Hawkins Parnell & Young Elects Four Equity Partners

February 19, 2020 – Press Release

February 19, 2020 (Atlanta, GA) – Hawkins Parnell & Young is pleased to announce the election of four attorneys as equity partners. The new equity partner class has been with the firm for 40 years cumulatively.

“We are confident they will continue to play a significant role in our bright future,” said Jack Sibley, managing partner of Hawkins Parnell & Young.

Kathryn S. (“Kate”) Whitlock (Atlanta) is a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 50 cases to verdict and has a long list of appellate decisions to her credit. She has spent her career in professional liability, products liability, and premises liability defending people when they are accused of not doing their jobs correctly (lawyers, insurance claims handlers, product designers, construction professionals, property managers and more). Kate obtained her J.D., with honors, from the University of Iowa College of Law and B.A., with special honors, from the University of Iowa. Kate joined the firm in Atlanta in 2011.

Barry R. Schirm (Los Angeles) is partner-in-charge of the Los Angeles office. He is a first-chair trial lawyer who primarily represents manufacturers in cases involving products liability, toxic torts, class actions, commercial litigation, and general insurance defense litigation. He has represented a number of the major automobile manufacturers in cases involving defect claims in addition to automotive warranty litigation. He received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and B.A. from California State University, Fullerton. Barry joined the firm in Los Angeles in 2010.

Edward R. Ulloa (Los Angeles) is a first-chair trial lawyer and litigation strategist whose national practice involves the defense of clients in high-risk, mass tort and products liability litigation, including asbestos, talc, e-cigarette and chemical exposure, flammable fabric and automotive product liability actions. Ed has served as first-chair trial counsel in over 50 jury trials in over a dozen states. He obtained his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and B.A. from California State University, Long Beach. Ed joined the firm in 2008 in Los Angeles.

Claire C. Weglarz (Los Angeles) is a first-chair trial attorney who represents public and private entities in high-risk litigation nationwide. She represents clients in a broad range of industries from energy and chemicals to manufacturing, automotive, and consumer goods. She has extensive experience in cases involving products liability, premises liability, environmental claims, and toxic exposures to asbestos, talc, benzene, and other various chemicals. She received her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and B.S. in biology from Loyola Marymount University. Claire joined the firm in Los Angeles in 2009.

About Hawkins Parnell & Young

Hawkins Parnell & Young is a national defense litigation firm that has represented many of the largest and most well-known companies in high-risk litigation and business disputes. The firm works with clients to develop winning defense strategies and, if necessary, try cases to verdict across the United States.