About Cort VanOstran
Cort graduated from Harvard University in 2011 (cum laude in field) with a degree in Government. He earned his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (cum laude) in 2014, where he was Managing Editor of the Journal of Law and Policy, on the National Moot Court and Trial Teams, and President of the Student Bar Association.
After serving as a law clerk to two federal judges, Cort joined Gray Ritter Graham where he practices primarily in the areas of complex commercial litigation, consumer protection, class actions and mass tort actions. Cort was an active member of the team in In re Syngenta involving market loss from premature release of genetically modified seed resulting in a $1.51 billion global settlement, and In re Dicamba, involving herbicide drift culminating in $400 million in mass action and individual settlements. Cort was on the briefing team in an appeal upholding final approval of a $32 million class action settlement in a pet food mislabeling case and extensively involved in a recent appeal in which the Eighth Circuit reversed judgment in favor of an insurance company.
Cort served as a Visiting Lecturer in Law at Washington University School of Law and a coach for the Washington University Moot Court Team. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Washington University. He was named a Rising Star by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers magazine in 2021 and an “Up & Coming Lawyer” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2017. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, since 2021.
Employment History
- Gray Ritter Graham, Associate (2016–present)
- Visiting Lecturer in Law (2016–2018) and Adjunct Professor (2018–present), Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
- Law Clerk, Honorable Audrey Fleissig, U.S. District Judge, E.D. Missouri, and Honorable John Ross, U.S. District Judge, E.D. Missouri (2015–2016)
- Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., Associate (2014–2015)
Notable Results
Representative Matters
Professional Accolades
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2021)
Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2021–present)
Missouri Lawyers Weekly, “Up & Coming Lawyer” (2017)
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Young Lawyers Division Award of Merit (2017)
Honor Scholar Award, Washington University School of Law
Dean’s Leadership Award, Washington University School of Law
Professional Associations
Professional
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Board of Directors (2020–present)
Missouri Bar, Young Lawyers Section Council (2016; 2020–present)
Prison Performing Arts, Board of Directors (2016–2018)
Washington University Moot Court Team, Assistant Coach (2016–2021)
Published Works
News
Publications
GRG Farm Litigation
Bar Admissions & Education
Clerkship
- Honorable Audrey Fleissig, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Missouri, and Honorable John Ross, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Missouri
Education
- Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
• J.D., cum laude, 2014
• Dean’s List
• Honor Scholar Award
• CALI Award (highest class grade-Critical Jurisprudence)
• Dean’s Leadership Award
• President, Student Bar Association
• Managing Editor, Washington University Journal of Law and Policy
• National Moot Court Team
• Trial Team - Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• A.B., cum laude in field, 2011
Admissions
- Missouri, 2014
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
Notable Rulings
- Verto Med. Sols., L.L.C. v. Allied World Specialty Ins. Co., 996 F.3d 912 (8th Cir. 2021): Reversing dismissal in favor of insurer; finding competing D&O insurance policy endorsements ambiguous;
- Uhrhan v. B&B Cargo, Inc., 2020 WL 4501104 (E.D. Mo. Aug. 5, 2020): Denying dismissal of negligent brokering claims, finding against preemption under Federal Aviation Administrative Authorization Act.
- Prowse v. Washington, 9 F.4th 836, 837 (8th Cir. 2021): Reversing summary judgment finding genuine fact dispute regarding exhaustion of administrative remedies (handled oral argument in association with Washington University Appellate Clinic).
Notable Cases
In re Dicamba Herbicides Litigation (E.D. Mo.) – Herbicide drift, extensive crop damage
• Co-Lead Counsel Team: MDL mass tort action
• $400 million class action and individual settlements
• Claim submission team for soybean farmers
In re Syngenta AG MIR 162 Corn Litigation (D. Kan.) – Contamination of U.S. corn supply
• Co-Lead Counsel Team: MDL class actions
• Trial Team: $217.7 million bellwether verdict
• $1.51 billion global class action settlement
In re Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd., Marketing and Sales Pracs. Litig. (E.D. Mo.) – Pet food mislabeling
• $32 million settlement
• Appeal Team
