Patricia A. Hennessy has been named to the 2026 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the sixth consecutive year, recognizing her as a leading authority in education law and a trusted advisor to schools and educational institutions. Super Lawyers recognizes the top attorneys in each state through a rigorous process of independent research, peer nominations, and professional evaluation, with only a small percentage of lawyers achieving this distinction.
With more than 20 years of experience, Pat advises charter, independent, and other educational institutions on all aspects of education law—from formation and governance to day-to-day operations. Recognized for her sharp intellect, strategic problem-solving, and ability to quickly get to the heart of complex legal issues, she helps schools navigate challenges including school code compliance, special education, student discipline, and federal regulatory requirements with clarity, precision, and practical solutions.
Beyond her client work, Pat actively shapes the broader education landscape. She serves on the National Litigation Council for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and is a longtime member of the Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys, contributing to national discussions on charter school policy and legal strategy.
In Pennsylvania, Pat has been a committed leader within the independent school community, serving on the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools and as Chair of its Legislative Affairs Committee. Through this work, she has helped influence key discussions around the Pennsylvania School Code, education reform, and school choice. In 2022, she received the Charter School Lawyer ‘Legacy’ Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools.
About Barton Gilman
Barton Gilman (bglaw.com) serves clients throughout the Northeast with offices in Boston, MA, Providence, RI, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Milford, CT, and Fairfield, NJ offering legal services in over twenty-five service areas, including education law, employment, medical malpractice and aging services defense, professional liability defense, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, product liability and general liability, business and commercial litigation, as well as immigration, family law, trusts and estates, criminal defense, corporate formation, intellectual property, and real estate. Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Barton Gilman achieved Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus status in 2023. The firm and its attorneys have received numerous awards and accolades, including Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Best Women-Led Law Firms, BridgeTower Media’s 2024 Best Places to Work: Law Firms List, Best Places to Work Rhode Island, Outstanding Philanthropic Business, Common Good Award, and Super Lawyers.
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