Patrick is a senior associate in the firm's Appellate group. His practice encompasses a wealth of substantive areas including financial services, class actions, aviation, employment, medical devices, insurance disputes, arbitration clauses, credit reporting, elections, and the False Claims Act. He is experienced in matters before the Supreme Court of the United States and has successfully briefed and argued cases across the country. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has expressly noted Patrick’s “excellent representation” and “excellent briefing and argument” in multiple opinions.
Prior to joining Reed Smith, he taught as a Visiting Lecturer at Moi University School of Law in Kenya, and clerked for Judge D. Michael Fisher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Patrick has spoken at conferences throughout the country, and his writings have been published in the Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality, Dublin University Law Journal, Cleveland State Law Review, Duquesne Law Review, University of Baltimore Journal of International Law, U.S. Law Week, BNA, Jurist, Corporate Counsel, For The Defense, and The Legal Intelligencer. He also edits and publishes the Third Circuit Bar Association’s quarterly newsletter "On Appeal."
He has developed an extensive pro bono practice and obtained victories for indigent individuals and non-profit organizations in the following areas:
LGBT+Rights
Patrick litigated Pennsylvania’s first same-sex common-law marriage as well as the case requiring Social Security to recognize Pennsylvania common-law marriage court declarations. He has successfully represented eight transgender individuals in their efforts to obtain name changes, both in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and he is currently litigating a constitutional case on behalf of three transgender clients who are challenging Pennsylvania’s ban on name changes for people with felony convictions.
Immigrants’ Rights
Patrick has represented individuals in immigration proceedings before the Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Board of Immigration Appeals. He recently won a case in the Third Circuit resulting in a judgment vacating a legal permanent resident’s order of removal.
Prisoners’ Rights / Capital Punishment
Patrick obtained a Third Circuit reversal of an order dismissing a prisoner’s First Amendment retaliation claims, and he is currently litigating a case in the Seventh Circuit for a prisoner who was held 97 days past his true release date. Patrick also authored and submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on behalf of the ACLU of Pennsylvania in support of the governor’s reprieve of a prisoner on death row.
Anti-Corruption and Democracy
Patrick has represented numerous public figures and non-profit organizations who care about good government. In particular:
- Three amicus briefs in the federal courts of appeals on behalf of the Niskanen Center in support of plaintiffs challenging Emoluments Clause violations
- Two amicus briefs in the federal courts of appeals on behalf of the Brennan Center for Justice in support of states with strong campaign finance laws
- An amicus brief in the Supreme Court on behalf of a bipartisan group of current and former governors on the necessity of judicial review to resolve gerrymandering disputes
Mental Health
Patrick has represented multiple rehabilitated individuals who were adjudicated not guilty due to a mental health issue (NGRI) and who sought conditional release following a period of inpatient care at a state facility.
Veterans’ Rights
Patrick has authored three amicus briefs in the Supreme Court for the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (formerly, CLASV) in support of veterans who wish to bring suit against the Veterans Administration under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
