Ragan Naresh, P.C.
Overview
Ragan Naresh litigates complex civil disputes nationwide, with a focus on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) and class action practice. Ragan has represented clients in a wide variety of such cases, with substantial experience in the energy, agriculture, and telecommunications sectors. Ragan represents clients from pre-litigation counseling, through the briefing and discovery process, and through trial and appeal, as necessary.
Ragan has achieved numerous significant outcomes for his clients. For example, Ragan recently first-chaired a federal jury trial for EQT in a case alleging trespass and conversion of oil and gas rights, with the jury delivering a unanimous defense verdict for EQT. In a related case, Ragan was recognized for his work in obtaining a favorable ruling on class certification, where plaintiffs sought to certify a class of over 1,000 landowners. Ragan also obtained a series of favorable rulings for client Chesapeake Energy in Ohio, including entry of summary judgment in two certified statewide class actions. Ragan frequently lectures on class actions at the D.C. Bar and the Federal Bar Association and has written numerous articles on that topic. Several years ago, Ragan was recognized by Law360 as one of six attorneys nationwide as a “Rising Star” for his work in class action litigation. His work has been recognized by Super Lawyers, where he was named a “Rising Star” five times, and by The Legal 500 for his work in energy litigation and false advertising litigation.
Ragan serves on the board of directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and maintains an active pro bono practice. For example, Ragan and a team of Kirkland lawyers, in partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, recently won a precedent-setting judgment holding neo-Nazi defendants liable for hate crimes and harassment after Kirkland’s client was elected as the first female African- American student body president of American University. Ragan also represents clients in immigration and asylum proceedings on a pro bono basis.
Ragan also serves as the hiring partner in Kirkland’s Washington, D.C., office.
Experience
Representative Matters
Co-lead counsel for herbicide manufacturer in multidistrict litigation involving thousands of lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions alleging neurological injuries from exposure to the product. In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, 21-md-2004 (S.D. Ill.).
Trial counsel for Rice Drilling D, LLC in a jury trial in which plaintiffs sought over $60 million in damages for allegedly trespassing on and converting their oil and gas below the surface. Successfully defeated several claims prior to trial with dispositive motions and, after a two-week jury trial before the Chief Judge of the Southern District of Ohio, secured a unanimous jury verdict in the client’s favor. TERA II, LLC et al v. Rice Drilling D, LLC et al., 2:19-cv-02221 (S.D. Ohio).
Counsel to an oil producer in putative class action litigation alleging failure to pay statutory interest to royalty owners. Class allegations struck; appeal denied. Hystad Ceynar Minerals v. Whiting Oil & Gas, 1:22-cv-00138 (D.N.D.).
Trial counsel for seed manufacturer in multidistrict litigation involving tens of thousands of class action and individual lawsuits alleging damages because China had not approved certain corn seeds for import. In re Syngenta AG MIR162 Litigation, 14-md-2591 (D. Kan.).
Counsel for energy producers in putative North Dakota class action claiming breach of oil and gas leases. Certified question answered in client’s favor by North Dakota Supreme Court. Blasi v. Lime Rock Resources, 2021 WL 2006233 (N.D., May 20, 2021).
Counsel for natural gas producer seeking class certification of claims alleging trespass and conversion of hydrocarbons in Ohio. Class certification denied. Passmore, et al. v. Rice Drilling D, LLC, et al., 18-cv-01587 (S.D. Ohio, Mar. 28, 2023).
Counsel for natural gas producers in putative Ohio class action claiming breach of natural gas leases. Summary judgment entered in client’s favor and class certification denied. Lutz v. Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., 2017 WL 4810703 (N.D. Ohio, Oct. 25, 2017), affirmed 807 Fed. Appx. 528 (6th Cir., 2020).
Counsel for renewable energy producer in putative nationwide class action claiming nuisance, negligence and failure to obtain necessary approvals. Temporary restraining order denied and case dismissed. Mattwaoshshe v. NextEra Energy, et al., 2021 WL 3633695 (D.D.C., Aug. 17, 2021).
Counsel for natural gas producers in certified Ohio class actions claiming breach of natural gas leases. Summary judgment entered in client’s favor in each case. Henceroth v. Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C., 2019 WL 4750661 (N.D. Ohio, Sept. 30, 2019), affirmed 814 Fed. Appx. 67 (6th Cir., 2020) and Zehentbauer v. Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C., 450 F. Supp. 3d 790 (N.D. Ohio, 2020).
Counsel for cable company in putative nationwide class actions in Connecticut federal court alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Summary judgment entered in client's favor and affirmed by Second Circuit on appeal. Simmons v. Charter Communications, Inc., 222 F. Supp. 3d 121 (D. Conn., 2016), affirmed 686 Fed. App’x 48 (2d Cir., 2017).
Counsel for natural gas producers in putative Pennsylvania class arbitration claiming breach of natural gas leases. Summary judgment entered in client’s favor and affirmed by Third Circuit on appeal. Scout v. Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., 2017 WL 1541659 (M.D. Pa., Apr. 28, 2017), affirmed 727 Fed. Appx. 749 (3d Cir., 2018).
Counsel for manufacturer of nutritional drink in putative nationwide class action in California federal court alleging violation of California consumer protection and false advertising laws and other statutory and common laws. Class certification denied. Otto v. Abbott Laboratories, 2015 WL 9698992 (C.D. Cal., Sept. 29, 2015).
Counsel for medical device manufacturer in putative class action alleging false advertising regarding electronic testing devices. Class certification denied. Andren v. Alere, Inc., 2017 WL 6509550 (S.D. Cal., Dec. 20, 2017).
Clerk & Government Experience
Law ClerkHonorable John D. BatesUnited States District Court for the District of Columbia
Pro Bono
Pro bono counsel representing plaintiff against perpetrators of hate crime-related troll storm on American University campus.
Pro bono counsel in numerous cases in Immigration Court and U.S. Courts of Appeals representing refugees seeking asylum in the United States.
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
“Marketability and Enhancement in the Utica,” Dan Donovan, Ragan Naresh and Holly Trogdon, Landman Magazine, (May, June 2022)
“Class Action Settlement Approval in an Era of Heightened Judicial Scrutiny,” Dan Donovan, Ragan Naresh and Carrie J. Bodner, New York Law Journal (February 27, 2019)
“Mitigating Energy Litigation Where Gaps in Jurisprudence Exist,” Dan Donovan, Ragan Naresh and Alexandra Caritis, Texas Lawyer (August 10, 2018)
Press Mentions
“How Kirkland & Ellis Litigators Became a National Brand in Oil and Gas,” The American Lawyer Litigation Daily (March 21, 2024)
Recognition
“Litigator of the Week” runners-up by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for securing a unanimous jury verdict in a federal trial where plaintiffs were seeking $100 million in mineral trespass claims in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of client Rice Drilling D, LLC
Up and Coming: Oil & Gas Litigation, Chambers USA, 2023
Energy Litigation, The Legal 500, 2019–2023
“Litigator of the Week” runners-up by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for class certification denial in a case involving more than 1,200 oil and gas leases in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of client Rice Drilling D, LLC
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Pro Bono Service Award
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2014–present
Rising Star, Class Action Litigation, Law360
Memberships & Affiliations
Faculty at D.C. Bar and Federal Bar Association in CLE courses related to class action litigation developments
Faculty at D.C. Bar on litigation skills training
Adjunct Professor of Law, Catholic University Law School
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2008New York
- 2008District of Columbia
Courts
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Languages
- English
- German
Education
- Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.magna cum laude2007Order of the Coif
- Tulane UniversityB.A., Political Economy & German Studies2001