McCarter & English partner David R. Kott was recently honored with the 2025 Francis X. Dee Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) in recognition of his outstanding advocacy skills and dedication to improving trial standards.
For decades, Kott has represented NJBIA on behalf of New Jersey’s business community in amici legal briefs filed in state and federal courts. He is also a past Board Chair of the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute (NJCJI), the largest New Jersey-based civil justice reform organization.
Kott has tried more than 50 jury trials to verdict and argued numerous appeals, including 13 cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court.
A Fellow of the ACTL and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Kott received the award on May 29 at a ceremony at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge.
“My partner, David, is so deserving of this award, which by name honors one of the titans of the New Jersey trial bar,” said Joseph Lubertazzi, McCarter’s Chair. “David is a tireless advocate for his clients in the courtroom, and someone who has dedicated his professional life to justice.”
In addition to receiving this award, Kott is listed in Band 1 for Product Liability in New Jersey in the Chambers USA guide and has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the “New Jersey Lawyer of the Year” in product liability litigation twice.
The Francis X. Dee Award, established in 2018, celebrates the life of Francis X. Dee, an ACTL Fellow who was recognized by his peers as a trial lawyer who exemplified the profession’s highest ideals. The ACTL is an invitation-only Fellowship of exceptional trial lawyers from the United States and Canada who have demonstrated the very highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality.
