Michael O’Brien is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and co-chair of the firm’s Product Liability and Class Action Defense practices. With more than 30 years of experience in product liability defense, Michael focuses on representing U.S.and Asia-based manufacturers and distributors as national counsel in litigation, pre-suit investigations and class actions. He also advises clients on reporting obligations to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and counsels them on voluntary recall issues.

His clients include manufacturers and distributors of consumer appliances, consumer electronics, component parts and fuel delivery systems for gas-fired appliances. He has led the investigations and defended thousands of claims and lawsuits in which it was alleged that his clients’ products were responsible for causing fires, which resulted in property damage, personal injuries or death. In addition, he defends and investigates claims and lawsuits made against his clients’ products which result in water damage to property, and personal injuries from electric shock or death from electrocution. Michael is a member of the firm’s national fire and casualty response team, and can quickly mobilize attorneys and retain consultants to be on-site at fire scenes anywhere in the country.

In his role as national counsel, Michael is responsible for coordinating the product liability defense for his clients in the United States and Canada. In this capacity, he works closely with his clients’ in-house legal departments and their technical and engineering staffs, as well as their insurers, to develop and execute efficient, comprehensive defense strategies to achieve optimal results in litigation or pre-suit investigations.