Overview
Margaret O’Sullivan Byrne is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP in Chicago. She has served as the Chair of firm’s Asbestos Litigation Committee and for many years served as the Co-Chair of the firms’ Associate Committee, where she mentored many young attorneys in their professional development. Peggy has been defending tort claims in a variety of areas since 1989, including personal injury, product liability, lead paint, lead-containing products, benzene, silica, and asbestos litigation.
- Defense Research Institute
- Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago
- Board of Directors
- Law Bulletin Media, “Leading Lawyers,” (2024-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, (2021-2024,2026)
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, (2023-2024,2026)
- “How to Get the Business: A Conversation with Givers and Getters,” Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Seminar, Chicago, Illinois 2015
- “Occupational Bystander – Defending the Case with Toxicology,” DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar, Miami, Florida 2012
- “Premises Liability – This Land is Your Land…,” 15th Annual National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Emerging Issues for the Most Active Jurisdictions, Chicago, Illinois 2012
- “Current Outlook and Emerging Trends,” 4th Annual Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation Conference, Chicago, Illinois 2011
- “The Ins and Outs of the Premises Liability Cases: How To Win Your Case On Either Side – The Defense Perspective,” Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana 2009
- Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana 2007
- “The Ultimate Point: How Different Approaches to Trial Can Each Be the Winning One – A Panel on Opening Statements,” Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana 2005
- “Proven Trial Strategies: The Defense Perspective,” Mealey’s Asbestos Premises Liability Conference, Pasadena, California 2004
- “Putting The Empty Chair in Play: Proving Shares and Product ID,” DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar, Miami, Florida 2003
- “Effective Management of Toxic Tort Litigation – Defense Perspective,” Mealey’s Practical Skills Series Toxic Tort Litigation Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2003
- “New Strategies for New Defendants in the Asbestos Litigation: How Not To Press the Panic Button,” Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana 2002
- “Effective Trial Skills – From Jury Selection to Closing Arguments – Defense Perspective,” Andrews Publications Essential Skills On Asbestos Litigation Conference, Washington, District of Columbia 2000
