Hawkins Parnell Elects Eight New Partners

August 15, 2018 (Atlanta, GA) – Hawkins Parnell & Young is pleased to announce the election of seven attorneys to its partnership from offices in California, Georgia, New York, and Texas.

• Kathleen M. Benton (Los Angeles, CA) specializes in the defense of complex product liability and toxic tort litigation. Katie earned her J.D. from Pepperdine University and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California.
• Joseph R. Connelly III (Buffalo, NY) focuses on defending high-value insurance claims, product liability, and toxic tort litigation related to asbestos and cosmetic talcum powder. He represents large manufacturers of construction materials, industrial equipment, automotive products, naval equipment, and consumer goods, in addition to premises owners and retailers. Joe earned his J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law and his B.A. from Fordham University.
• Phil J. Montoya, Jr. (Los Angeles, CA) has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of employment law, contract litigation, and personal injury. Phil has tried cases as first-chair and obtained favorable outcomes for a variety of clients from employees accused of trade secret theft to companies in employment and contract disputes, and catastrophic injury. He received his J.D. and B.S. from the University of Southern California.
• Paula D. Pendley (Los Angeles, CA) is a trial lawyer, with a focus on products liability, contracts, premises liability, toxic tort, and environmental litigation. She received her J.D. and her B.A., cum laude, from Pepperdine University.
• Douglas R. Simek (Dallas, TX) is a trial lawyer and manages complex product liability and toxic tort litigation nationwide. Doug has extensive experience in trial and appellate courts defending personal injury and wrongful death cases involving toxic exposures to asbestos, silica, talc, benzene, vinyl chloride, and various chemicals. His clients include product manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and professional service providers. He received his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and his B.A. from the University of Dayton.