Pamela Wilson

Pamela Lawton Wilson, Esq. Shareholder, Wertz McDade Wallace Moot & Brower San Diego, California Practice Areas • Political & Election Law • Government • Real Estate & Land Use • Employment Accomplishments Ms. Wilson chairs the firm’s political law practice and has extensive expertise in campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying matters. She regularly represents numerous political action committees who advocate for tribal, business and labor interests. Ms. Wilson has represented several public officials and political committees in ethics and campaign finance matters, including a mayor and multiple city council members. Ms. Wilson defends clients before the Fair Political Practices Commission and the City of San Diego Ethics Commission, convincing agencies to close investigations without charges or settle cases for significantly reduced penalties. Ms. Wilson prosecutes and defends ballot litigation regarding candidate and committee statements in voter’s pamphlets and obtained writ of mandates compelling a referendum election and acceptance of a statement of candidacy. Ms. Wilson prepared an independent counsel investigation for a government entity and deterred a threatened grand jury investigation against a government entity. Wertz, McDade hosts a periodic political law update seminar, which Ms. Wilson organizes. From May 2006 to 2007 Ms. Wilson was president of the California Political Attorneys Association. Ms. Wilson also provides ongoing representation regarding transactional, litigation and compliance matters for affordable housing entities, labor and trade associations and charities. Ms. Wilson handles employment and disabled access cases, and manages personal injury defense for a key San Diego County tribal casino. She prevailed in a CEQA case for a project neighbor, persuaded a prosecutor to drop a threatened investigation of a private developer and defends employers in state prevailing wage audits. Ms. Wilson represents clients in real estate disputes and has defended community activists, witnesses and business persons targeted by anti-SLAPP lawsuits that stifle free speech. Ms. Wilson has practiced law since December 1996. Previously she was an award-winning journalist covering legal and community affairs. Ms. Wilson continues to write on legal topics and has contributed to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Diego Metropolitan Magazine. For her coverage of legal issues, Ms. Wilson received a first place award from the San Diego Press Club and Silver and Gold Medallions from the California State Bar Association. Community Service & Memberships • California Political Attorneys Association – President 2006 - 2007 • Greater San Diego Business Association – Current Secretary, Board Member, 2005 to present • City of San Diego Board of Zoning and Appeals, alt. Board Member 1999 – 2003 • City of San Diego Select Committee on Government Efficiency and Fiscal Reform, Committee Member 2001-2002 • Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, National Board Member, 1999-2003 • Lawyers Club of San Diego, ongoing • Tom Homann Law Association, ongoing • State Bar of California, ongoing • San Diego County Bar Association, ongoing Education • California Western School of Law, San Diego (J.D., cum laude, 1996) • Judicial Extern to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David R. Thompson, Spring 1996 • University of California San Diego (B.A., with honors, 1975) Awards & Honors • Executive Lead Articles Editor, California Western Law Review • San Diego Press Club Award - First Place, 1997 Presentations • Speaker, California State Bar Convention, “Government Code 1090,” October 2004 • Speaker, San Diego State University, Women in Politics Program, March 2005 • Speaker, Lorman Seminars: Conflicts of Interest, January 2004 • Speaker, Lorman Seminars: Prevailing Wages, November 2005 • Speaker, San Diego County Bar Assn. Land Use Section, “Lobbying,” April 2006 • Panel Moderator, Campaigns & Elections magazine and e-Voter Institute conference, “All Things Political,” San Diego, CA, August 2006 • MCLE Video Presenter, “Gov. Code § 1090,” Continuing Education of the Bar, May 2007