Christine D. Calareso

Partner & Director of California Offices

Email me (949) 467-9605

Christine D. Calareso is a seasoned litigator in the areas of toxic tort, environmental, products liability, and general liability.
Ms. Calareso primarily represents various defendants in toxic tort litigation, including cases arising out of alleged exposure to asbestos, talc, benzene, diacetyl, chemicals, and mixed dusts. Christine’s clients include manufacturers, suppliers, distributers, and premises defendants from a wide array of industries, including automotive/friction, construction, printing, plumbing, Naval, textile, and food services. She also has significant experience litigating Proposition 65 actions and complex workers’ compensation actions, including cases involving large utility companies.

Christine’s considerable experience in Toxic Tort/Environmental provides her with a unique ability to litigate and negotiate even the most complex and hotly contested cases. She works closely with her clients – including carriers, insureds (from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies), experts and third-party participants – to develop creative and effective defenses for clients seasoned in litigation, as well as clients sued for the first time. She is well respected by judges, mediators, and opposing counsel, which allows her to negotiate dismissals for her clients, prevail on summary judgment motions, and craft and negotiate creative and beneficial settlements. She is fully committed to serving her clients’ interests from the inception of a case to the end of trial, and is often called on by other attorneys to assist in negotiation strategy and development of novel defenses.

Christine has been called upon to speak at conferences and to clients on various subject matters, including developments in asbestos-related case law in California, as well as negotiation strategies. She has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star every year since 2011, and has earned an “AV Preeminent®” rating from Martindale Hubbell.

When not helping clients with their legal needs, Christine dedicates her time to World Vision, A-21 Campaign, and International Justice Mission, organizations committed to the rights of women and children around the world, and the eradication of human trafficking and global poverty. She has lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. several years in a row with her family, meeting with senators and representatives, and seeking the passage of various bills in support of funding to fight human and sex trafficking, as well as for global access to clean water and education. Several of the bills Christine has lobbied for have since passed Congress and have been signed into law.

Through World Vision, Christine and her family also currently sponsor 20 individual children in Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, India, and Mexico.
Christine lives with her husband and two rambunctious sons, as well as Henry the dog, Commander Cody the cat, and Blue Stinger the fish.