Kerri E. Chewning

Kerri’s practice is devoted to defending class actions in state and federal courts. Over 20 years, she has led litigation from its inception through trial, including complex commercial disputes, civil rights claims, unfair competition and Lanham Act claims, and white collar defense matters. In New Jersey state court, she has successfully defended several proposed class actions involving claims under the Truth in Consumer Contract and Warranty Act and the state’s consumer fraud act. She has also successfully defended a federal class action alleging civil rights violations on behalf of New Jersey prisoners with Hepatitis C.

Beyond her class action work, Kerri has been part of the litigation contingent on a multidisciplinary Archer team working to protect the U.S.-based financial interests of a foreign national client. She has negotiated economical settlements for clients in a wide variety of matters. Kerri serves as co-chair of Archer’s New Jersey Local Counsel Practice and often acts as local counsel in cases pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The court has approved her to serve as a mediator.

Kerri’s involvement in federal practice also extends outside her client work. She served as president of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, serves on the Lawyers’ Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and is an author and co-editor of the annual New Jersey Federal Civil Procedure publication. She frequently presents CLE programs on federal practice, e-discovery, and ethics and professionalism.

Before joining Archer, Kerri clerked for the Honorable Garrett E. Brown, Jr., U.S.D.J. (ret.), gaining insight into federal court practice and procedure.

• Obtained defense verdict in jury trial on federal civil RICO, civil rights and state law claims.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissing purported class action WARN Act claim on behalf of 100+ potential class members.
• Successfully defeated motion for class certification against a proposed class of 400,000 former and present inmates involving allegations of improper medical care for diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.

• Participated as liaison counsel in the defense of antitrust claims involving the carbon brush industry; assisted in securing court approval of class action settlement.
• Obtained the imposition of sanctions against counsel for the assertion of RICO and litigation fraud claims against physicians arising out of previously dismissed medical malpractice claims and argued successfully for the affirmance of the District Court’s dismissal of the federal claims.
• Successfully obtained ruling affirming dismissal of insured physician’s third-party claim against medical malpractice insurance carrier seeking to override the negotiated settlement of a malpractice claim.

• Rutgers University School of Law, JD
• Rutgers University, BS

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

• Named to New Jersey “Super Lawyers Rising Stars” list for Class Action & Mass Torts (2008 - 2015)

• Past President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
• Lawyers Advisory Committee, U.S.D.C. – District of New Jersey
• Treasurer, Association of the Federal Bar
• Former Past Chair, Federal Practice Section, New Jersey State Bar Association
• Originating Member, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cleft Lip and Palate Support Group
• Volunteer Mock Trial Instructor, St. Paul School

• “Building Trial Skills: Philadelphia,” National Institute for Trial Advocacy (March 2026)
• “Useful AI in the Legal Profession,” Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey Annual Judicial Conference (March 2026)
• “Building Trial Skills: New Jersey,” National Institute for Trail Advocacy (November 2025)