Pamela L Johnston

Consumer Law, Finance & Class Action Group, False Claims Act, Financial Institutions, Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations, Litigation, Privacy, Security & Information Management, Securities Enforcement & Litigation, State Attorneys General

Clients facing investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other agencies turn to Pamela Johnston for her sound judgment. Informed by her extensive trial experience, successful handling of various types of fraud and corruption investigations, depth in the area of parallel False Claims Act (FCA) and criminal investigations, and her understanding of the criminal system and ability to navigate effectively that system on behalf of her clients, Pam’s clients value her ability to defend them effectively in court when required. She is a partner in the firm’s Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations and Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practice Groups as well as the Health Care & Life Sciences Sector.

Pam represents companies and individuals in investigations and cases involving the False Claims Act (FCA), health care fraud, complex criminal laws, SEC/DOJ securities issues, customs / tariff FCA and criminal enforcement, immigration workplace enforcement investigations targeting companies, and criminal environmental. She is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried more than 30 cases in federal and state courts and has written more than 60 federal appellate briefs. Pam honed her trial skills during her 14 years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), ending her DOJ tenure in the Los Angeles United States Attorney’s Office as a Deputy Chief of the Major Frauds Section. She began that tenure as a civil AUSA, prosecuting FCA, FIRREA, and forfeiture cases. Pam is well known as a Los Angeles insider-trading and health care lawyer. Pam also represents companies in complex commercial disputes.

According to Chambers USA, clients and market sources describe Pam as a “‘really fine lawyer’ who particularly stands out for her ‘tremendous insight’ into the strategies of government agencies.” They also say she is “very strong and very effective,” “extremely knowledgeable and experienced,” and has “impeccable judgment.”

Pam has “strong litigation credentials and expertise” in False Claims Act cases and a “range of white-collar criminal matters, including securities enforcement.” A client noted, “I was very pleased with her availability to promptly get back to me anytime, day or night,” adding, “She has great judgment and is tough when she needs to be.”

University of California Berkeley School of Law

JD

University of California, Davis

BS