Leland I. Kellner

University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)

Tufts University (B.A., magna cum laude)

• Inside View: A Frank Discussion of Legal and Ethical Considerations for Corporate Counsel, Moderator, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2026, Scottsdale, AZ
• The Long and Winding Road: ABS To ADAS To AVS—The Past, Present and Future, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2025, Scottsdale, AZ
• Real World Effectiveness of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Moderator, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2024, Scottsdale, AZ
• Autonomous Vehicle Regulations 2022, Presenter, Webinar for National Business Institute, September 2022
• National Firms Moving into Your Neighborhood?, Moderator, ABA TIPS Section Conference, May 2022, Baltimore, MD
• Danger! High Voltage, High Stakes: Safely and Effectively Managing Investigations With EVs, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2022, Scottsdale, AZ
• Picking a Winning Jury: Reach the Inner Mind of the Millennial and Gen Z, Presenter, ABA TIPS Section Conference, May 2019, New York, NY
• Highly Automated Vehicle Technology: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2019, Coronado, CA
• Challenging the Status Quo: Cutting Edge Trial Tactics and Themes in High Exposure Cases, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2018, Phoenix, AZ
• Practical Pointers on Experts: Examining Rule 26 on Experts, Effective Cross-Examination Techniques, Sharing of Experts, and Developing Qualified Newer Experts, Presenter, Automotive Product Liability Litigation, for the American Conference Institute, June 2017, Chicago, IL
• Managing the Corporate Counsel Relationship: The Ingredients of a Successful Attorney Client Relationship, Moderator, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2016, Phoenix, AZ
• Smart Cars: Automatic Braking Technology and Its Implications, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2015, Phoenix, AZ
• Rollovers: Trying the Side Airbag/Curtain Case, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• Handling Friction: Update on Asbestos Litigation, Presenter, Emerging Issues in Automotive Product Liability Litigation for ABA/TIPS, April 2013, Phoenix, AZ
• Insurance Coverage Issues in the Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation Arenas, Moderator, Hot Topics in Toxic Torts and Environmental Law for ABA/TIPS, April 2010, Phoenix, AZ

• Pro Bono Award, First Judicial District, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
• Chair, ABA TIPS Product Liability Committee, Committee Award For Outstanding Achievement

• Associate Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Admitted 2010
  • Executive Board of Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, 2010-2019
  • Presenter of “Civility Matters” programs to local law schools
• American Bar Association, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)
  • Revenue Officer, 2025-present
  • Revenue Officer-Elect, 2024-2025
  • Council Member, 2022-2024
  • Special Standing Committee Involvement
    • Section Conference NYC Co-Chair, May 2023
    • Section Conference Task Force, 2021-2025
    • Editor, The Brief, 2018-2021
    • General Committee Board, 2019 – 2020
    • Revenue Enhancement Committee, 2017-2018; 2022-present
    • Finance Committee, 2015-2017; 2022-present
  • Toxic Tort & Environmental Law Committee
    • Chair, 2019-2020
    • Program Vice-Chair: Hot Topics in Toxic Tort & Environmental Law, 2017-2018
    • Membership Vice Chair, 2015-2016; 2020-2021
    • Newsletter Vice-Chair, 2010-2012
  • Product Liability Committee
    • Chair, 2014-2015, Committee Award for Outstanding Achievement
    • Planning Committee, Spring Program – Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Litigation, 2012-present
  • Advisor to ABA for TIPS: “Event Data Recorders in Cars,” Uniform Law Commission Committee, New Drafting Committee, 2016-2019
• Judge Pro Tempore for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, 2009-present
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy Graduate, 2007

Defense Verdict in 350Z Alignment Defect & Rollover Case
Co-tried and received defense verdict in New Jersey for Nissan. Plaintiff asserted that his 350Z suddenly left the road due to alignment design defect and subsequently rolled over, resulting in spinal cord injuries, C5-7 fractures, and paralysis leading to surgical intervention. Jury found no defect.

Bench Trial Defense Verdict in Automotive Unintended Acceleration & Brake Failure Case
Served as solo trial counsel in this single-day personal injury/breach of warranty bench trial.  The case resulted in a defense verdict for Toyota.

Defense Verdict in Forklift Unintended Acceleration Design Defect Case
Co-tried and received defense verdict in Pennsylvania in forklift case for Toyota. Plaintiff alleged that his forklift experienced unintended acceleration while unattended by operator, slamming him into stationary warehouse equipment and causing severe cervical injury requiring surgical intervention. Jury found no defect.

Trial Win Against Elevator Mis-leveling Allegation
Co-tried personal injury on behalf of Otis Elevator before a jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.  Plaintiff asserted the elevator dropped after doors had opened, causing her to trip and sustain orthopedic fractures and other injuries. Judge granted defense motion for nonsuit after Plaintiff’s case.

Appellate Win Before Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Automotive Product Liability Matter
Successfully defended appeal of summary judgment granted in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, involving issues of expert opinion deficiencies on causation created through expert cross-examination.  Underlying case involved allegation that coolant leak from defectively designed pipes caused permanent respiratory injury and impairment.

Appellate Win Before New York Appellate Division
Appeal argued successfully resulted in reversal of trial court denial of summary judgment.  Summary judgment entered in favor of Nissan. Plaintiff/Appellee had asserted that lack of backup alarm, swivel seat, backup camera and other safety equipment resulted in forklift operator striking unaware pedestrian in warehouse at JFK Airport. Appellate Division agreed with argument that premises warehouse facility met standard for sophisticated purchaser and determiner of appropriate equipment for forklift at facility and forklift was therefore not defective.

Trial and Appellate Successes in Asbestos Exposure Litigation
Served as lead trial counsel in 30+ cases to verdict before juries in Philadelphia County on behalf of manufacturer of refractory products. All but two resulted in defense verdicts. Also have served as lead trial counsel in asbestos friction product matters in Philadelphia County for the automotive industry.  Argued appeals with success in Superior Court, Pennsylvania in asbestos matters.