Ellen A. Pansky

Practice areas

Professional Liability: Defense, Professional Liability: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice, Professional Malpractice – Other

Ellen A. Pansky, a practitioner affiliated with Pansky Markle Attorneys at Law, specializes in professional liability and legal ethics. Her practice is based in South Pasadena, California, and she serves as legal counsel for law firms, individual attorneys, and bar applicants across California. Her areas of expertise encompass licensing and regulatory proceedings, legal malpractice cases, and providing guidance on law practice risk management and compliance with legal ethics. Ms. Pansky holds certification as a legal malpractice law specialist from The State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization and is also recognized as a California State Bar certified MCLE (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education) provider. She is renowned as an authority in legal ethics and frequently provides expert testimony in legal malpractice lawsuits.

Born and raised in Southern California, Ms. Pansky completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with honors (summa cum laude) and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974. She continued her education at Loyola Law School, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 1977. Following her admission to the bar, Ms. Pansky embarked on a career with The State Bar of California, initially serving as a prosecutor for five years, handling cases before the State Bar Court. Subsequently, she assumed the role of assistant General Counsel for The State Bar of California, where she briefed and argued numerous cases before the California Supreme Court. From 1985 to 1989, Ms. Pansky worked as an associate at a litigation defense firm in Los Angeles. In 1989, she, along with her late husband, R. Gerald Markle, established Pansky Markle, often referred to as “Advisors to the Legal Profession.”

Ms. Pansky is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Recognized for her commitment to pro bono legal services, she has been honored with The State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manuel Certificate. Additionally, Ms. Pansky holds several prestigious accolades, including a longstanding AV Preeminent* peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and the 2016 Charles W. Kettlewell Legal Ethics Advisor Award. She is an active member of the U.S. District Court Standing Committee on Discipline.