Executive Partner

Pamela J. Bethel’s career has focused on prosecuting and defending cases involving federal fraud claims, breaches of fiduciary duty, public corruption and financial mismanagement. She began her career as a trial attorney with the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and later joined the Department of Justice where she worked both as a senior trial attorney with Main Justice and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern. District. of Virginia.

Pamela regularly represents corporations, governments, agencies and individuals, handling cases that receive national recognition. Her work in the field of corporate governance is nationally renowned. She conducts investigations into, and advises clients with respect to, matters involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duties; best practices; disclosure requirements; document retention policies; officer compensation; corporate transactions involving public and private companies; federal contracting compliance; federal agency employment and EEO issues; Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act; and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Her client list includes regional, national, and international not-for-profits and foundations; publicly-held companies with both national and international operations; privately-held companies with regional, national and international operations; and federal agencies (civilian and military).

Pamela is adept at designing research and review protocols, building nimble and large teams, and managing teams tasked with complex investigation and research projects. Her skill sets deliver consistently superior results.

Pamela’s comprehensive understanding of the competing political and administrative goals that must be addressed when representing public concerns, gained in her fifteen (15) years in federal service and more than 20 years in private practice, has enabled her to build O’Riordan Bethel’s Government Services division. As Project Director for Government Services, Pamela oversees O’Riordan Bethel’s professional services contracts for civilian and defense agencies, including the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Army, Interior, Justice, and Navy.

Pamela lectures on ethical issues and, federal investigation processes and procedures to audiences ranging from law enforcement agencies to national professional organizations. She also is sought-after as a commentator on high-profile cases and national issues on both network and cable television stations, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and NBC (“Today Show”).