People
Chilton Varner focuses on product liability, business torts, contract and other commercial disputes. As a partner in our Mass Tort and Toxic Tort practice, Chilton defends corporate clients in a range of commercial litigation.
With 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Chilton represents clients in mass tort litigation, class actions and multi-district litigation. She has served as trial and appellate counsel for a number of the country’s largest pharmaceutical, medical device and automotive manufacturers.
Chilton was appointed to the Federal Civil Rules Advisory Committee by Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2004 and reappointed by Chief Justice John Roberts in 2007, where she participated in drafting amendments governing electronic discovery and changes to the rules governing summary judgment, expert discovery and information-gathering from third parties and corporate executives. In 2012-13, Chilton was President of the American College of Trial Lawyers. She is currently President of the Supreme Court Historical Society.
Chilton became the first woman partner in our litigation practices in 1983. She speaks regularly on women’s issues and has taught a session of the Temple University Graduate Program in Litigation titled “Women as Trial Lawyers.” She also gave the Kolsby Distinguished Lecture in Trial Advocacy at Temple University Law School in 2014.
In 2016, Chilton was recognized as a Life Sciences Star by LMG Life Sciences and identified as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 U.S. She was also recognized by Benchmark Litigation in its 2016 edition of Top 250 Women in Litigation.
Since 2003, Chambers USA has recognized Chilton as a leader in Commercial Litigation, Product Liability and Trial practice, and since 2005 as one of the country's best lawyers as well as a Band 1 Product Liability lawyer. And in 2015, Chambers USA also ranked her in Band 1 of trial lawyers nationally and in Band 1 of Georgia commercial litigators. In 2019, The Best Lawyers in America named her for her work in appellate practice, bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, mass tort litigation/class actions-defendants, personal injury litigation-defendants and product liability litigation-defendants.
J.D., Emory University, with distinction
A.B., Smith College, with distinction
Georgia
American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
American College of Trial Lawyers
American Law Institute
Supreme Court Historical Society
June 6, 2024
King & Spalding Earns 198 Lawyer Rankings, 90 Practice Group Rankings in Chambers USA Guide
February 16, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Strong Rankings in Chambers Global 2024 Guide
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Co-lead counsel for hundreds of cases in In re Fosamax MDL (D.N.J.) for Merck.
Lead counsel for hundreds of cases in In re Paxil MDL (C.D.Cal.) for GlaxoSmithKline.
National trial counsel for a major defendant in hundreds of cases in In re Silicone Breast Implants MDL (N.D.Ala.).
March 28, 2023
The Product Regulation and Liability Review: Editors' Preface
June 6, 2024
King & Spalding Earns 198 Lawyer Rankings, 90 Practice Group Rankings in Chambers USA Guide
February 16, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Strong Rankings in Chambers Global 2024 Guide
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
Co-lead counsel for hundreds of cases in In re Fosamax MDL (D.N.J.) for Merck.
Lead counsel for hundreds of cases in In re Paxil MDL (C.D.Cal.) for GlaxoSmithKline.
National trial counsel for a major defendant in hundreds of cases in In re Silicone Breast Implants MDL (N.D.Ala.).
March 28, 2023
The Product Regulation and Liability Review: Editors' Preface
June 6, 2024
King & Spalding Earns 198 Lawyer Rankings, 90 Practice Group Rankings in Chambers USA Guide
February 16, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Strong Rankings in Chambers Global 2024 Guide
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
J.D., Emory University, with distinction
A.B., Smith College, with distinction
Georgia
American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
American College of Trial Lawyers
American Law Institute
Supreme Court Historical Society