Overview
George F. Fitzpatrick, Jr. is a founding partner of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, where he served as the firm’s Managing Partner from 2000 to 2005 and was a member of the firm’s Executive Committee for 20 years.
He successfully represents national and international corporations in a broad range of product liability, toxic tort, and asbestos litigation matters across the United States. George has also served as National Coordinating Counsel for several corporate clients in recurring tort litigation.
In addition to his tort-related practice, George has tried hundreds of real estate cases and handled various commercial and business disputes. He has also represented pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors in both commercial and tort litigation.
- Served as National Coordinating Counsel for numerous national and international companies for over 30 years in product liability and toxic tort matters pending in state and federal courts from coast to coast.
- Successfully argued appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 6th and 8th federal circuits, establishing favorable precedent for decades.
- Successfully defended two clients in mass tort litigation assigned by the Federal Multi-District Litigation Panel to MDL 875—E.D. of PA, resulting in dismissal, without payment of approximately 30,000 cases.
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Illinois State Bar Association
- National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues
- Law Bulletin Media, “Leading Lawyer,” (2007-2025)
- Best Lawyers of America®
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, (2024, 2026)
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, (2021-2024, 2026)
- Illinois Super Lawyers®
- Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Peer Review Rated, (2008)
- NCC Panel Participant, DALS Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2015
- “If I Could Do It, So Can You-Tips for Building a Career,” Purdue University “LA Influentials” Series, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2011
- “Asbestos Litigation Update / Trends “Trials and Tribulations,” National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues, Chicago, Illinois, 2010
- “Asbestos Litigation Update / Trends: Trials & Tribulations,” HB Litigation’s Asbestos Insurance Litigation Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010
- Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Claims, Chicago, Illinois, 2007
- “Whose Duty Is It? The Potential Liability of Equipment Manufacturers for Post-Sale Application of Asbestos-Containing Insulation and Other Products Not Supplied or Specified By Equipment Manufacturers,” DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar, San Diego, California, 2007
