A litigator with the firm’s Land Use and Environmental practices, Patrick advises and defends private and public clients on land use, environmental law and real estate issues. He is experienced in a range of matters including property acquisition and development; property entitlement procedures, including obtaining local government land use approvals; CEQA compliance and related litigation; and water rights disputes.
Land Use
Prior to joining Wendel Rosen, Patrick gained broad experience in municipal law and land use matters while working with local governments. As a private practice attorney, he acted as an Assistant City Attorney to two California cities and multiple special districts, advising city councils, planning commissions, and staff in a wide variety of municipal law and land use issues. He has also defended various public entities in litigation pertaining to civil rights, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allegations, personal injury, and eminent domain issues.
Environmental Litigation
Patrick has diverse experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws, as well as related litigation. With the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, he worked as part of a team prosecuting Clean Water Act and CERCLA violations. He also interned with the Land Use and Environment team at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office.
Leadership
Patrick writes and speaks on topics related to land use, environmental law, and municipal law issues, including California housing development laws, water rights, commercial evictions, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. He previously edited two chapters of the California Land Use Practice CEB handbook and CEB’s How To Obtain Discovery Sanctions Guide. He is admitted to the Ninth Circuit, the Northern and Eastern District Courts, and the California Courts of Appeal. While in law school, Patrick was a member of the editorial board of the USF Law Review and served on the board of the USF Environmental Law Society.