
Patrick Chavez devotes much of his current practice to counseling clients in legal matters involving technology, including e-discovery. As a member of the Sedona Conference® Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production and an experienced trial attorney, he is able to use this background to offer real-world advice on the ever-increasing role of the discovery of electronically stored information (ESI) in civil litigation. Patrick regularly counsels clients on e-discovery matters, large and small, to develop efficient, defensible, and cost-effective strategies for collection, processing, review, and production of ESI. He also offers guidance in the vetting and selection of e-discovery vendors.
In non-litigation situations, Patrick can offer clients risk management recommendations related to information governance, in which document management, social media, and document retention are addressed. He can also advise clients regarding cloud computing and the negotiation of cloud computing service agreements. In the healthcare context, Patrick can guide his clients regarding the implementation and use of Electronic Health Records, to include a client's respon- sibilities under HIPAA and HITECH for the use of such records generally and in litigation.
Patrick also has an ongoing complex litigation practice, in which he regularly handles commercial litigation matters and the defense of product and professional liability suits, among other types of actions. In the area of professional liability, Patrick has over a decade of experience litigating medical malpractice lawsuits, and the products he has defended include commercial kitchen appliances, firearms, on-highway and off-highway heavy-duty construction vehicles, and construction equipment.
Patrick is extensively involved in community and legal education activities and is a frequent judge for national collegiate and high school mock trials and other national law school competitions. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit St. Louis Bar Foundation and works with both the Bar Foundation and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis to promote the interests of diverse communities, as well as to advance the goal of increasing diversity within the legal profession.
Born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Patrick currently lives in St. Louis with his wife Sandy and step-children, Melanie and Danny.