Kevin E. Whelan
Kevin E. Whelan

Kevin Whelan is a partner in Walsworth’s Irvine office, where he focuses his practice on toxic tort, product liability, insurance bad faith and general liability matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he has built his career representing multinational businesses, nationwide insurers, and global manufacturers and distributors. Kevin combines strategic thinking with practical judgment to develop litigation strategies tailored to each client’s objectives, helping them navigate complex disputes with confidence.

Kevin is committed to delivering thoughtful advocacy rooted in integrity, preparation, and results. He believes in approaching each matter by identifying the key issues, uncovering what remains unknown, and developing a strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients. 

Throughout his career, Kevin has served as first-chair trial counsel, overseeing all aspects of litigation from case strategy and discovery through trial and appeal. He represents clients in complex disputes and advises corporate clients on litigation strategy, risk management, and business objectives. Kevin draws on his experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants to anticipate opposing arguments and develop well-rounded, strategic solutions. He finds environmental and toxic tort litigation especially rewarding because of the intricate legal issues and evolving nature of the practice, which continue to challenge and inspire him decades into his career.

Outside the office, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, cooking and playing and writing music on guitar. He and his wife are active in their local community, and Kevin enjoys supporting and volunteering for his youngest son’s high school baseball team while cheering on his older sons as they pursue their own paths. Whether taking the family dog to the beach or getting away with family and friends, he values making time for the people and experiences that matter most.

  • Obtained defense verdict on behalf of global automotive repair equipment manufacturer after 30-day asbestos trial.
  • Obtained defense verdict on behalf of regional plumbing supplier after two-week asbestos trial.
  • Obtained defense verdict on behalf of top three national insurance company and its broker after two-week insurance bad faith trial.
  • Obtained defense verdict on behalf of medical device manufacturer after three-week fraud and breach of warranty trial relating to product advertisement/marketing, misuse and improper billing of Medicare.
  • Obtained numerous summary judgments for product clients by challenging legal causation, successor corporation status, and/or no duty to warn re products manufactured by a third-party.
  • Successfully attacked traumatic brain injury allegations/evidence on numerous occasions and excluded so-called “advanced” brain MRI techniques (DTI, volumetric/NeuroQuant, etc.) from trial, resulting in significantly reduced settlement demands and satisfactory resolutions in clear liability matters.

When outside the office, Kevin enjoys…

01. Spending Time with Family
02. Writing Music
03. Cooking