Biography

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.

Education

• Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1998
  • International Academy of Trial Attorneys Award
• Southwestern University, B.A., cum laude 1995
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
  • Member, Section of Litigation
  • Member, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
  • Member, Minority Trial Lawyers Committee
  • Member, Section of Science & Technology
• Sedona Conference Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production
• Defense Research Institute
  • Member, Commercial Litigation Committee
  • Member, Product Liability Committee
  • Member, Professional Liability Committee
  • Member, Diversity Committee
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Member-at-Large (2008 - present)
  • Chair, Minorities in the Legal Profession Committee (2008 - present)
  • Board of Governors (2006 - present)
  • Executive Committee (2007 - 2008)
  • Chair, Law Related Education Committee (2003 - 2008)
  • Chair, Young Lawyers' Division (2007 - 2008)
  • Chair-Elect, Young Lawyers' Division (2006 - 2007)
  • Vice-Chair, Young Lawyers' Division (2005 - 2006)
  • Secretary, Young Lawyers' Division (2004 - 2005)
  • Member, Finance Committee (2006 - 2007)
• St. Louis Bar Foundation
  • Board Member (2007 - present)
• St. Louis County Bar Association
• Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis

Representative Cases

• Gibbs v. Blockbuster Inc. No. ED93205 (Mo.App. E.D. 2010)

Awards and Honors

• Listed with Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2010-2011)
• Named as an "Up & Coming Lawyer" by Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2010)
• "Commitment to Diversity Award, St. Louis Diversity Job Fair (2010)
• President's Outstanding Service Award, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (2009 and 2004)
• Young Lawyers' Division Award of Merit, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (2002)

Bar Admissions

• United States Courts of Appeals
  • Seventh Circuit
  • Eighth Circuit
• United States District Courts
  • Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
  • Southern, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois
• Missouri
• Illinois

Publications & Lectures

• Keynote Speaker, “ What it Means to be a Hispanic Professional in St. Louis,” National Hispanic Professional Organization St. Louis Chapter Mixer (May 2011)
• Keynote Speaker, “Increasing Diversity in the Bar by Emphasizing Professionalism,” St. Louis Diversity Job Fair (August 2010)
• Author, “ Come, Be Inspired By the Stories of Our Spirit of Justice Winners,” Foundation News, St. Louis Lawyer (October 2009)
• Presenter, “How To Approach Career Development In The Saint Louis Market,” Saint Louis University School of Law (2009)
• Moderator, “Care & Feeding of In-House Counsel,” Bench and Bar Conference (2008)
• Presenter, Gateway Mock Trial Institute (1999 - 2008)