Biography
Over the last 20 years, Patricia Hamill has represented many of the country’s largest insurers, Fortune 500 companies, and corporate executives and employees in the defense of complex commercial matters, including class actions, securities fraud cases, insurance bad faith claims, RICO actions and business disputes, employment litigation, directors and officers’ liability actions, and breach of contract suits. She has achieved successful outcomes, including dismissals and denials of class certification, on behalf of national insurance companies in multi-million dollar nationwide consumer class actions in courts across the country. Patricia also has a substantial
white collar criminal defense practice, representing companies, corporate officers and employees in federal grand jury, state, and agency investigations, and conducting internal corporate investigations.
Representative Matters
- Representation of global technology company in a variety of matters, including a breach of contract dispute arising out of a multimillion dollar hardware/software design and installation contract.
- Represents clients in litigation and government investigations pertaining to the False Claims Act and the antitrust and securities laws.
- Represents a municipal transportation authority in a dispute arising out of a multi-million dollar construction project.
- Ongoing representation of former officers in cases arising out of the bankruptcy of subprime lenders, including securities class actions in federal district court in Pennsylvania and related state court litigation.
- Representation of leading insurers in a wide variety of matters, including:
- A nationwide consumer class action suit in New Mexico state court alleging breach of contract and failure to disclose modal premium charges; secured dismissal of other similar cases, one on forum non conveniens grounds and the other voluntarily by plaintiffs, after initial motion practice.
- Nationwide consumer class action in Pennsylvania state court alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty based on insurer’s calculations of variable annuity death benefits; defeated class certification.
- Nationwide consumer class action in Florida state court on behalf of insurer with respect to variable universal life insurance product and alleged inadequate disclosures regarding premium tax charges; won dismissal (affirmed on appeal).
- Nationwide consumer class actions in federal district court in Georgia and state court in Kentucky on behalf of insurer in series of cases alleging misrepresentations in sale of universal life insurance policies; defeated class certification in both cases and obtained summary judgment in Kentucky action in favor of insurer.
- Nationwide consumer class action in federal district court in North Dakota in suit alleging omissions and misrepresentations in sale of, and subsequent rate increases on, long-term care policies sold in mid-1980s.
- Won dismissal (affirmed on appeal) of nationwide consumer class action in federal district court in Iowa on behalf of leading securities and investment firm in case alleging misrepresentations and omissions in sale of variable annuity products.
- Achieved voluntary dismissal of claims pending against an international consumer and commercial financing company in class action suit in federal district court in New Jersey relating to the alleged illegality of late fee charges for equipment leasing.
- Represented debt management company in consumer class action in federal district court in Pennsylvania relating to claims arising under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and unfair trade practices statutes.
In addition to her litigation practice, Patricia is a Member of the firm’s Executive Leadership Committee. Before joining the firm, she was a Chief Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia, representing the City in commercial, construction, personal injury, and civil rights actions in state and federal courts. Patricia is a board member of PathWaysPA, a social service agency providing services and advocacy for women, children and families.
Publications
Co-author, Steps To Take When The Government Comes Calling, Executive Counsel, Vol. 6, No. 3 (July/August 2009).
Criminal Law 101 for Insurance Professionals, Insurance Society of Philadelphia.
Patricia M. Hamill and Julie S. Congdon, Managing Outside Counsel in Litigation: A Primer, 21 J. AM. CORP. ASS'N 4 (2003).
Printable Biography