Introduction
Patrick is a member of Fredrikson & Byron’s Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions and International Business Law Groups. He has extensive experience advising clients with regard to international corporate matters, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, finance, distributors and agents, employment, licensing, technology transfers, and franchising. He works both with U.S. businesses expanding into foreign markets and foreign businesses seeking representation in the United States. While he works with clients doing business all over the world, he has particular expertise in Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Latin America, generally. Pat advises clients on matters ranging from entity selection and tax structuring, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, contracts, securing debt, labor law and real estate development and finance.
Pat oversees Fredrikson & Byron’s office in Monterrey, Mexico. He practices out of both the Minneapolis and Monterrey offices, traveling between the two offices as needed.
Education
- University of Minnesota School of Law, J.D., 1988
- St. John’s University, B.A., summa cum laude,
Major: Government, Minor: Spanish, 1983
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1988
Practice Areas
- Corporate
- International
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Internet, Technology & E-Commerce
- Franchise
- Emerging Business
- Medical Technology
Languages
- Fluent in Spanish
- Working knowledge of Portuguese
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, “The New Lawyer Experience,” Minnesota CLE Webcast Seminars, January 16, 2008
- “Doing Business in Costa Rica,” Fredrikson & Byron Global Perspectives Seminar, January 19, 2007
- “Cross Border Ethics: Privilege, Conflicts, The FCPA and More,” CLE Presentation for the 2006 International Business Law Institute MSBA International Business Law Section, April 27, 2006
- “Closing Real Estate Transactions in Mexico from Minneapolis,” co-authored with Luis G. Reséndiz, November 2005
- “Mexico: Basic Labor Law Concepts, Non-Competes, Non-Disclosures and Employee Inventions,” November 2005
- “Leap of Faith? Buying Real Estate in Mexico Through a Bank Trust (Fideicomiso)” co-authored with Luis G. Reséndiz, Fredrikson & Byron’s International Focus Newsletter, May 2004
- “Sun, Sand and Caveat Emptor: Buying Real Estate in Mexico,” Fredrikson & Byron’s International Focus Newsletter, November 2003
- “The Legal Eye - Global Reach,” Minnesota Technology, Summer 2003
- “Doing Business in China: Following The Trend - Forming a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise,” Fredrikson & Byron’s International Focus Newsletter, April 2002
- “Mexico, Maquiladoras and NAFTA,” Fredrikson & Byron’s International Focus Newsletter, March 2001
Professional Activities
- Member of the Hennepin County Bar Association, Business Banking & Financing Section, Chair, 1997-98
- Chair of Minnesota State Bar Association International Institute Planning Committee and Vice Chair of the International Business Law Section Council, 2000-2001; Committee member, 2000-present
- Chair of the International Business Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, 2001-2002; member of Governing Council, 2001-present
- Lecturer at University of St. Thomas Masters and Undergraduate programs on International Law
- Speaker at Minnesota Trade Office Export workshop
- Frequent speaker to trade groups on mergers and acquisitions, international law and corporate topics
- MEDA volunteer
- Chair of the Board of Directors, Chicanos and Latinos Unidos en Servicio (“CLUES”), 2007; member of the Board of Directors of CLUES since 2000
- Founder and member of Advisory Board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota
- Honorary Legal Counsel Mexican Consulate of St. Paul, 2005 to present
Honors & Distinctions
- Compadre of the Year, CLUES, 2005
- Volunteer of the Year Award, MEDA, 1990
- SBA Minority Business Advocate Award, 1990
- Minority Business Advocate Award, Department of Commerce, 1991