T. Patrick Byrnes

In his two decades of practice, Patrick Byrnes has litigated a wide range of complex disputes, with a particular focus on aviation and insurance coverage. He also has handled disputes in the areas of consumer goods, food products and environmental contamination. In addition to his litigation experience, Patrick is regularly called on by insurers to provide advice with respect to a number of lines of coverage, notably aviation and privacy and cybersecurity. Patrick also serves as the Chair of Locke Lord's Food, Beverage & Cosmetics industry group.

Aviation

Patrick has defended:

• Aircraft component part manufacturers and suppliers
• Aircraft manufacturers, airlines and airline consortiums
• Aircraft leasing companies
• Airports
• Aviation security companies

He has substantial experience with issues relating to:

• General Aviation Revitalization Act
• Montreal Convention
• European Commission Regulation 261
• Federal Preemption

Patrick has handled cases in jurisdictions spanning from Alaska to Florida, and has extensive experience in defending clients’ interests in complex, multiparty litigation. He was one of three trial counsel who defended at trial Larry Silverstein's claims for approximately $3.5 billion in damages for the destruction of the World Trade Center Complex and World Trade Center 7 arising out of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In addition, Patrick has been involved in a number of cases involving foreign accidents, and is intimately familiar with the many unique issues associated with defending such matters.

Patrick also counsels and advises entrants into and participants in the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, UAVs, drones) market, including advising on compliance with 14 C.F.R. Part 107. He is a frequent speaker on the issue of the integration of drones into the national airspace, and has been quoted by a number of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Flying Magazine and DroneLife.com.

Insurance

Patrick has litigated and provided coverage advice with respect to a number of lines of coverage, including aviation liability, aircraft hull, chemical drift, trucking and non-trucking liability, and privacy and cybersecurity. His experience in the areas of privacy and cybersecurity is particularly extensive, as he has handled first party and third party claims concerning, among other things, incident response, cybersecurity and privacy liability, regulatory proceedings, ransomware, malware, extortion, business email compromise, wire transfer fraud, business interruption, data or system restoration or replacement costs, telephone fraud, and website and media content liability.

Food, Beverage & Cosmetics

Patrick is a trusted adviser to the food and beverage industry, with clients ranging from start-ups to multibillion dollar corporations. Patrick's experience includes resolving high-stakes supplier disputes, assisting with internal investigations and defending litigation involving claims of adulterated and unsafe food.

Patrick’s representative experience includes:

• Secured dismissal of aircraft lessor on basis of lack of personal jurisdiction in litigation arising from crash of flydubai Flight 981 at Rostov-on-Don, Russia
• Acted as trial counsel, along with Ann Taylor of Locke Lord, on behalf of Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London and Certain London Market Insurance Companies in a trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking reformation and rescission of a series of aviation liability policies
• Acted as trial counsel, along with Ann Taylor of Locke Lord and counsel for American Airlines, in a trial in the Southern District of New York resulting in a finding that Larry Silverstein was precluded from recovering approximately $3.5 billion in damages from the Aviation Defendants for the destruction of the World Trade Center Complex and World Trade Center 7. The trial court’s decision was upheld in almost all respects by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals
• 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
• Represented aircraft lessors in defense of 118 wrongful death claims arising from the crash of Air Philippines Flight 541 on April 17, 2000
• Defended airframe manufacturer/lessor in commercial dispute arising from return condition of twin engine turboprop aircraft
• Represented reinsurer in dispute by self-insured municipality seeking coverage for claims by hundreds of municipality residents arising out of the municipality's alleged use of contaminated water