As a partner at Gordon & Rees, Mike Pietrykowski has built an active litigation practice throughout the state. His practice focuses on toxic tort and environmental matters, and he is chairperson of the Gordon & Rees Environmental and Toxic Tort Practice Group.
He has experience with all major environmental statutes and has handled a wide variety of toxic tort cases, including those involving asbestos, silica, mold, and chemical exposures. He currently represents several major equipment manufacturers in the asbestos litigation, handling cases throughout California and other Western states. He is also National Litigation Counsel for one of the leading manufacturers of flooring materials. In addition, he has spoken at numerous regional and national seminars on topics such as asbestos, silica, and mold litigation and the use of experts in environmental cases.
Prior to joining Gordon & Rees in 1984, Mr. Pietrykowski worked for several years as a sports attorney representing professional athletes. In that capacity, he acquired extensive contract negotiation experience.
Mr. Pietrykowski received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 1983, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the same university.
He is an active member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (by invitation), the Defense Research Institute, Midwest Environmental Claims Association, and other insurance and trial practice organizations. He previously served as the California Liaison for the DRI’s Environmental and Toxic Tort Subcommittee and as the co-chair of the Midwest Environmental Claims Association’s Public Relations Committee. He has participated in various trial training programs including programs sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and was named by The Bay Area Magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers” in the San Francisco Bay Area in Environmental and Toxic Tort Law. In 2009, Mr. Pietrykowski was named by Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top attorneys in San Francisco in the practice areas of Environmental/Toxic Tort Tort Litigation. The selection of "Super Lawyers" is made by Law & Politics, the publisher of Super Lawyers magazine, which conducts annual independent research to determine the top five percent of legal professionals in each state. He is also a member of the American, Connecticut, California, and San Francisco Bar Associations.
PUBLICATIONS
Asbestos Bulletins
This publication provides information regarding significant new developments in the asbestos litigation.
“Silicosis; The Next Asbestos”
This article was published in the Gordon & Rees Environmental and Toxic Tort Quarterly Newsletter (May, 2002)
“Mold . . . Matters”
This is a newsletter which provides scientific, medical and legal information concerning the mold litigation.
Mold Bulletins
This publication produces periodic bulletins to provide updates on the mold litigation.
Environmental and Toxic Tort Quarterly Newsletter
Along with others at Gordon & Rees, Mr. Pietrykowski publishes a newsletter to address a wide range of significant environmental and toxic tort issues.
“Establishing Medical Causation An Uphill Fight for Plaintiffs”
This article was published in a national environmental newsletter in April 2002.
“California Mold Litigation Expanded Claims, New Parties and Higher Stakes”
This paper was presented at the April and August 2001 Microbial Contamination Workshop: Sampling, Laboratory, Remediation and Legal Aspects.
“A New Dance to an Old Song; Spoliation of Evidence and Subsequent Remedial Measures in the Mold Litigation”
This article was published and presented as part of the Mealey’s National Mold Conference in May 2002, in Philadelphia.
“Got Mold Regulations?”
This article was published in Forensic Analytical Advisor, Spring 2000, Vol. 2, Issue 2.
“Mold Litigation Update: Expanding Claims, New Parties and Even Higher Stakes”
This article was published and presented as part of the Mealey’s Emerging Toxic Torts Conference in June 2002, in Pasadena, California.
PRESENTATIONS
April 2001 Featured speaker at the Microbial Contamination Workshop: Sampling, Laboratory, Remediation and Legal Aspects (Union City, CA). Title: “California Mold Litigation Expanded Claims, New Parties and Higher Stakes.”
August 2001 Featured speaker at the Microbial Contamination Workshop: Sampling, Laboratory, Remediation and Legal Aspects (Long Beach, CA). Title: “California Mold Litigation Expanded Claims, New Parties and Higher Stakes.”
October 2001 Featured speaker at California Association of Independent Adjusters (Pleasanton, CA). Topic: “Claims Handling for Mold.”
October 2001 Featured speaker at the Mealey’s National Mold Conference (Pasadena, CA). Title: “The Introduction and Exclusion of Expert Witnesses in a Mold Case.”
December 2001 Featured speaker to the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Property Damage Group (Sacramento, CA). Topic: Mold-Related Property Claims.
April 2002 Featured speaker at the Western Regional Conference on Lead, Mold, Healthy Homes and Children’s Environmental Health (Berkeley, CA). Topic: The Emerging Mold Litigation.
May 2002 Featured speaker at the Mealey’s Mold Litigation Conference (Philadelphia, PA). Topic: Spoliation of Evidence and Subsequent Remedial Repairs in the Mold Litigation.
June 2002 Featured speaker at the Mealey’s Toxic Tort Seminar (Pasadena, CA). Topic: New Issues and Trends in the Mold Litigation.
June 2002 Chairperson and featured speaker at the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) (San Diego, CA). Topic: Mold Issues and Concerns for the Property Owner and Manager.
? June 2002 Featured speaker by AIG to address insured and brokers concerning trends in the mold litigation (San Francisco, CA). Topic: An Overview of the Mold Litigation and Coverage Issues.
June 2002 Featured speaker to the Northern California Association of Defense Counsel Seminar (Sacramento, CA). Topic: Legal Issues in Mold Property Damage and Personal Injury Cases.
September 2002 Chairperson and featured speaker at the Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) Seminar (San Francisco, CA). Topic: Is Toxic Mold the Next Asbestos?
? October 2002 Featured speaker by AIG to address insureds and brokers concerning trends in the mold litigaiton (Seattle, WA).
November 2002 - Co-chairperson at the Mealey’s Toxic Tort Conference (Boston, MA).
December 2002 Speaker to the California Association of Industrial Hygienists (San Francisco, CA).
? March 2003 Featured speaker at the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society’s All Industry Day Seminar (San Francisco, CA)
March 2003 Featured speaker at Western Insulation Association Spring Meeting (Walnut Creek, CA) Topic: Mold and Legal Issues for the Insulation Industry
April 2003 Featured speaker at the Affordable Housing Management Association Annual Conference (San Jose, CA) Topic: Mold Claims and Litigation
June 2003 Featured speaker at The New Rules for Property Owners and Managers Concerning Indoor Air Quality Issues (San Francisco and Lafayette, CA)
June 2003 Featured speaker at Design and Verification of Control Methodologies for Potent and Hazardous Compounds Seminar (San Francisco, CA) Topic: Assessing the Liability Risk Associated with Developing and/or Manufacturing Potent Compounds
? June 2003 Featured speaker at Pacific Industrial and Business Association Seminar (Palo Alto, CA) Topic: Indoor Air Regulatory Update
July 2003 Featured speaker at Bridgeport’s 3rd Annual Managing Mold Liability Conference (San Francisco, CA) Topic: Mold 101
October 2003 Invited speaker for University of California Extension Class, mold and the Law (San Francisco, CA)
December 2003 Invited speaker at the 2003 California Industrial Hygiene Council’s Annual Conference (San Francisco, CA) Topic: Mold Litigation Update
February 2004 Invited speaker at the Third Annual Mold Conference (San Francisco, CA)
March 2005 Invited speaker at the International Package Concrete Manufacturers Association National Convention (San Diego, CA). Topic: Silica Litigation
March 2005 Invited speaker at the American Chemical Society National Symposium (San Diego, CA). Topic: Mold Remediation and Litigation in the Construction Industry
April 2005 - Invited speaker at Travelers Insurance Company Seminar. Topic: Recovery of Attorneys Fees in Mold Cases (Denver, CO).
December 2005 Invited speaker at the 2005 California Industrial Hygiene Council’s Annual Conference (San Francisco, CA) Topic: Chemical Exposure Litigation.
March 2006 Invited speaker at the ACCA 38th Annual Conference and Indoor Air EXPO (San Jose, CA) Topic: The Current State of Mold Litigation
September 2006 Invited speaker at the 13th Annual Claims Conference of Northern California (Sacramento, CA) Topic: Third Party Mold Liability/ Sick Building Syndrome: Where is the Pendulum?
April 2008 Invited speaker at Goodyear National Meeting, Akron, Ohio.
September 2008 Featured speaker at Harris Martin seminar on California Asbestos Litigation (Beverly Hills, CA). Topic: Challenges for the Los Angeles Asbestos Litigation
September 2008- Featured speaker at Mealey’s National Asbestos Litigation SuperConference (Scottsdale, AZ). Topic: Federal Removal in Asbestos Cases
