Biography

Robert Kum is a successful trial attorney in state and federal courts whose practice involves the representation of business clients in complex litigation matters concerning toxic torts, environmental and products liability cases in various state and federal courts throughout the United States.  He has extensive experience in dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation and has served as a mediator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. 

He currently leads the Toxic Tort Practice Group for the Los Angeles office.

Litigation Matters

• Defense of various occupational and residential toxic tort cases brought against various chemical manufacturers and suppliers and oil companies;
• Defense of various occupational and residential toxic tort cases brought against various chemical manufacturers and suppliers and oil companies;
• Defense of mass tort cases involving benzene and chromium exposure;
• National counsel for diacetyl and other food flavoring cases;
• Defense of multi-district litigation action involving welding rod exposure;
• Defense of asbestos and silica cases venued throughout the United States;
• Defense of groundwater contamination and other environmental matters;
• Defense of toxic torts cases based on silica and metal fume exposure;
• Defense of personal injury lawsuits against the hair care industries
• Representation of companies in CERCLA and Superfund matters;
• Representation of big box retailer in products liability lawsuits; and
• Guidance to clients regarding regulatory and compliance issues including Prop 65 and state/federal hazard communications requirements.

Notable Trials

• Daily Journal Top Defense Verdicts of 2012 – Velasquez v. Centrome et al. Defense verdict obtained in first diacetyl case to be tried in California 
• Ford v. Home Depot – Defense verdict in product liability action venued in United States Central District Court (Eastern Division)

Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments

Mr. Kum is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia.  He is admitted to practice in all of the California state courts, the United States District Court for the Central, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of California and the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. 

He is a member of the Toxic Tort subcommittees of the American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. 

He was named a "Southern California Super Lawyer” for 2009-2013  and a "Southern California Super Lawyer-Rising Star" for 2005-2008 by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine and The Journal for Law & Politics.

Publications

• “An Overview of the Underlying Policy and Application of the Raw Material and Bulk Supplier Defenses,” DRI Toxic Torts Newsletter (October 2011)
• “Reclassification of Two Industrial Chemicals in New Report on Carcinogens May Increase Toxic Tort Litigation,” Daily Journal (June 2011)