Overview
Terri A. Pawelski is a partner and experienced trial lawyer in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations Practice Group. She defends individuals and companies facing criminal investigations and indictments, and has handled more than 100 criminal investigations in Pennsylvania and more than 20 trials in courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
Terri’s government investigations work has largely resulted in no-prosecution decisions by the U.S. Department of Justice. In the courtroom, she has tried complex federal jury trials that more often than not have resulted in total or partial not-guilty verdicts in criminal cases, and that have always resulted in defense verdicts in antitrust civil trials.
In Depth
Terri A. Pawelski is a member of Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department and the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations Practice Group. Terri is a seasoned trial lawyer and has vast experience in defending both individuals and companies facing criminal investigations and indictments.
Terri has been involved in more than 100 criminal investigations in Pennsylvania and 20 trials in courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. She has represented clients in numerous government investigations that largely resulted in no-prosecution decisions by the United States Department of Justice. Additionally, she has tried complex federal jury trials where more often than not, the jury trials resulted in total or partial not-guilty verdicts in the criminal cases and have always resulted in defense verdicts following the antitrust civil trials.
Terri earned her J.D. from the Boston University School of Law, cum laude, and her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Dickinson College.
How Terri Helps
- Criminal defense from investigation through trial
- DOJ prosecution declinations
- Not guilty verdicts in white collar cases
- Public corruption defense
- Antitrust defense verdicts for food producers
- Complex civil and class action litigation
The Record
Credentials
Admitted to Practice
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Selected Representations
Criminal
- Obtained not guilty verdict for New Jersey medical doctor on federal bankruptcy fraud charges.
- Obtained not guilty verdict for prominent Philadelphia investment banker alleged to have made false statements to the government regarding a high-profile political corruption scheme.
- Obtained not guilty verdict for prominent Delaware stockbroker on all 44 counts of indictment charging securities fraud and forgery.
- Obtained not guilty verdicts for Philadelphia attorney alleged to be part of a scheme to influence zoning legislation by Philadelphia City Council.
- Obtained not guilty verdicts for Philadelphia Traffic Court judge on multiple count of federal Indictment alleging multiple mail and wire fraud schemes to fix traffic tickets.
- Obtained not guilty verdict for executive of infrastructure maintenance company on federal indictment alleging immigration and witness tampering charges.
- Obtained not guilty verdict for corporation and corporate officer alleged to have engaged in a wire fraud scheme with hung jury on other charges.
- Obtained prosecution declination from U.S. Department of Justice – Antitrust Division on behalf of corporate executives in polyurethane foam and generic drug investigations.
- Obtained prosecution declination from U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of staff members of two.
- Pennsylvania senators each charged with political corruption and on behalf of a business executive alleged to have bribed a Pennsylvania senator.
- Representation of the general counsel of a major Scranton area commercial construction company in connection with the “Cash for Kids” investigation resulting in no prosecution of our client.
Civil
- Obtained substantial settlement as lead counsel in federal class action on behalf of minors and young adults charged with violation of an invalid N.J. municipal ordinance.
- In re. Egg Products Antitrust Direct Purchaser Litigation: Member of trial team that obtained defense verdicts following six-week class action jury trial.
- In re Mushroom Antitrust Litigation: Obtained favorable settlements as lead counsel for defendant companies on the eve of trials in 2019 and 2020.
- Obtained defense verdicts for several major mushroom producers and their agricultural cooperative in a direct action antitrust claim by a major food supermarket chain following a 4-week federal jury trial in March 2022.
Selected Publications
- August 2026 Quoted
- September 2024 Quoted “Montgomery McCracken Adds White Collar Litigator In Philly” Law360
Honors & Awards
- Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list from 2014-2021. This list is issued by Thomson Reuters and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
- Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star list in 2008, and 2010-2013. This list is issued by Thomson Reuters and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
Professional Activities
- Member, American Bar Association Section of International Law
- Member, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member, Criminal Justice Act Felony Defense Panel, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
Education
Law School
- Boston University School of Law
Undergraduate School
- Dickinson College
Insights
Shared Thinking
Talk With Terri
Philadelphia 215-772-7284 tpawelski@mmwr.com