Michael L. Barbiero
Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney.
He concentrates his practice in litigation, specifically personal injury matters, including wrongful death and catastrophic injury.
Michael has spent over 20 years focusing on litigation, including 8 years litigating high–profile matters and representing catastrophically injured victims while employed at one of the largest personal injury firms in Pennsylvania.
Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney.
He concentrates his practice in litigation, specifically personal injury matters including wrongful death and catastrophic injury, as well as a wide range of complex municipal matters. He also currently serves as the Solicitor to the Montgomery County Controller.
Born in lower Bucks County, Bristol, Pa, Michael learned to value both hard work and education from his mother, who taught at Pennsbury for 40 years and his father who was a laborer and roofer. Michael’s father immigrated here from Calabria, Italy, where most of his relatives still live in a small southern town named Pedivigliano. Clients benefit from his perfect mix of real-world and legal experience. Prior to returning to school for law, Michael worked for several years with troubled teens in and around Philadelphia. Helping families at their darkest times inspired him to return to school to become an attorney.
Following a two year clerkship with the esteemed President Judge Alex Bonavitacola, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Michael defended businesses, insurance companies and municipalities. He argued before the Delaware Supreme Court (making new law on indemnification), as well as the Federal Courts under zoning and land use statutes representing local townships/zoning boards. This experience directly benefits the clients he now represents, because he has been on “both sides of the fence” and understands how insurance companies, municipalities and their attorneys review and handle matters.
Michael has since spent over 20 years focusing on litigation, 8 of those years litigating high profile matters and representing catastrophically injured victims while employed at one of the largest personal injury firms in Pennsylvania, the renowned Anapol Schwartz in Philadelphia. Lawyers across Pennsylvania rely on a book that Michael co-authored, “Library of Pennsylvania Personal Injury Forms.” Michael has litigated several trials around Pennsylvania, as well as multiple seven figure verdicts and settlements, including:
Top 50 All Time PA Verdicts/Settlements #19 (as of 2020);
2020 PA Top Jury Verdicts/Settlments #9 and
2011 PA Top Jury Verdicts, #11,
TOP RATING ON AVVO
Featured Results
Michael has obtained many impressive results for his clients, here are some examples:
$9 million settlement, bus/truck accident (Top 50 Verdicts & Settlements, #19 All time in PA as of 2020)
$4 million verdict, daycare death
$2.2 million settlement, drowning death
$1.95 million, auto, Limited Tort Case! Originally turned down by 3 other attorneys (2011 PA Top Jury Verdicts, #11, Legal Intelligencer)
$1.9 million, auto / vehicle (2020 Top Verdicts/Settlements #9)
$1.75 million settlement, auto / ostensible agency
$1.5 million settlement, medical malpractice
$1.4 million settlement, premises liability
$900,000 settlement, electrocution
$900,000 settlement, worksite/construction
$872,500 settlement, accident victim, Bucks County
$850,000 settlement, medical transport
$750,000 settlement, products/negligence case, Lancaster County
$400,000 verdict and argued before the Delaware Supreme Court (issue of first impression on borrowed servant)
Co-Author of Scholarly Work
Lawyers across Pennsylvania rely on a book that Michael co-authored, “Library of Pennsylvania Personal Injury Forms.” Michael has litigated throughout Pennsylvania, obtaining many seven–figure verdicts and settlements.
Professional Accolades
Rudolph Clarke, LLC is proud to announce Michael L. Barbiero invited to join the National Trial Lawyers Top 100! The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is an invitation-only organization comprised of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is based on aThe National Trial Lawyers thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Membership is extended only to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state or region who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards. Each distinguished member of the Top 100 possesses the skill, knowledge, experience, and success held by only the best and finest lawyers in the United States.
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list (Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations).
SuperLawyers.com
Rudolph Clarke, LLC Named to “Expertise.com” Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia List
2021: “Best Personal Injury Trial Attorney (Pennsylvania) Michael L. Barbiero” Legal Elite
In 2017, he was selected by the American Society of Legal Advocates as a “Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in the State of Pennsylvania,” an invitation-only nationwide organization of elite lawyers who combine stellar legal credentials with proven commitment to community engagement and the highest professional standards. Selection is limited to less than 1.5% of all lawyers. He was also chosen for inclusion in the “2018 Who’s Who in American Law,” published by Marquis Who’s Who, the most trusted biographical resource on America’s most accomplished Lawyers since 1899.
In 2015, Michael was inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.
In 2013, Michael was invited to join Top Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers, and in 2011, was invited to join the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He was named a Pennsylvania “Rising Star – Super Lawyer,” in December 2008.
Michael has served as solicitor to the Montgomery County Controller since 2016. That same year he received the distinguished appointment as a Hearing Committee Member serving the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Also in 2016, Michael was appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County to be a Settlement Master for the Tax Assessment Appeal Mediation Program.
In the community, Michael volunteers with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project. He also volunteers in the Liberty & Law Civics Education Program, which provides legal and civics education to middle schools in Norristown. In March 2016, Michael was invited to join as a Board Member to the LGBT Equality Alliance, a nonprofit organization in Chester County working to create and sustain a safe and supportive environment for the LGBTQA community.
Michael also serves on the executive committee of the Montgomery Democratic Committee and is Chairman of the Abington-Rockledge Democratic Committee. In 2008, the Committee honored him with the Democrat of the Year Award.
Michael has volunteered as a mentor through Widener University, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Diversity Program and served the Advisory Panel to the American Bar Association. He has volunteered as Youth Aid Panel Member, soccer and baseball coach, and for Town Watch. He served for two years on the Abington Industrial Development Authority and also served frequently as a Certified Arbitrator, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court.
Mr. Barbiero is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Bar Associations, as well as the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations. He is also a member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers.
As a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, Michael actively participates in Bench Bar, Civil Practice Manual and Rules of Civil Court Committees as well as the Trial Lawyers Section.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University. He received his law degree from Widener University School of Law and studied law in Rome, Italy through Temple Law International program.
