Patrick Barkley

Patrick Barkley is a seasoned litigator with more than 15 years of experience focusing on mass tort, product liability, and asbestos litigation.  He represents businesses and corporations across both regional and national jurisdictions, with specific expertise defending premises owners and manufacturers of industrial equipment, including boilers, industrial furnaces, vertical transportation systems, HVAC systems, overhead cranes, and heavy machinery.

Patrick serves as both national coordinating counsel and local counsel, developing strategic, data-driven defense approaches aligned with each client’s legal and business objectives.  He manages all phases of litigation, from early case assessment through discovery, trial, and appeal.  He also advises on risk mitigation and product liability prevention.

Prior to joining the New York City office of Cetrulo LLP, Patrick practiced at a national law firm, where he led regional and national defense strategies in asbestos, benzene, and complex product liability matters.  His cross-jurisdictional experience spans courts throughout the Midwest and Northeast, making him uniquely positioned to counsel clients with multi-state litigation needs.

Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Patrick earned his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Saint Louis University Public Law Review and completed a judicial internship with the Honorable Michael M. Mihm of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

• Served for more than ten years as national coordinating counsel for manufacturer of cranes, furnaces, and evaporator equipment in mass tort litigation
• Regional counsel for U.S. defense contractor in premises liability cases alleging occupational exposure to asbestos
• Lead counsel for manufacturer of vertical transportation systems in product liability cases
• Local counsel for consumer products companies in litigation arising from alleged asbestos contamination of raw materials used in historical products
• Local counsel for manufacturer of automotive coatings and paint products in litigation arising from alleged trace benzene and solvent exposure
• Successfully arbitrated product liability case filed against elevator manufacturer in Cook County, Illinois
• Obtained multiple dismissals of premises liability cases filed against a national steel mill company following dispositive briefing
• Won summary judgment for an industrial pump manufacturer in federal court by asserting the defense of collateral estoppel
• Obtained summary judgment for an industrial furnace manufacturer in various jurisdictions under the construction statute of repose and no duty defenses