Patricia Bello

Partner

Patricia.Bello@lewisbrisbois.com

Patricia (“Trish”) Bello is a partner in the Charleston, West Virginia office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation and Talc Litigation Practices. Trish has extensive experience in all aspects of trial strategy and major case litigation, including representation of clients from initial investigation through trial and appeal. Trish also routinely represents clients before the Circuit Courts of West Virginia, the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Multi-District Litigation Panel, United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Trish’s specific experience includes representation of manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, and premises owners in toxic tort claims involving asbestos, benzene, and other industrial exposures to toxic substances; representation clients in pharmaceutical litigation in product liability and public nuisance claims; defense of catastrophic personal injury claims, including those arising from automobile accidents, trucking accidents, and industrial accidents; and representation of clients in environmental litigation matters, including defense of citizen suit claims under a range of federal environmental statutes such as RCRA, CERCLA, and the Clean Water Act. 

In addition, Trish has experience representing political subdivisions in claims ranging from personal injury to property damage, and was part of the team that defended a political subdivision in dozens of property damage claims arising out of the failure of one of the largest reinforced soil slopes in the county. Trish also routinely defends physicians, hospitals, and long term care facilities in medical professional liability actions seeking damages for personal injury and wrongful death at both the state and federal level. In this area, she has successfully defended clients through all asbestos of litigation including motion practice, mediation, arbitration, and trial. 

Trish serves as a co-chair of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia’s Women in the Law Committee. Outside of the practice of law, Trish enjoys hiking, snow skiing, and spending time with her husband and their dog, Lucy. 

Primary Area(s) of Practice

  • Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Talc Litigation

Additional Experience

Admissions

West Virginia

Ohio

United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Associations

  • Member, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
  • Member, Defense Research Institute
  • Litigation Counsel of America 

Awards & Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America® - Lawyer of the Year - Environmental Litigation (2026)
  • Best Lawyers in America® - 'Best Lawyers' Litigation – Environmental and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2024-2026)
  • 2014 – 2018 West Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star for Class Action/Mass Tort.
  • Best Brief Award, Walter H. Rice Moot Court Competition, University of Dayton School of Law

Education

University of Dayton School of Law

Juris Doctor, 2010 

University of Akron

Bachelor of Arts, 2007

Publications

  • "Tinkering with Restrictions on Educator Speech: Can School Boards Restrict What Educators Say on Social Networking Sites?" University of Dayton Law Review, Volume 36, Issue 1
  • Co‑author with Gretchen Callas, "Preemption:  Where does the Court stand after Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, LLC and Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc.?," Law360, March 2011
  • Co‑author with Gretchen Callas, "What did we learn?: Examining the Court's Recent Decisions on Preemption," Law360, July 2011

Community Activities

Fund for the Arts, Blues Brews & BBQ/ Wine & All That Jazz Festival, planning board member