Ms. Cairns’ practice is focused in the area of general civil litigation, with particular emphasis in products liability litigation. She defends cases involving complex scientific and medical issues in both the complex toxic tort and products liability areas. She has experience handling mass torts, class actions, MDL coordinated proceedings and multijurisdictional defense claims and issues, with a heightened level of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Her practice includes the defense of both domestic and international manufacturers of products ranging from pharmaceuticals to forklifts. Moreover, she routinely counsels clients on risk management issues, including issues related to product labeling, warnings and instructions.

Ms. Cairns received the Order of Barristers distinction, Mackenzie-Lewis Appellate Advocacy Award, and was an executive member of the Journal of International Law and Commerce and Moot Court Honor Society at The Syracuse University College of Law. She was named one of Pittsburgh’s "50 Finest" by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2004, and has received numerous local and national accolades and recognition as a member of the Pittsburgh Passion Women’s Full Contact Professional Football Team.