Kristina Berkover - Alton, IL

Attorney Kristina Berkover is an associate at Simmons Hanly Conroy in the Complex Litigation Department. She focuses her practice on complex litigation with a specialization in prescription opioid and pharmaceutical cases. Her responsibilities include managing the discovery process and preparing for trial against companies that have caused harm in the opioid epidemic.

"I work with meticulous attention to detail in an effective and efficient way to ensure the best results for our clients," Kristina said. "I truly believe in the work our firm does."

Fighting the Opioid Epidemic

Simmons Hanly Conroy is at the forefront of unprecedented litigation that seeks to resolve the ongoing opioid epidemic. The litigation seeks to secure meaningful funds for communities that incurred millions in costs related to dealing with the estimated 400,000 opioid-related deaths since 1996.

Kristina's primary role involves coordinating with teams of attorneys during the discovery process to ensure each detail of important information gets the attention it deserves. She reviews documents to make sure sensitive information is protected and conveyed to attorneys before they handle a case in court. She also researches and analyzes discovery and varying components of the case, supplying vital information for depositions.

"Each step makes progress in the fight toward justice for those impacted by the opioid epidemic," she said. "Ensuring things are done properly in the discovery process forms the foundation for meaningful results for our clients."

Background and Experience

In addition to Kristina's main practice area of opioid litigation, she has worked on discovery for the DePuy Pinnacle litigation involving patients harmed by Johnson & Johnson's metal-on-metal hip implants as well as document production review on a case involving shattering roofs in Nissan vehicles. She also assisted with the discovery process on lawsuits involving potential vision damage from Elmiron, a prescription medication to treat bladder discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis.

Prior to joining the firm, Kristina advocated for clients in family and immigration law and appeared regularly in state and federal court. She worked with refugees seeking asylum as well as victims of domestic violence. During law school, she worked for multiple Illinois state agencies, developing knowledge of the public sector.

"Before my legal career, I advocated for the public interest in the public, private, and non-profit sectors," Kristina said. "These past experiences bring a unique perspective to the cases I work on at Simmons Hanly Conroy."

Education

Kristina received a B.S. in Public Affairs from Indiana University in Bloomington. She received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2017. During law school, she was a member of the Environmental Law Moot Court team and the Journal of Environmental and Energy Law. She received Baum Fellowship Awards for three semesters for her pro bono work in the Chicago Legal Clinic's Environmental and Energy Law Clinic.

In her spare time, Kristina enjoys running, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family, friends and dog. She particularly cherishes time with her young son.