Pam Gilman, one of the founding partners of Barton Gilman LLP, is an accomplished trial lawyer with an active legal practice in Massachusetts. During her 40-year career as a defense attorney, she has tried and won nearly 100 cases in the areas of medical malpractice, premises liability, and product liability. In addition to her busy trial practice, Pam maintains a consulting practice assisting other lawyers in preparing witnesses to present most effectively at depositions and trial.
Pam has represented physicians and nurses in matters before the Board of Registration in Medicine, the Board of Registration of Chiropractors, and the Board of Registration in Nursing. She regularly serves as a consultant to physician groups, hospitals, and medical malpractice carriers concerning risk management matters.
Throughout her practice, Pam has served as the firm’s Boston office co-managing partner for over 10 years – from 2013–2020, 2008–2011 and first serving in the role in 1995. At that time, Pam was one of the first women to ascend to managing partner of a Massachusetts law firm.
Pam has lectured on trial practice and medical risk management. In 1988 – 1989, she served as an Instructor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She also currently teaches a course In Medicine, Ethics, and the Law at Tufts University.
Education
- Boston University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1984) Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar, 1984; G. Joseph Tauro Scholar, 1983; and Paul J. Liacos Scholar, 1982
- Tufts University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1981)
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Pam has achieved many notable accomplishments in her litigation career. For instance, she persuaded the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to dismiss a negligence lawsuit against an organ bank based on good faith immunity under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. Carey v. New England Organ Bank, 446 Mass. 270 (2006). The SJC’s opinion established new law in Massachusetts on applying the good faith immunity standard.
She has successfully defended numerous health care providers in medical malpractice trials, including most recently:
- An organ procurement organization accused of approving for possible transplant a kidney donor who had a high risk of infection.
- A registered nurse who allegedly failed to administer anti-coagulant medication, resulting in a fatal pulmonary embolism.
- An anesthetist and nurse-anesthetist who allegedly failed to properly position a patient during surgery, resulting in severe facial scarring.
- An obstetrician who allegedly failed to timely perform a cesarean section.
- A physician assistant in a case alleging wrongful birth (defense verdict upheld on appeal).
Pam also successfully defended a residential group home in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging a failure to provide emergency care to a group home resident. In addition, she was designated as the lead trial attorney among twelve defendants in a products liability case filed against national product manufacturers.
- Inducted into the 2025 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly “Hall of Fame”
- The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2012–2026); Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2014-2026)
- AVVO Top-Rated Lawyer, Superb Attorney Rating (2024)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyer in Medical Malpractice (2011–2024)
- AV Preeminent rating from the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory, the highest rating available for legal ability and ethical standards (1999–2024)
- Fortune Magazine Woman Leader in the Law (2014)
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Woman of Law 2011
Pam is very active in her local community, where she volunteers for numerous projects. Pam completed the 2014 Boston Marathon as a member of Team in Training to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). This was her second marathon. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon, also for LLS. When not running marathons, Pam has served on the Leadership Board for LLS’s Light the Night Walk in Boston. She has also assisted the Cambridge Public Schools in tutoring students during the pandemic and currently volunteers at the Cambridge Information Center Kiosk (formerly Out of Town News) in Harvard Square.
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While in high school, Pam did print and radio commercials for Johnson’s Baby Powder to help fund her college costs.
