George Fitzpatrick

BA 1976, Political Science

Attorney/Partner; Swanson, Martin & Bell

George Fitzpatrick is a founding partner of Swanson, Martin & Bell (SMB), LLP, a 100-lawyer nationally-recognized trial and litigation firm based in Chicago. From 2000-2005, George served as Managing Partner of SMB, LLP and continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the firm. George’s practice focuses on the representation of U.S. and international corporations in various types of commercial, contract, product liability, and toxic tort litigation matters throughout the United States.

For over 20 years, he has served as national coordinating counsel for companies sued in asbestos litigation as product manufacturers or premises owners. He regularly speaks to audiences across the country regarding developments in these areas of law. George has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer, Top Lawyer, Leading Lawyer, and AV Peer Review Rated. George is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern Districts of Illinois and Indiana; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 6th, 7th, and 8th Circuits; and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

After receiving a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University in 1976, George spent four years as Legislative Assistant and Federal Projects Coordinator for U.S. Congressman Adam Benjamin, Jr., 1st District of Indiana. He also worked for a Chicago-based engineering firm, Alfred Benesch & Company, for three years while attending DePaul University College of Law in the evenings. He served as the Executive Editor of the DePaul Law Review in 1982-1983.

George serves as an Executive Board Trustee for the Jane Addams Hull House Association, a 125-year old social service organization focusing on helping the underserved communities of Chicago. 

His wife of 26 years is Mary Gregerson Fitzpatrick, a graduate of Notre Dame. They have three children: Matt (Purdue, 2008, School of Management), who works for Morgan Stanley in New York City; Sean (College of the Holy Cross, 2010), who works with homeless youth in Hillsboro, Oregon; and Kathryn, a senior in high school. George and his wife always try to attend the Purdue vs. Notre Dame football games. George encouraged his wife to join Purdue’s Presidents Council.