Overview
Pat O'Donnell has more than 35 years of experience advising clients in civil litigation, federal white-collar criminal defense, and government contract matters.
Pat specializes in compliance training and counseling, internal investigations, construction law, admiralty and maritime law, and U.S. export and import control laws (ITAR and EAR). He is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Government Contracts and Construction, International Trade, Maritime, and White-Collar Defense and Investigations practice groups.
Prior to joining Kaufman & Canoles, Pat was Student Legal Assistant at the University of Virginia before becoming a law clerk to The Honorable Richard B. Kellam, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Representative Matters
Argued before United States Supreme Court in Norshipco v. Garris, 532 U.S. 811 (2001), for the recognition of a wrongful death action under general maritime law
Defended Chairman and President of a Virginia bank accused of 31 counts of bank fraud in federal court
Defended Virginia attorney on federal conspiracy and fraud charges arising out of commercial real estate transactions
Defended chief financial officer of Virginia corporation on federal conspiracy and government contract fraud charges
Protested the award of multi-million-dollar U.S. Navy ship overhaul contracts before the GAO
Defended the award of a multi-million-dollar U.S. Army training contract before the Court of Federal Claims
Recognition & Honors
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2026
Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ, 2017-2024
Virginia’s Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2005–2025
Student Legal Assistant; University of Virginia, Legal Advisor’s Office, 1986-1988
Distinguished Attorney; Martindale-Hubbell
Press & Publications
News
Speaking Engagements
Community & Professional
Associations
Virginia Ship Repair Association
Tidewater Government Industry Counsel
American Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association Officer
Tidewater Association of Service Contractors
Virginia Maritime Association
Credentials
Education
Radford University; B.S., Economics, 1981
University of Virginia School of Law; J.D, 1988
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court, Western District of Virginia
