Nina Webb-Lawton has litigation experience in a broad range of areas, including toxic tort defense, employment, contract litigation, antitrust, and appellate work. She has broad experience defending cases involving asbestos, silica, and benzene.
- Represented more than two dozen defendants in all stages of asbestos and benzene litigation, including trial and appeal, throughout the state of Ohio.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a product manufacturer in a silicosis case. Successfully defended the verdict in post-trial briefing.
- Served as National Coordinating Counsel with respect to asbestos personal injury claims for a Fortune 500 company. Liaised with local counsel and participating in asbestos litigation in California and other western states. Oversaw preparation of responses to written discovery in connection with all cases nationwide.
- Won summary judgment in numerous asbestos cases.
- Served on the fact and expert witness depositions team and the motions team in connection with the defense of product liability claims that were consolidated into a multi-district litigation. Led a motions team, with responsibility for the timely filing of over 100 motions and oppositions.
- Supported and defended Ohio’s asbestos reform legislation, House Bill 292, including preparing legislative testimony for a former Ohio Supreme Court Justice in support of the bill and taking a major role in defending the law in the appellate courts, resulting in a ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court that the legislation can be applied retroactively.
- Represented a group of national retailers in litigation alleging price-fixing in violation of the U.S. antitrust laws.
- Participate in a successful evidentiary hearing involving new scientific and DNA evidence in a death penalty case.
Admissions
- California
- Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
- Ohio Women’s Bar Association, Member
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
- Environmental Law and Toxic Tort Substantive Law Group
- Chair, 2011-2013, 2024-present
- Vice Chair, 2009-2011
- Environmental Law and Toxic Tort Substantive Law Group
- Defense Research Institute, Member, 2024-present
- Goodwill Columbus, Board of Directors, 2013-2022
Education
- J.D., University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
- Order of the Coif
- California Law Review
- B.A., Russian and Soviet Studies, Oberlin College
- Phi Beta Kappa
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” distinction in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2025
- Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2024-2025
- Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Antitrust Law, 2022; Litigation – Antitrust, 2023
- Goodwill Columbus 2019 Annual Meeting, Chair’s Award, 2019
- Ohio Diversity Council, One of the Most Powerful & Influential Women, 2017
- Super Lawyers® distinction in General Litigation, 2013-2015
- Super Lawyers® , Top 25 Women Columbus Area Super Lawyers, 2014
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2021
- AV Peer Review Rated ®, Martindale-Hubbell
- Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in General Litigation, 2005