News Briefs
Super Lawyers Names Seven from Wilson Elser to 2026 San Diego Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
March 18, 2026 - Super Lawyers
Patrick Kearns is a civil trial lawyer whose practice focuses on aviation defense. Patrick represents major commercial airlines, helicopter operators, Air Ambulance operators, and related entities in a variety of claims ranging from small-plane crashes and accidents to high-profile aviation disasters in which hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake. Patrick also has significant experience defending product liability matters, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, and medical, dental, and legal professionals in malpractice suits. Patrick serves as cochair of the firm’s national Aviation & Aerospace Practice and its Helicopter Defense team.
Patrick has successfully tried multiple cases to jury verdict. In addition, he has substantial experience defending appeals. Patrick also has handled numerous appeals in the California State Courts of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and has reported decisions in each. An active member of the legal community, Patrick served as the 2018 President of the San Diego Defense Lawyers Association, one of the largest local defense organizations in the country. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and is a former Program Chair (2014) for DRI’s Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar. Patrick served on the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee for 10 years and was chair of that committee in 2015. He speaks frequently to various professional groups on important and emerging issues and legal ethics. Patrick is the Regional Managing Partner for the San Diego office of Wilson Elser.
Patrick is an experienced litigator and trial attorney known for his thoughtful yet aggressive advocacy on behalf of those he represents. His careful analysis of every case coupled with his natural abilities in the courtroom has resulted in consistent successes for his clients.
Areas of Focus
AVIATION
Patrick defends complex aviation matters, including litigation arising from product issues and aviation-related injuries, to cases involving aircraft crashes and wrongful death. Patrick is a cochair of the firm’s Aviation practice and a member of its Helicopter Defense team. This dedicated team with national reach immediately provides what is needed for a successful representation of Patrick’s clients, including guidance through the NTSB investigation, identification and preservation of relevant documents and electronic information, counsel on remedial measures, retention of relevant outside forensic experts, and preparation for litigation and trial.
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
With a practice covering all areas of professional liability including medical, dental, legal, and other professionals in malpractice cases and licensing board matters. Patrick handles matters involving medical and health care professionals, ambulatory surgical centers, lawyers and various other professionals. Drawing on the resources of a national law firm, Patrick maintains a clear advantage in handling individual cases as well as high-volume programs in a comprehensive, purposeful and timely manner.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Defending businesses and corporations in contract, warranty and product liability actions, Patrick also provides clients with innovative and timely strategic counsel to help them make better-informed decisions, resolve complex legal challenges and achieve specific business goals.
APPELLATE
Patrick has significant appellate experience and successfully defends individuals and corporations in a variety of appeals before state and federal courts. He has briefed and argued before multiple California state courts of appeal; the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Among his many appellate victories, he has secured three published decisions, reported at Sukumar v. Nautilus, et al., 785 F. 3d 1396 (Fed. Cir. 2015); Contreras v. Dowling, et al. (2016) 4 Cal. App. 5th 774; and Riggs v Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 939 F.3d 981 (9th Cir. 2019).
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2005)
- University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (B.S., 2001)
- California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Supreme Court of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- San Diego County Bar Association, Past Chair of Legal Ethics Committee, 2015
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Board of Directors
- San Diego Defense Lawyers, President (2018)
- DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar, Medical Liability & Health Care Law Steering Committee Member; Program Chair, 2014 Medical Liability & Health Care Law Seminar
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- Professional Liability Underwriters Society
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2025-2026
- Selected for inclusion in San Diego Super Lawyers, 2018-2024
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2018-2024
- 2021 Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, The Best Lawyers in America©
- Top Young Attorneys of 2007, San Diego Daily Transcript
- 2008 Outstanding New Lawyer, San Diego Defense Lawyers Association
- San Diego Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2015-2016
- Best of the Bar 2015, San Diego Business Journal