Patrick is known for being candid and realistic with his clients about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases and leveraging his diverse legal experience to advise and advocate for them.
Overview
Patrick’s practice focuses on civil litigation and water and environmental law. He has taken over thirty jury trials to verdicts but will work equally hard to obtain an optimal outcome at any stage of a dispute.
Civil Litigation
Patrick represents businesses and individuals in state and federal courts and in arbitration forums. He litigates a broad range of civil, real estate, and commercial disputes, including cases concerning adverse possession, bankruptcy creditors’ rights, breach of contract, business formation, business torts, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, fiduciary duty, fraud, defamation, commercial leases, misappropriation, non-compete, prescriptive easements, property boundary disputes, and trade secrets. Patrick provides his clients with detailed investigation, diligent legal analysis, focused trial advocacy, and plain language communication.
Water & Environmental Law
Patrick represents a variety of clients with water and environmental law needs. He represents large municipalities with valuable senior water rights in need of protection and smaller irrigation companies and irrigators to protect their water rights. He has successfully represented clients in hundreds of water application proceedings, teamed with the Colorado Attorney General and U.S Department of Justice to win a liability judgment in the U.S. District Court for Colorado against a large front-range municipality for violations of the Clean Water Act, and negotiated consent decrees for clients with air emission permit issues. He also negotiates and drafts agreements and transactional documents for water clients.
Relevant Work Experience
Patrick served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was decorated for his service in the first Persian Gulf War. After college, he spent ten years as an environmental scientist, working on Colorado’s Rocky Flats Superfund Project, among other projects. After law school, Patrick served as a Deputy District Attorney for the 20th Judicial District (Boulder) and clerked for former 20th Judicial District Chief Judge Maria Berkenkotter (now a Colorado Supreme Court Justice).
More About Patrick
Patrick serves on BHGR’s Ethics and Pro Bono Committees.
Education + Admissions
Education
J.D., University of Colorado Law School
B.S., The Ohio State University (Environmental Science), summa cum laude
Admissions
- Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Associations
- Boulder County Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
Publications + Presentations
Instructor, Intersession Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado School of Law
Honors & Awards
Patrick is the former chair of the Colorado Judicial Performance Commission for the 20th Judicial District.
Pro Bono
Patrick has done pro bono work for Acequia companies and other non-profit water and environmental organizations. He also did pro bono work for Marshall Fire victims.
Out + About
Outside of the office, Patrick enjoys spending time with his wife, three sons, and Welsh Corgi. He cycles, skis, golfs, and plays guitar. Patrick has also served on the Recreation Advisory Board for the City of Louisville, Colorado.
