David Weder focuses his practice on toxic tort litigation, managing all stages from initial pleading through disposition.  He collaborates with his clients and national counsel to develop strategy; as well as taking plaintiff fact and expert witness depositions developing fact, expert, and corporate representative witnesses in conjunction with national counsel and defending their depositions; navigating discovery disputes; negotiating settlements; and trial preparation.  His toxic tort clients include premises and products defendants in the petrochemical and telecommunications industries.

David has handled claims involving premises and products liability in Madison, St. Clair, McLean, Cook, and Morgan counties in Illinois and in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.  He also handles settlement negotiations and fact or expert depositions for his clients in other jurisdictions, as needed.

In other areas of litigation, David has handled a variety of civil matters in state and federal courts, including contract disputes, real estate, intellectual property, business breakups, and construction matters.

In addition, he is experienced in transactional issues including contracts, such as service agreements, licenses, web and software development agreements, and website terms of use.  He advises clients on a variety of intellectual property, contract dispute resolution, and product and service liability issues. His transactional clients include an internationally recognized gemological laboratory, law firms, authors, and manufacturers. 

Professional Affiliations

• Madison County, IL Bar Association, Immediate Past President (2019-2020); President (2018-2019); First Vice President (2017-2018); Second Vice President (2016-2017); Treasurer (2015-2016); Recording Secretary (2014-2015); Corresponding Secretary (2013-2014); Co-Chair, People's Law School Committee; Chair, Website Committee; Member, Young Lawyer's Division; Member, Membership Committee
• Pro Bono Committee, Illinois Third Judicial Circuit, founding member
• Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Board of Directors (2016-present); founding member, Young Friends of LOLLAF; member, Bringing Justice Home Fundraising Campaign, Audit and Fundraising committees
• Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, representing Third Judicial Circuit (Madison and Bond counties, 2016-2018); Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, Chair (2021-2022), Member (2015-2016, 2018-present); Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Ex Officio (2017-2018), Chair (2016-2017), Vice Chair (2015-2016), Secretary (2014-2015); Diversity Leadership Council (2015-2017)
• Defense Research Institute
• American Bar Association Litigation and Intellectual Property sections
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Honors & Awards

• Super Lawyers Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars, 2014-2018

Representative Matters

• Secured an order dismissing an international chemical company for lack of general jurisdiction in an asbestos case pending in the 22nd Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis, Missouri, despite the company’s ongoing business contact with the state. (Smith v. Union Carbide Corp., et al., Cause No. 1422-CC000457.) The decision was a significant development for personal jurisdiction jurisprudence in Missouri.
• Drafted governing documents for a leading gem grading laboratory’s first data acceptance program.

Seminars & Speaking Engagements