HarrisMartin's DNA and Molecular Evidence in Toxic Torts Conference: A Scientific Revolution in Asbestos, Benzene and Environmental Litigation Speaker Profiles

Howard E. Jarvis is a member of the firm whose primary areas of practice include toxic tort, environmental, product liability and insurance defense litigation. In his practice, he has served as either lead counsel or lead co-counsel in toxic tort and environmental litigation in Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, California, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Indiana, West Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi and Florida. Mr. Jarvis is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of product liability litigation and has been included in the 2012 Top Rated Lawyers Guide to Energy/Environmental/Natural Resources Law.

On behalf of several petrochemical companies he has handled multiplaintiff toxic tort cases in various jurisdictions. These cases have involved both personal injury and property damage claims as a result of alleged chemical exposure. He has argued cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court and Tennessee Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Jarvis, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1976, with a B.A. in history. He obtained his J.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979.

Mr. Jarvis is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the Knoxville Bar Foundation and a member of the Section of Litigation and the Section of Corporate Counsel of the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of The Episcopal School of Knoxville. He has served as the chairman of the Fee Dispute Committee of the Knoxville Bar Association and was awarded the President's Award in 1997 for his service to the Bar.

Over the last several years, Mr. Jarvis has spoken at seminars on the topics of toxic torts, trial practice, and ethics. He has spoken at the Texas Wesleyan School of Law. He is co-author of the articles Trace Benzene Cases in the Real World: Is a Trace Benzene Case Really a Benzene Case? Litigation Watch: Benzene June 2005 and Mechanism or Causation? The New Battle Over Benzene Metabolites Litigation Watch: Benzene May 2006.

As of June 2011, I created my own law firm and joined a national consulting firm focused on mass tort and environment issues. The law firm is known as LSP Group LLC. The LSP stands for Law, Science, and Policy. The economic and litigation consulting firm is Gnarus Advisors LLC. See www.gnarusllc.com. The consulting firm was founded by a friend, Steve Sellick, and is full of very smart PhD types who help businesses create answers to tough problems, and also serve as expert witnesses. The consulting work frees me to act in new ways, including serving as an expert witness.

I also write a blog - www.GlobalTort.com. The blog focuses on the changing and growing intersections between law and science.

My skills arise from almost 30 years of litigation experience focused on mass tort issues, commercial litigation, insurance recovery claims, product liability, and "legacy liability" issues that arise from long-tail tort claims. My experiences and interests are unique because I'm skilled across many areas of law, and greatly enjoy and follow new science. Outside of litigation, I also advise companies on a wide range of business and legal issues, including indemnification rights and obligations, and other aspects of so-called "legacy liabilities."

Representing Fortune 500 clients and other private entities, I've tried and won cases in state, federal and arbitration forums, and authored briefs for the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.

I frequently write articles, and speak at (or co-chair) US and international litigation conferences. My resume lists the articles and conferences.

My pro bono work is focused on working the Cancer Legal Resources Center and other lawyers to assert the legal rights of cancer patients, survivors and their families.

Outside of work, my two teenage daughters are a priority. Personal interests include scuba diving with my girls (we are all PADI certified), golf, reading, and gardening.

Specialties:Use of trusts to resolve mass tort claims, mass tort claims, commercial litigation, and indemnification rights and obligations