Biography
Heather Kirkpatrick is a partner at DeHay & Elliston, manages the California offices and serves as National Coordinating Counsel, overseeing litigation throughout the country. In this capacity, she oversees and directs all aspects of the client’s defense including discovery strategy, preparation and defense of corporate representative witnesses, motion practice, trial preparation, management of defense spend, and settlement negotiations.
Ms. Kirkpatrick has represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in Personal Injury Litigation since 2011. She has focused on defense work, defending a wide range of clients including manufacturers, supply chain stores, premises owners, public transportation companies, public entities, and large utility companies. She has also represented a religious organization against five-decade old claims of negligence stemming from allegations of sexual assault at the local level.
Ms. Kirkpatrick earned her Juris Doctorate from The University of San Francisco School of Law. While at USF Law she was on the board of The Women’s Law Association and was an active member of the Trial Advocacy Team. Heather studied International Law at Trinity University in Dublin, Ireland during the summer of 2008. She also obtained a Certificate in Business and Corporate Law from USF Law. Ms. Kirkpatrick graduated from University of California, Davis in 2007 with a B.A. in both English and Political Science. While earning her undergraduate degrees she studied in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh.
Honors
Ms. Kirkpatrick was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022; a distinction earned by only 2.5% of eligible attorneys.
Bar Admissions
California
United States District Court- Central District of California
United States District Court- Northern District of California
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law, Juris Doctorate
University of San Francisco School of Law, Business Law Certificate
University of California Davis, Bachelor of Arts degrees in both English and Political Science
Associations & Memberships
California State Bar Association
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Contra Costa Bar Association
Presentations
The Advantages of a Diversified Litigation Team in Light of Current Jury Trends. Presented at the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada Annual Conference, December 9, 2022.
Combating Nuclear Verdicts with a Diversified Trial Team. Presented at the Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar, June 24, 2022.
Women in the Law: Litigating as a Young Woman. Presented at USF Law School, May 2015
The Role of the Young Associate: Handling Litigation Pressure Presented at USF Law School, April 3, 2014
Ride Share Liability: Insurance in the World of Ride Share. Presented at the American Inns of Court, USF Chapter, October 9, 2013