Pamela Y. O'Berry
Pam helps government entities navigate complex legal, ethical, and organizational challenges.
Pam advises chief executives at all levels of state and local government. With nearly 30 years of experience as a district court judge, administrative law judge, general counsel, and trial attorney in both government and corporate settings, Pam has a unique understanding of how governmental entities work. She uses her depth of experience in governmental organization, decision-making, and litigation to help her clients resolve problems proactively, transparently and in the best interest of the citizens they serve.
She also supports Sands Anderson’s School & Education Law Team representing public school divisions across Virginia with myriad issues including investigations, trainings, and daily advice.
Pam previously served as General Counsel or as a consultant to police departments in Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan. In these roles, she oversaw reform initiatives, legal issues, and audit processes. She was also instrumental in ensuring those departments complied with federal, state, and local laws. Pam is able to counsel police departments throughout the Commonwealth on these issues, with a particular focus on investigations, public safety, and citizen review boards.
In addition, because of the combined litigation experience Pam gained as a judge (hearing and resolving thousands of cases each year) and as a trial attorney (litigating nearly 100 jury trials as first chair and more than 230 bench trials), she can offer clients proactive risk management and risk avoidance strategies, as well as representation should matters progress to adversarial tribunals.
Since becoming a lawyer, most of Pam’s career has been in public service and includes eight years as a prosecutor, 12 years as a judge in Virginia, and three years as Commissioner and Chair of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. She is passionate about public service and finds fulfillment helping those who dedicate their careers to improving the communities and lives of others.
Aside from lawyering, Pam enjoys power walking, fitness, gardening, and tackling DIY projects.
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