Kevin is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience in product liability cases and complex business disputes, including insurance and indemnity matters.
Kevin brings seasoned experience to his work with corporate and individual clients, especially in the area of product liability and work place safety. On behalf of his client, Kevin achieved one of the largest product liability verdicts in the State if New York. Having represented both defendants and plaintiffs, Kevin brings a unique approach that insures his clients are thoroughly prepared for all aspects of discovery and trial.
In his previous role as the firm’s General Counsel and Risk Management Partner, Kevin has gained significant experience in attorney ethics issues and law firm management as it relates to all aspects of risk management, including drafting and enforcing policies and procedures to limit and monitor risk events.
As a qualified mediator in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, he has conducted successful mediations in tort and commercial matters, in federal and state court cases.
Selected for the Upstate New York Super Lawyers® list, 2007-2024
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®
Listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2015-2025
New York State Bar Association Empire State Counsel® Program for Pro Bono Work Honoree, 2023
Recognized as a 2014 BTI Client Service All-Star
Listed in Legal Elite of WNY, Business First of Buffalo and Buffalo Law Journal, 2013
Awards & Certifications
Education & Admissions
Education
Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1984
National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1989
Canisius College, B.A., 1981
Admitted to Practice
New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Experience
Representative Matters
National representation of a major commercial/industrial hoist manufacturing company in product liability cases. Obtained multiple summary determinations on grounds of product modification, statute of repose, insufficiency of evidence and insufficiency of expert testimony.
Regional representation of a fire suppression company in property and personal injury cases. Obtained successful determinations based on causation, contractual indemnity, warranty and damage limitation provisions.
Represented an employer in defense of multiple OSHA citations after a workplace fatality. Obtained dismissal of all citations.
Represented a 24-year-old woman who was rendered a C-4 quadriplegic in a workplace accident in which she was crushed by an exercise machine. After an eight week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $65.9 million, which is the largest product liability verdict in Western New York and among the five largest product liability verdicts in the state.
Trial Experience
Mr. English has tried various matters in New York State, Federal, City and Justice Courts.
Barnhard v. Cybex International, Inc., Index No.: 2368/2005, New York State Supreme Court, Erie County; obtained $65.99 million verdict (2010).
Vengurlekar v. HSBC Bank USA, Case No. 03-Civil-0243, Hon. Laura T. Swain, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, obtained jury verdict/bench decision (2008) in class action alleging fraudulent transfer and ERISA claims.
Representative Cases
Commercial Litigation – Antitrust
Discon, Inc. v. NYNEX Corp., 93F.3d 1055 (2d Cir. 1996)
Discon, Inc. v NYNEX Corp., No. I-1995-9479, 2000 WL 33312196 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Dec. 29, 2000)
