Patricia A. Gorham

Patricia A. Gorham

Partner
Co-Lead, US and Global Professional Liability Practice
Atlanta, United States
+1 404 853 8298

Connect with Patricia Gorham:

Patti Gorham is an experienced and strategic advocate for clients in multifaceted, high-stakes business litigation, with particular emphasis on accounting liability, antitrust, and securities fraud class actions.

Clients rely on her attention to detail and deep understanding of how the various pieces of a complicated, high-value legal issue fit together to form a solid, thoughtful strategy. Clients appreciate Patti’s wealth of experience and knowledge, and value her ability to understand her clients, their issues, and their industries. Patti is co-leader of the firm’s US and global professional liability practices and a member of the firm’s global antitrust practice. Building on skills developed over 40 years, Patti leads litigation strategy and execution in complex, multi-headed litigation and regulatory actions

Patti regularly defends large accounting firms, and recently co-led a team on behalf of a Big Four client that won dismissal of several actions and successfully resolved multiple state and federal actions relating to the firmʼs audits of a pension plan and hospital system. She has represented accounting firms in professional malpractice and negligence litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, securities fraud class actions, and regulatory, criminal and internal investigations for more than three decades.  

Notably, Patti is leading the defense of a chicken broiler producer in nationwide class action and opt-out litigation alleging price-fixing, supply restraint, information sharing, and bid-rigging. In addition to defending clients in price-fixing, wage-setting, no-poach agreement, market allocation, and group boycott cases, Patti advises trade associations and companies on antitrust compliance.

Patti serves on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and as Chair of the State Bar’s Antitrust Section.

 

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  • Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in hundreds of state and federal lawsuits arising from audits of a county-owned hospital and its pension plan, winning dismissals of several actions and resolving the remaining actions to the mutual satisfaction of the parties after discovery.
  • Defending a producer in high-profile nationwide chicken broiler price-fixing class actions, opt-out cases, and state attorneys general litigation, focusing on alleged price-fixing, supply restraints, information sharing, and bid-rigging.
  • Obtained dismissal of a chicken producer from class actions alleging an antitrust conspiracy to fix wages and implement no-poach agreements.
  • Representing a chicken producer as a non-party alleged coconspirator in class actions and other litigation involving allegations of antitrust conspiracies to set grower compensation.
  • Defended a Big Four accounting firm in a multibillion-dollar professional negligence case arising out of the bankruptcy of one of the largest privately held mortgage origination companies in the United States, resolving the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the parties after discovery.
  • Defended lawsuit brought against Big Four accounting firm by bankruptcy trustee in Florida on behalf of 6000 noteholders in dispute involving subprime automobile-related investments, reaching a favorable settlement after discovery.
  • Representing professional services firms and their professionals in confidential regulatory investigations, including by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), and criminal and civil grand juries at both the state and federal level.
  • Providing antitrust and other advice to an agricultural trade association for more than 30 years.
  • Represented a Big Four accounting firm in four consolidated lawsuits brought in federal court by 162 plaintiffs who had purchased real estate limited partnership interests, securing judgment in our client’s favor after a bench trial
  • Represented a manufacturer of ductile iron pipe in a market allocation suit brought by a municipal customer
  • Represented a large telephone company in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit related to a contract for back-office telecommunications support
  • Defended a lawsuit brought by the bankruptcy trustee on behalf of 6,000 noteholders in dispute involving subprime automobile-related investments
  • Obtained the dismissal of federal action against a national broker-dealer and an affiliated insurance company brought by investors in a pension fund.
  • Represented a regional accounting firm in a criminal investigation resulting from its discovery of an employee defalcation at a client.
  • Brought action for injunctive relief against the New York Stock Exchange on behalf of an individual broker on statute of limitation rounds that was mooted by dismissal on latches principles by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the related administrative proceeding.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a private equity firm and uncovered financial fraud in connection with a recently acquired company.
  • Represented a former CEO of an energy trading company in connection with claims for $2 billion by a debtor, its creditors, and certain shareholders arising out of the company’s bankruptcy.
  • Defended an external director of a failed private company in bankruptcy adversary proceedings alleging breach of fiduciary duties and negligence.
  • Defended and negotiated a favorable settlement for a Big Four accounting firm sued in connection with a bank’s failed investment in a mortgage company.
  • Obtained a dismissal of shareholder action seeking to enjoin the merger of major defense and aerospace firms.
  • Obtained a dismissal of a seller liability securities fraud case for a Big Four accounting firm.
  • Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a local public body into alleged improprieties by the body’s executive officers.
  • Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in a $2.4 billion securities fraud class action involving revenue recognition issues at a company that provided billing operations for medical entities, resolving the case on favorable terms after discovery.
  • Obtained dismissal of federal securities class action and a related state case brought by a foreign military pension fund against a financial services company.
  • Successfully resolved an accountants’ liability class action, derivative shareholder claims, bankruptcy-related adversary proceeding, and accompanying regulatory investigations on behalf of a Big Four accounting firm related to audit work performed for a national chain selling jewelry on subprime credit.
  • Won a motion to dismiss in a $100 million federal litigation involving software revenue recognition and settled state court claims at no cost on behalf of a Big Four accounting firm.
  • Defended a large offshore drilling company and certain of its officers and directors in Section 10b-5, Section 14 and investor class actions and related shareholder derivative cases filed after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Obtained dismissal at the trial court and settlement on appeal of a securities fraud class action alleging failure to disclose antitrust and FDA-related violations against a public manufacturer of blood reagents.
  • Represented a national developer of alternative energy, reaching a very successful mediated resolution in litigation involving the transfer of an interest in a large solar energy project in California.
  • Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a lawsuit brought by the liquidating trustee of a workers’ compensation self-insurance fund, alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and civil conspiracy, obtaining a very favorable settlement before deposition discovery began.
  • Won a favorable judgment for a Georgia accounting firm in a lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duty and professional malpractice after cross-appeals from a partial grant of summary judgment.
  • Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in a securities fraud class action filed against a national homebuilding company, its officers and directors, and its outside auditors, reaching a very favorable settlement after briefing on motions to dismiss was completed.
  • Representing a cement producer in antitrust litigation involving allegations of price-fixing, group boycott, and market allocation.
  • Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of litigation general commercial (2022-2026) and antitrust (2025-2026)
  • Named to Best Lawyers in the area of commercial litigation (2019-2026)
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of general commercial disputes (2019, 2023, 2025) and merger control (2025)
  • Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2013-2018)
  • Board of Governors, State Bar of Georgia
  • Chair, Antitrust Section, State Bar of Georgia
  • Member, State Bar of Georgiaʼs Advisory Committee on Legislation, Office of General Counsel Oversight Committee, Finance Committee
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Georgia Legal Services
  • Former President, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers
  • Past Chair and Advisory Board Member, Truancy Intervention Project Inc.
  • Former Co-Chair, Officersʼ and Directorsʼ Liability Subcommittee and Former Newsletter Editor for the Professional Liability Litigation Committee, American Bar Association
 
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Court of Appeals of Georgia
  • Superior Court of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • Judge Carol Los Mansmann, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    (1985-1986)
  • Judge Carol Los Mansmann, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1984-1985)
  • J.D., magna cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center,

    Articles Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
     

  • B.A., magna cum laude, University of Massachusetts,

    Phi Beta Kappa

  • J.D.,  , Georgetown University Law Center,
    Articles Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
  • B.A.,  , University of Massachusetts,
    Phi Beta Kappa

 

 

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Patricia Gorham

Partner

Co-Lead, US and Global Professional Liability Practice

+1 404 853 8298
Patricia Gorham

Partner

Co-Lead, US and Global Professional Liability Practice

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