bankruptcy (Bankr. E.D. La.) Represented a Chapter 11 debtor in maximizing insurance coverage for asbestos-related bodily injury and property damage actions. Responsibilities included analyzing availability of insurance coverage as well as developing various defenses applicable to the underlying claims.
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Union Carbide v. Affiliated Insurance, et al. (W. Va. Cir. Ct.)
Represented Union Carbide in insurance coverage litigation against multiple insurers in a coverage dispute involving Union Carbide’s underlying asbestos product liability and premises liability claims.
More
Thought Leadership
Press Mentions
Quoted in “A Key to Training Up New Trial Lawyers: Pass On the Opportunities When You Can,” The Am Law Litigation Daily, March 24, 2022
Recognition
Recognized in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial, 2023–2024
Recognized by Financier Worldwide for Product Liability – Distinguished Advisors, 2023
Recognized by Best Lawyers® for Commercial Litigation, 2024
Named “Trial Litigator of the Year” by The National Law Journal, 2022
Recognized by Law360 as a Trial Lawyer MVP, 2022
Recognized in The American Lawyer’s “Midwest Trailblazers” list, 2022
Named “Litigator of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily, 2021
Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for:
- Environment: Litigation, 2024
- Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Automotive/Transport, 2024
- Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Consumer Products (including Tobacco), 2022–2024
- Construction Litigation (including Construction Litigation), 2020–2021
- General Commercial Disputes, 2017–2019
Memberships & Affiliations
Northwestern College of Law Adjunct Professor
Bartlit Center for Trial Advocacy
Hellenic Bar Association: President
American College of Greece, Board of Directors
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 1995Illinois
Education
- DePaul University College of LawJ.D.with High Honors and Distinction1995
Dean’s List
Order of the Coif
Notes and Comments Editor, DePaul Law Review
- Loyola University ChicagoB.A.magna cum laude1990