Patrick focuses his practice on insurance coverage and insurance litigation, but he also has extensive experience in real estate litigation, professional malpractice defense, and general liability defense. Patrick is often enlisted to assist on sophisticated and difficult matters including high-stakes motions and appellate briefs. Patrick also has experience as third-party administrator and coverage counsel for E&O programs on behalf of London Market syndicates.
Patrick believes that effective strategic planning at the outset of a matter can efficiently guide litigation activities toward an achievable end-result, while avoiding aimless or unproductive battles with opposing counsel. Patrick also believes that a lawyer adds value by identifying the key pressure point of a controversy early in a case, ideally before the opponent has done so.
Outside of the office, Patrick is formally recognized as an "expert" chess player by the U.S. Chess Federation.
Notable Decisions/Results
Demurrer sustained in favor of client; affirmed on appeal in a published decision highly favorable to insurance professionals in California People ex rel. Ellinger v. Magill (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 287 [292 Cal.Rptr.3d 241].
Summary judgment for insurer-client; affirmed on appeal Kaufman v. Fed. Ins. Co. (9th Cir. 2020) 809 F.App'x 461.
Summary judgment for multiple clients on multiple motions -- all affirmed on appeal Montes v. Winston (Mar. 25, 2025, No. B329406) ___Cal.App.5th___ [2025 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1829].