Michelle Molinaro Burke is a trial lawyer, seasoned litigator and risk manager who understands that in today’s business climate, clients demand practical and cost-effective solutions to litigation. She strives to understand her clients' long-term business goals and partners with her clients not only to resolve pending litigation, but to provide forward-thinking solutions with an eye towards diverting future litigation. A practical yet creative problem-solver, Michelle is skilled at seeing the "big picture" from very early on in her cases. Armed with early case development and a keen understanding of the law, Michelle determines the case strategy and designs and executes a streamlined defense plan aimed to posture the case or individual claims for dismissal on summary judgment or advantageous settlement. Although Michelle's goal is to keep her clients out of the courtroom, she is experienced in adeptly and aggressively trying cases, and has obtained favorable results for her clients. Even well before litigation ensues, Michelle’s clients frequently draw upon her litigation experience and sharp instincts to assist them in identifying and developing strategies for minimizing potential risks.
Michelle’s clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to small closely held businesses. She routinely counsels clients in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical, transportation, and industrial and consumer product manufacturing industries, as well as insurance carriers. Michelle handles a wide variety of complex litigation, and has experience serving as national, local and primary defense counsel and managing a large docket of products liability, toxic tort, commercial, and general civil litigation matters.
In addition to her clients, Michelle is also a respected leader among her peers. She is a longtime leader in the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. She was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the Section of Litigation’s Council, the Section’s governing body. She has previously served as a member of the Membership & Marketing Committee and recently rolled off as Co-Chair of the Products Liability Committee, and she has served in other leadership roles within the Section. Michelle is routinely called upon to lecture on litigation and trial-related topics of interest to lawyers, industry groups, and claims professionals.
Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Council, 2024-present
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Memberships and Marketing Committee, Member, 2022-2023
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Products Liability Committee, Co-Chair, 2019-2022
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Products Liability Committee, Chair, Chemical and Toxic Tort Subcommittee, 2018-2019
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Young Advocates Committee, Co-Chair, 2016-2019
- Brennan-Vanderbilt Inn of Court, Barrister
- Hunterdon County Bar Association
- Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County, Vice-President and Trustee, 2008-2016