Lecturer Bios
Robert Kelner, Esq.
Mr. Kelner graduated from Columbia University School of Law, and is a member of the
Bar of the State of New York. He is admitted to the United States District Court,
Southern and Eastern Districts.
Currently, Mr. Kelner is a member of the law firm Kelner
& Kelner, Esqs., specializing in the practice of personal injury, medical malpractice and
products liability law. He has obtained many verdicts in excess of $10,000,000, including
one verdict of approximately $23,000,000 (Martin v. Dellwood) and one verdict in excess
of $36,000,000 (Driscoll v. New York City Transit Authority).
Mr. Kelner has lectured
before virtually all major bar associations in Continuing Legal Education Programs,
including, but not limited to, the New York State Bar Association, New York State Trial
Lawyers Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the New York
County Lawyers’ Association, where he is Co-chair of the annual Civil Trial Practice
Institute.
In addition, he lectured at Princeton University and Columbia University School
of Law. Mr. Kelner is the author of numerous publications and serves as co-columnist of
the New York Law Journal’s monthly column on Trial Practice.
Sean F.X. Dugan, Esq.
Sean F.X. Dugan is a Senior Partner as Martin Clearwater & Bell. His proficiency
in the law and persuasive oratory skills are exemplary, but it’s his keen
understanding of the psychological dynamics of the jury decision-making process
that makes him an extraordinarily effective defense attorney.
Many of Sean’s
most difficult cases involve catastrophic injuries and bereaved family members,
and he is particularly adept at presenting a defense that carefully navigates this
emotionally fraught terrain while keeping the jury focused on the larger picture.
He is a member and past President of the N.Y.C. Chapter of the American Board
of Trial Advocates, and a member of the Association for Healthcare Risk
Management of New York.
He is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the
National Board of Trial Advocacy and as a Charter Fellow by the Litigation
Counsel of America. He is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in American Law and is
rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating. Sean has
been selected to The Best Lawyers in America© since 2019 for Medical
Malpractice Law – Defendants, and received a Lifetime Achievement award from
America’s Top 100 Attorneys.
Sean has published in several peer reviewed
medical and scientific journals, including New York State Journal of Medicine,
and For the Defense™. He is frequently asked to make presentations to various
departments within client medical institutions concerning a wide range of topics,
and he is a sought after lecturer to surgeons, hospital administrators, claims
personnel, attorneys and other professionals in a variety of settings, meetings
and seminars.
He received a BA from State University of New York at Oneonta
and a JD from Pace University School of Law and an LLM in environmental Law.
His Bar admissions include: New York, New Jersey, United States District Court
for the State of New Jersey, United States District Courts for the Southern and
Eastern Districts of New York, United States Supreme Court, Second Circuit
Court of Appeals.
John McNicholas, Esq.
John McNicholas is a founding partner at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP. He
attended University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor’s
Degree in History and graduated from Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount
University.
He taught Trial Advocacy at Loyola Law School (1991-1997 and
serves on the Loyola Law School Board of Directors (2008 – present). He
served on the State Bar of California, Committee on Judicial Nominees
Evaluation aka the “Jenny Commission” (1991-2002), the Board of Trustees
(2005-2008), as Vice President of the State Bar (2007-2008) and on the
Committee of Bar examiners (2008 – 2012; Chair 2011-2012).
He is a Diplomate
of the American Board of Trial Advocates (1998 – present; a Fellow of The
American College of Trial Lawyers (1985 – present) and a Fellow of The
International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1996 – present). He has served as judge
pro tem., Los Angeles Superior Court, since 1991 and continues to server in that
capacity.
John Sharer, Esq.
John Sharer of Gibson Dunn and Crutcher, attended UCLA and Law school at
UCLA where he was a member of the Law review and Order of the Coif. He is
admitted to the California State Bar, Bar of the USDC California, 9th Circuit and
US Supreme Court.
He is a member of the International Academy of Trial
Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition to practicing law, he
is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School where he teaches trial
advocacy related skills.
