Kay Martin is a partner in Crowell & Moring's San Francisco office and a member of the firm's Litigation and Torts Groups. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, including environmental and consumer class litigation.

Kay is the co-chair of the Crowell & Moring Diversity Council and serves on the Women Attorneys' Network Steering Committee. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, she was a partner at the San Francisco firm of Folger Levin & Kahn LLP. During law school, Kay served as an extern for Justice Joyce L. Kennard of the California Supreme Court.

Representative Matters

• Represented the City of Lodi, California in multiple related actions involving extensive PCE groundwater contamination including a CERCLA cost recovery suit against 100+ PRPs, a legal malpractice action against Lodi's former outside counsel and a federal court action against a Wall Street investment bank arising from the investment bank's financing of the former outside counsel's failed litigation strategy; obtained over $35 million in settlements.
• Represented owner of former pesticide formulation plant in seven-week bench trial of CERCLA contribution claims of over $30 million against other former owners, resulting in favorable judgment including award of prejudgment interest.
• Represented current and former property owners throughout California in responding to government agencies and obtaining contribution from other responsible parties for environmental cleanup efforts related to soil and groundwater contamination.
• Advised retailers regarding potential liability under and compliance with California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 ("Proposition 65").
• Defended Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company in consolidated consumer class action suits in Massachusetts state court; obtained reversal of plaintiffs' summary judgment from the Supreme Judicial Court in a unanimous decision; on remand, won motions for summary judgment and defeated plaintiffs' appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court.
• Defended Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company in a consumer class action in New York state court; won summary judgment and denial of class certification and defeated plaintiffs' appeal.
• Represented owner of 400+ unit apartment complex in construction litigation; obtained favorable settlements from subcontractors.
• Represented Kaufman & Broad (now KB Home) in a $50 million lawsuit brought by a regional subcontractor and supplier of lumber; obtained judgment on all claims and recovered over $1 million against the subcontractor's surety.