The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS) has named Patricia A. Hennessy its Charter School Lawyer ‘Legacy’ Award recipient for devoting her career to advising and supporting clients in the charter school reform movement. Hennessy will be honored during the 25th Anniversary of Charter Schools celebration at the PCPCS Annual Conference on September 21.
“We’re very proud of Pat and her accomplishments,” said Matt Plain, Co-Managing partner of Barton Gilman. “We’re also grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Pat, as her commitment to the education reform movement motivates the entire team to leave it all on the field.”
“I am humbled to receive this award,” said Hennessy. “I was drawn to the charter school movement because of how much importance my mom placed on education and the sacrifices she made to ensure my siblings and I were well educated, so I have devoted my career to helping charter schools bring innovation and education to thousands of students.”
Hennessy, founder of the firm’s Philadelphia office and Co-Chair of Barton Gilman LLP’s education law practice, brings over twenty-five years of experience in the representation of charter schools, charter management organizations and charter advocacy organizations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. She advises charter school clients on the application process, start-up, special education, employment matters, and all other aspects of school operations.
A well-known charter schools advocate, Hennessy serves on the National Litigation Council for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and is a long-term member of the Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys. She also works extensively with private, boarding and religious schools on a wide range of legal issues, including education reform and school choice issues.
Hennessy was a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, serving as the outgoing Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee. She received a J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1995, a B.A., cum laude, from Temple University in 1989, and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.
About Barton Gilman
Barton Gilman serves clients throughout the Northeast with offices in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, offering legal services in a wide variety of matters, including medical and other professional liability defense, premises liability and business litigation, as well as education law, employment, family law, insurance coverage, trusts and estates, criminal defense, corporate formation and intellectual property. The firm and its attorneys have received numerous awards and accolades, including Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Best Places to Work Rhode Island, Outstanding Philanthropic Business, the Common Good Award, and Super Lawyers.
