T. Patrick Byrnes

Patrick represents insurers, aviation companies, and food manufacturers as they navigate complex legal disputes in highly regulated industries. His practice focuses on insurance coverage disputes for London market and specialist insurers, aviation litigation and regulatory counseling, dispute resolution for food manufacturers, and supply chain issues.

Lloyd’s underwriters, aviation companies, and food manufacturers face different problems. But they need the same thing: someone who understands their business and can develop solutions under pressure. Patrick has spent over two decades building relationships in each of these markets and delivers the same client-focused approach regardless of the industry or dispute.

In the insurance space, Patrick defends Lloyd’s syndicates, London market insurers, and domestic specialist insurers in coverage disputes and advises on multiple classes of business, including aviation, war, cyber, and privacy. He works with underwriters who know he understands their underwriting intent for specialized coverages, and that he will bring that understanding to analyzing claims and litigating disputes. Patrick provides clients with early and objective case assessments so insurers can make informed decisions about their exposure and litigation strategy. He currently serves as co-lead counsel representing the Lloyd’s war market in lawsuits by aircraft lessors seeking billions for commercial aircraft remaining in Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions and countersanctions.

Patrick’s aviation litigation and regulatory counseling work involves complex cross-border disputes, the Montreal Convention, the General Aviation Revitalization Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, federal preemption, and indemnity disputes under the IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement. He represents component manufacturers, repair facilities, airlines, aircraft lessors, ground handling companies, and airports in aviation accident and product liability claims. In a landmark case, he served as one of three trial counsel for aviation defendants in Larry Silverstein’s $12 billion+ World Trade Center claim arising from 9/11, securing dismissal of all claims (largely upheld on appeal). Patrick also has worked in the drone regulatory field since its inception, counseling businesses that have integrated drones into their daily operations on Part 107 compliance as well as privacy and property rights issues arising from drone operations.

Patrick also serves as outside counsel to food manufacturers, from startups to closely held companies, evaluating legal issues through a commercial lens to help clients resolve disputes while preserving critical business relationships and operations. His work includes resolving supplier disputes defending claims of adulterated and unsafe food and conducting internal investigations. He won summary judgment for a food manufacturer in a case involving a bone found in a chicken wing that was labeled “boneless,” successfully defending that ruling through the Ohio Supreme Court — and preserving more than 60 years of favorable manufacturer liability law in a case that garnered national and international attention. He connects food industry clients with colleagues across the firm who handle branding, employment, M&A, and other specialized needs.

Outside of his daily practice, Patrick provides training to insurance clients on claims-handling developments and speaks regularly at aviation and insurance industry conferences. His commentary on commercial drone operations has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Flying Magazine, and DroneLife.com.

• Representing leading Lloyd’s syndicates in the war market to defend their interests in 14 insurance coverage litigations arising out of aircraft leased by U.S. business entities to Russian airlines, which remain in Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the imposition of Western sanctions, and the reactions of the Russian airlines and the Russian Federation. These cases involve issues regarding the availability of insurance, if any, under all risks or war risk policies and seek more than $3 billion.
• Defended billions of dollars in additional property damage claims in consolidated litigation in the Southern District of New York arising out of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
• Secured the dismissal for an aircraft lessor based on lack of personal jurisdiction relating to a crash in Russia.
• Acted as trial counsel in the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, seeking reformation and rescission of aviation liability policies.
• Advises entities on 14 C.F.R. Part 107 compliance, influencing regulatory pathways and safer integration of drones into national airspace.
• Represented a reinsurer in a case involving contaminated water claims by a municipality’s residents.
• Represent clients in the food and beverage industry, including resolving high-stakes supplier disputes, assisting with internal investigations, and defending litigation involving claims of adulterated and unsafe food.