Pat Philbin brings to Torridon thirty years’ of experience in Washington, including in senior roles in the federal government. His work has involved a broad range of matters from litigating disputes for Fortune 100 companies, to responding to congressional investigations, to crisis management on legal issues making front page news. In addition to handling critical litigation matters, Pat draws on his extensive experience both in and out of government to counsel clients confronted with complex legal issues presenting multi-dimensional challenges.
Pat spent over fifteen years as a litigation partner at a major international law firm where he litigated matters at both the trial and appellate levels for Fortune 100 clients.
From December 2018 to January 2021, Pat served as Deputy Counsel to the President.
From 2001 to 2005, Pat served at the Department of Justice during the George W. Bush administration. His responsibilities centered on national security, intelligence, and terrorism issues. As an Associate Deputy Attorney General from 2003 to 2005, Pat oversaw and managed the national security functions of the Department, including espionage, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence investigations, applications for electronic surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and CFIUS review.
Awards and Distinctions
• Outstanding Achievement Award for Kirkland & Ellis from the Washington Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights for pro bono representation in fair housing case, 2014.
• Member, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Advisory Committee on Procedures, 2008-2014.
• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security, June 2004.
• Office of the Secretary of Defense, Exceptional Civilian Service Award for Support to the Secretary of Defense in the War on Terror, October 2002.
Clerkships
• The Honorable Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court; July 1993 – July 1994
• The Honorable Laurence H. Silberman, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit; July 1992 – July 1993
Education
• Cambridge University, Diploma in Legal Studies, 1995
• Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1992
Executive Editor, Harvard Law Review
• Yale University, B.A. in History, summa cum laude, 1989
Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
Contact
T: 202.249.6900
pphilbin@torridonlaw.com