Counseling some of the largest insurers in the world, Paul Kalish is well versed in a wide array of insurance and reinsurance matters, regularly handling disputes involving mass tort and environmental claims. He has also served as national coverage counsel for cases stemming from Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon and other high-profile matters.
Paul’s practice is focused on advising insurers in complex litigation and arbitration matters in connection with claims involving asbestos, benzene, coal ash, medical devices, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, silica, sports concussions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and talc. Additionally, he counsels insurers and captives on new and emerging insurance products and policy language and provides risk management strategies through policy editing and risk analysis modeling for existing claims.
For more than two decades, Paul has also served as counsel for the Coalition for Litigation Justice, a nonprofit that addresses inequities in asbestos claims matters. He assists in drafting and filing amicus briefs impacting asbestos, silica and toxic tort environments and promotes judicial education by working with lawyers in key jurisdictions to promote changes to how courts handle mass tort actions.
Prior to joining Stradley Ronon, he was a partner at an Am Law 100 firm in Washington, D.C., and worked at various other international law firms.
Featured Representative Matters
Served as national coverage counsel for insurers on tort cases relating to Roundup, paraquat, asbestos, silica, implants and other medical devices, talc, Prilosec, Ortho Evra, COVID-19, DES, denture adhesives, AIDS-tainted blood, molestation, benzene and sports concussions, as well as for environmental litigation matters involving coal ash, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and PFAS.
Served as national coverage counsel for insurers regarding matters for Hurricane Katrina, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash dam spill, a dam collapse in South America, an oil spill from a French tanker, a gas explosion in Massachusetts, Deepwater Horizon, and a natural gas leak in Los Angeles.
Represented insurers in purported class actions alleging unfair claims handling practices in the resolution of thousands of claims.
Advised insurers and reinsurers in liquidation matters.
Counseled insurers in “Bermuda Form” international arbitrations.
Represented reinsurers in disputes involving first-party and third-party claims.
Memberships
Former Co-Chair, Annual Meeting, American Bar Association Section of Litigation
Former Member, ABA Task Force on the State of the Civil Justice System
Recognitions
Chambers USA (District of Columbia: Insurance: Insurer) (annually since 2015)
Chambers USA (Nationwide: Insurance Dispute Resolution) (annually since 2004)
The Best Lawyers in America (Insurance Litigation) (2008-26)
