Kevin R. Gardner

Kevin Gardner has an expansive litigation practice that includes complex commercial, construction and environmental cases, class actions, product liability claims, employment matters, restrictive covenant disputes and trade secret litigation. With experience serving as national coordinating counsel and regional litigation counsel for multiple multinational corporations, and court-appointed liaison counsel in mass tort litigation, Kevin represents clients in federal and state courts as well as alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

In addition to his litigation practice, Kevin has substantial experience handling crisis management issues following major disasters and regularly assists companies in preparing and executing crisis management plans, coordinating investigations and implementing emergency response plans. He has also served as a mediator in more than 550 private and court-ordered mediations, as an arbitrator by court appointment in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and as a fee arbitrator by designation of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Strongly committed to legal education, for 35 years Kevin has served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law and Rutgers University Law School teaching courses in civil practice, crisis management and legal strategy. He has been the sole or primary speaker for more than 75 civil litigation programs for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Kevin has also lectured at New York University Stern School of Business, as well as numerous state and national legal organizations. In 2013, he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association for his contributions to continuing legal education.

By appointment of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Kevin has served six terms as a member of the Supreme Court's Civil Practice Committee. 

Representative Experience
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

• In Re Durham Woods Litigation. Counsel for pipeline company in natural gas transmission line explosion and fire that destroyed 228 apartment units, resulting in over 1200 lawsuits and claims, with respect to the civil litigation as well as the criminal, NTSB and OSHA investigations
• Passaic River Litigation. Counsel for public utility in Spill Act litigation concerning the environmental remediation of the Passaic River
• PPA Litigation. Counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturer in product liability class actions and 110 individual cases, court-appointed defense liaison counsel
• In Re Port Elizabeth Warehouse Fire Litigation. Counsel for public utility in $195 million fire litigation
• Seton Hall University Dormitory Fire. Counsel for University with respect to OSHA, regulatory and criminal investigations, as well as civil litigation arising from dormitory fire that resulted in multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries
• Ford Edison Plant Litigation. Counsel to environmental consulting firm in investigation by Department of Environmental Protection and civil litigation arising from decommissioning of automobile assembly plant
• Bergenfield Apartment Explosion and Fire. Counsel for utility in litigation resulting from natural gas explosion that destroyed an apartment building, causing multiple fatalities and numerous injuries
• Ultra Additives Chemical Plant Fire. Counsel for chemical company as to cause and origin, environmental and OSHA investigations, as well as insurance issues in connection with chemical plant fire
• In Re PSE&G Derivative Shareholder Litigation, 320 N.J. Super. 112 (Ch. Div. 1998). Counsel for corporation in shareholder class action
• Geraci v. Gaitway Farm, Inc. Counsel for stable owner in barn fire that destroyed 21 standard bred racing horses with respect to civil litigation and insurance issues

Professional and Community Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Risk and Insurance Management Society
• Defense Research Institute
• USLAW Network
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America 
  • Member, Trial Law Institute
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute 
• Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall University School of Law
• Adjunct Professor, Rutgers University School of Law
• Lecturer, New York University Stern School of Business
• Faculty Member, National Institute for Trial Advocacy
• Faculty Member, New Jersey Attorney General's Advocacy Institute
• Speaker, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education
• Master, Seton Hall Law School Inn of Court
• President and Member, Summit Board of Recreation
• Board of Directors Member and Coach, Summit Lacrosse Club
• Volunteer and Legal Counsel, Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad
• Volunteer Other Fellow First Foundation

Chambers USA (2021-2024)

• Environmental Law - New Jersey

Tri-County Scholarship Fund, Trustees of Justice Award (2018)

New Jersey State Bar Association Distinguished Service Award (2013)

Best Lawyers in America (2002-2025)

• Real Estate Law (2023)
• Commercial Litigation (2002-present)
• Environmental Litigation (2016-present)
• Commercial Litigation - New York (2011)

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

New Jersey Super Lawyers (2011-2020, 2024)

Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rated (1986-present)

_{Please see Honor and Award Methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.}