Overview
Michael is a Partner at CGBAG Law and 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. Thereafter, Michael worked at one of the top litigation firms in the state, litigating almost exclusively wrongful death and catastrophic injury matters. Michael has spent over 25 years focusing on litigation. Lawyers across Pennsylvania rely on a book that Michael co-authored, “Library of Pennsylvania Personal Injury Forms.” Michael has litigated in almost every county in Pennsylvania, and achieved multiple seven figure verdicts and settlements, (including two matters in the PA Top 20 Jury Verdicts, Legal Intelligencer).
Michael has volunteered with several organizations throughout the Philadelphia region. He was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as a Hearing Committee Member serving the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for a full six-year term. Michael has also volunteered with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP), a program providing free legal assistance and social service advocacy to abused and neglected children in Montgomery County; Liberty & Law Civics Education Program, which provides legal and civics education to middle schools in Norristown; Board Member to the LGBT Equality Alliance, Chester County, PA: LGBT Equality Alliance is a non-profit organization in Chester County, working to create and sustain a safe and supportive environment for the Chester County LGBTQA community; serves on the executive committee of the Montgomery Democratic Committee and he is the Chairman of the Abington-Rockledge Democratic Committee.
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 a Youth Aid Panel Member, soccer and baseball coach, and for Town Watch. He was appointed to the Abington Industrial Development Authority and also served frequently as a Certified Arbitrator, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court.
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. Mr. Barbiero 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 the Temple Law International program. He was inducted into the Moot Court Honor Society and Phi Delta Phi, Harrington Inn, Honor Chapter, as well as named in Who’s Who, American Law Students, 18th Edition, 1999; Continental Who’s Who 2006-07; and the Cambridge Who’s Who 2008-09 Registry.
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$9 million settlement, bus/truck accident
2017 successfully litigated matter before the Eastern District of PA involving The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), as to a Mosque and the Dept. of Justice
$4 million verdict, daycare death
$3.85 million settlement; Breon/Phillips vs. RE Crawford, Allegheny County, construction site injury/wrongful death
$2.2 million settlement, drowning death
$1.95 million, auto, Limited Tort (2011 PA Top Jury Verdicts, #11, Legal Intelligencer)
$1.75 million settlement, auto / ostensible agency
2016 successfully argued before Commonwealth Court of Appeals on eminent domain on behalf of Bensalem Township
$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
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2020-2026 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)
2021: Named to “Expertise.com” Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia List
2021: “Best Personal Injury Trial Attorney (Pennsylvania) Michael L. Barbiero” Legal Elite
2020: Named to “Expertise.com” Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia List
2021: Named to “Expertise.com” Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia List
2021: “Best Personal Injury Trial Attorney (Pennsylvania) Michael L. Barbiero” Legal Elite
2020: Named to “Expertise.com” Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia List (https://personalinjury.rudolphclarke.com/rudolph-clarke-llc-named-to-expertise-best-personal-injury-attorneys-in-philadelphia-list/)
2020 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
2019: The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 National Trial Lawyers
2019: Legal Elite: Top Litigation Firm – Bucks County US Business News Legal Elite: Top Litigation Firm – Bucks County.
2019: Top Lawyers American Society of Legal Advocates 2019
2017: Michael 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 limited to less than 1.5% of all lawyers based on an array of criteria.
2015: Michael was inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.
2013: Michael was invited to join Top Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers,
2011: invited to join the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
2008: Super Lawyers: Rising Star Super Lawyers: Philadelphia Magazine 2008 Pennsylvania Rising Star, Philadelphia Magazine (named a Pennsylvania “Rising Star – Super Lawyer,” Dec., 2008, Philadelphia magazine, top 2.5 percent of attorneys 40 years old or younger in Pa.)
2008: Democrat of the Year Abington Rockledge Democratic Committee 2008 Democrat of the Year
2008: Executes and Professionals Cambridge Who’s Who Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals
2007: Michael was appointed to the Advisory Panel of the American Bar Association.
2006: Listed Continental Who’s Who Registry,
2006 Continental Who’s Who Registry, 2006
1999: Who’s Who: American Law Students, 18th Edition, Spring 1999 Who’s Who: American Law Students, 18th Edition,
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2016 – Present: Attorney Volunteer: Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP)
2016 – 2022: Board Member, LGBT Equality Alliance, Chester County, PA
2014 – Present: Montgomery County Bar Association:
– Liberty & Law Civics Education (teaching civics in Norristown Area School District)
– Bench/Bar Committee
– Civil Rules Committee
– Trial Lawyers Committee
2016 – Present: Executive Board Member, Montgomery County Democratic Committee
2015 – Present: Wills 4 Heroes, Pennsylvania
2009 – Present: Abington-Rockledge Democratic Committee Chairman
May, 2006 – May, 2012: Youth Aid Panel, Jenkintown, Montgomery County, PA,
August, 2006 – 2008 (full term): Abington Industrial Development Authority, Abington, PA;
July, 2006 – 2008: Town Watch, North Hills, Montgomery County, PA; Volunteer,
Jan. 2007 – Jan. 2009: Abington Rockledge Democratic Committee; Vice Chair
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Litigation
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Education
J.D., Widener University, School of Law
B.A., Pennsylvania State University
CGBAG Law is proud to announce Firm Partner 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 a 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 The National Trial Lawyers 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.