Pamela A. Bresnahan
Practice Areas
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property, Entertainment, and Technology Protection
- Labor and Employment
- Litigation
Industries
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1980, with honors
- University of Maryland, B.A., 1976, magna cum laude, with general honors, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar & Court Admissions
Pam is a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office and is the head of the litigation practice group in that office. She also practices from the firm's Orange County office. Pam serves as trial and appellate counsel in complex commercial litigation matters, including class action litigation. She represents lawyers, financial institutions, broker/dealers, financial professionals, directors and officers, technology professionals, fiduciaries, insurers and other professionals. Pam serves as coverage and litigation counsel for insurers. She represents businesses in intellectual property, financial services, employment and other corporate litigation. She advises law firms and lawyers on management issues, employment issues and ethics matters. Pam has extensive experience supervising and managing complex commercial litigation involving e-discovery.
Career highlights include:
- Inducted into American College of Trial Lawyers
- Being named by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
- Being named as one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in America by the National Law Journal
- Being named to The Best Lawyers in America in four categories: Legal Malpractice; Commercial Litigation; Bet-the-Company Litigation; and, Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- Being named as one of Washington's top lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine and The Washington Post
Pam is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, California, Illinois, Maryland and New York.
Pam has spoken on various topics in the United States and Europe on professional responsibility, professional liability, risk management, employment, insurance coverage and commercial litigation issues.
Pam received her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law with honors and her B.A. magna cum laude with general honors from the University of Maryland where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi.
Professional and Community Activities
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Board of Trustees, Chair-Elect 2019-present, Treasurer 2018-2020, Member, 2010-2017
- National Judicial College Board of Trustees, Member 2020-present
- American Bar Association, Delegate-at-Large and YLD Delegate, 1987-2007, 2009-2014, 2017-present
- American Bar Endowment, Board Member, 2017-present
- American Bar Association, Chair, Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, 2017-2018, Member, 2002-2005
- American Bar Association, Board of Governors, Chair, Improving the Profession, 2016-2017 American Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2014-2017
- American College of Trial Lawyers, D.C. State Committee, 2010-2014; Commercial Litigation Committee, 2013-present
- American Bar Association, Nominating Committee and Delegate, 2006-2009, 2011-2012 American Law Institute, 2005-present
- American Bar Association, Permanent Representative to the United Nations/Public Information, 2010-2013
- American Bar Association, Chair, Committee on Drafting Policies and Procedures, 2012-2014
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section Council, 2010-2013
- American Bar Association, Chair, Litigation Operations Committee, 2012-2013
- American Bar Association, Co-Chair, ABA Resource Committee, 2013-present
- American Bar Association, Member, Gender Equity Task Force, 2012-2013
- American Bar Association, President, Fellows of the Young Lawyers Division, 2011-2012
- American Bar Association, Member, FJE Council, 2011-2014
- American Bar Association, Committee on Rules and Calendar, 2008-2010
- American Counsel Association, President, 2004-2005
- D.C. Circuit Committee on Admissions and Discipline, Member, 2005-2008
- American Bar Association, Chair, Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability, 1995-1997
- American Bar Association, Commission on Women in the Profession, 2000-2002
- Women's Bar of Maryland, President, 1987-1988
- Maryland State Bar Association, Chair, Committee on Judicial Appointments, 1991-1992
- Maryland State Bar Association, Vice-Chair, Committee on Judicial Appointments, 1989-1991
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, Member, 1990-present
- Maryland Alumni Association, Life Member
- University of Maryland, Terrapin Club, Member
Honors & Awards
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2008-present
- The National Law Journal, One of the 50 most influential women lawyers in America, 2007
- The National Law Journal, One of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, 2006
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, Professional Liability: Defense, 2007, 2008; Professional Liability: Defense, Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage, 2009-2018
- The Washingtonian, One of Washington's top lawyers, 2011-2014
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, 2013-present
- The Best Lawyers in America, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2010-2015
- The Best Lawyers in America, Legal Malpractice, 2001-present
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2006-present
- The Best Lawyers in America, Business Litigation, 2001-2008
- Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR) in England, Honorary Member, 2012-present
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 1994-present
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- Irish Legal 100, 2016
News
- 8/20/2020One hundred and twelve lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2021 edition. In addition, 26 Vorys attorneys were named to the inaugural Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 6/15/2020Vorys is pleased to announce that Pamela A. Bresnahan has been selected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the National Judicial College (NJC).
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 2/8/2018Pam Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, was recently mentioned in a speech given by the American Bar Association's (ABA) President, Hilarie Bass.
- 11/30/2017Vorys is proud to announce that Pamela A. Bresnahan, a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, has been named to Washingtonian’s 2017 list of the best lawyers in the D.C. metro area.
- 8/21/2017Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, has been appointed to serve a one-year term as chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 6/5/2014Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office and the leader of the litigation group in that office, was profiled in Legal Bisnow.
- 4/25/2014Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP is pleased to announce that four Vorys Washington, D.C. partners have been named to the 2014 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers list. In addition, Elizabeth Mykytiuk was named a 2014 Super Lawyers Rising Star.
- 2/17/2014Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office and a member of the litigation group, was quoted in a Law360 story regarding law firm deadline monitoring procedures.
- 2/14/2014Pamela A. Bresnahan, a partner in Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP Washington, D.C. office, was recently elected to the American Bar Association (ABA) Board of Governors.
- 11/25/2013Vorys is proud to announce that Pamela A. Bresnahan, a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, has been named to Washingtonian’s 2013 list of the best lawyers in the Washington metro area. Bresnahan was recognized as one of the area’s top civil-defense attorneys. She has been included on the annual list each year since 2011.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 5/1/2013Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, was quoted in a Corporate Counsel story titled “Looking for Top Law Firms' Compliance Programs.” Bresnahan was quoted regarding the corporate and ethics compliance efforts of smaller law firms.
- 4/29/2013Pamela Bresnahan and Gregory Murphy, partners in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, have been named 2013 Super Lawyers.
- 12/3/2012Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, was recently profiled American Bar Association’s (ABA) Gender Equity Task Force website.
- 10/2/2012Vorys announced that eight attorneys from the firm’s Washington D.C. office have been included in ALM’s Washington & Baltimore’s 2012 Top Rated Lawyers.
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 8/15/2012Pamela Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, was quoted in a BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct story titled “Speakers Try to Cabin Slippery Concept of Lawyers’ Fiduciary Obligation to Clients.” The story was about a panel discussion that occurred at the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers annual meeting.
- 4/27/2012Pamela Bresnahan and Gregory Murphy, partners in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, have been named 2012 Super Lawyers.
- 11/30/2011
- 9/6/2011
- 5/12/2011
- 8/9/2010
- 3/3/2010
- 12/7/2009
- 8/4/2009
- 2/1/2009
- 10/29/2008
- 9/29/2008
- 3/18/2008
- 12/2/2007
- 11/30/2007
- 11/28/2007
- 9/19/2007
- 5/29/2007
Events
- 4/30/2020Pam Bresnahan, a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office, co-presented a webinar titled “The New Ethics of Working Remotely: Cybersecurity and Other Risks” on June 10, 2020.
- 3/28/2019Vorys Partner, Pam Bresnahan presented at the TechLaw Institute 2019: The Digital Evolution in New York on March 28, 2019.
- 3/22/2019Vorys Partner, Pam Bresnahan presented at an American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Webinar (ALI-CLE) on March 22, 2019.
- 3/6/2017Vorys Partner Pam Bresnahan was a speaker at the Practicing Law Institute(PLI) Techlaw Institute 2017: The Digital Evolution hosted by PLI on March 6, 2017.
- 3/1/2017Vorys Partner Pam Bresnahan was a speaker at the 16th Annual LMRM Conference on March 1, 2017.
- 6/16/2016Vorys Partner Pam Bresnahan was a moderator for the panel “Recent Developments on Client Confidentiality and Related Topics” hosted by the American Bar Association on June 16, 2016.
- 4/29/2016Vorys Partner Pam Bresnahan was a moderator at the National Legal Malpractice Conference hosted by the American Bar Association on April 29, 2016.
- 10/10/2015Vorys Partner Pam Bresnahan participated in a panel at the 2015 DRI Annual Meeting on October 10, 2015.
- 11/14/2013Vorys partner Pam Bresnahan participated in a panel discussion titled Communications Law in the Digital Age. The panel was hosted by PLI and took place on November 14-15.
- 4/18/2012Vorys partner Pam Bresnahan participated in the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation Annual CLE Conference on April 18.
- 6/3/2011
- 3/22/2010
Insights
- 3/11/2021On Wednesday, March 10th, the House passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the third major federal COVID-19 relief act following the CARES Act and the December 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act. President Biden is expected to sign it into law Friday.
- 12/27/2020Late on December 27, the President signed a $900 billion relief package that will provide aid to individuals and businesses still struggling with the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both the House and the Senate passed the proposal last week.