Atty. Patrick Shannon

Atty. Patrick Shannon

Patrick Shannon is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office. Patrick focuses his practice on government relations and administrative law before the California legislature and state regulatory and enforcement agencies.

Sacramento Sacramento 36 Years Experience 36 year
Call (916) 442-1111 Email

Profile Summary

About Patrick Shannon at a glance

Patrick Shannon is a Shareholder based in Sacramento, California, practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. They have 36+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1990. Their practice focuses on government. Admitted to practice in California (1990). Educated at University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) (J.D., 1990) and London School of Economics (M.Sc. Rotary, 1987). Active member of California Bar Association. Serves clients in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Patrick Shannon is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office
  • Patrick focuses his practice on government relations and administrative law before the California legislature and state regulatory and enforcement agencies
  • He has deep experience on matters relating to financial services, health care, transportation, insurance, environmental regulation, tax, and government contracts
  • He has served as outside government relations legal counsel and a top policy strategist in California, principally at the state but also local level, for more than two decades for several of the world’s largest financial institutions, health care companies, and transportation conglomerates
  • Patrick has practiced government relations law and otherwise worked in government relations since 1992
  • He previously headed the firm’s Silicon Valley government practice before founding Government Relations Counsel in 2008
  • During his prior tenure in state government, he served as Gov. Pete Wilson's legislative advisor and liaison on business issues and on all civil and criminal justice matters, overseeing six cabinet-level agency legislative programs
  • In addition to his senior policy advisory work, Patrick has held executive positions in two technology companies, founded his own corporate affairs consulting firm, and practiced securities law at an international law firm
  • Experience Representative Matters • Helped broker a California state budget deal to break the stalemate over tax increases to close a $26-billion deficit with carrots of corporate tax reform to change to a single sales factor regime and to authorize public-private partnerships for transportation infrastructure projects.° • Worked to persuade the California Health Benefits Exchange Commission to contract out the IT build of the California health care exchange under the Affordable Care Act, helped develop the requirements, helped assemble a consortium of service providers to bid on the project, and navigated the process to secure the $350 million government contract.° • Partnering with an international accounting firm, implemented a government relations, public affairs, and legal strategy on behalf of a major client to appeal an income assessment by the Franchise Tax Board yielding a ruling from the state Board of Equalization to grant one of the most a significant refunds on record.° • Devised a legal and political strategy on behalf of a coalition of major in-state mutual fund companies to convince the Franchise Tax Board to adopt a special industry regulation to change the method of sourcing receipts to be based on where the customer is located in a two-year effort to remove the financial disincentive for locating mutual fund complexes in California.° • Helped derail the original proposal for a multibillion-dollar annual sales tax on services by helping organize a broad coalition of major industry players to oppose and galvanized a public relations campaign against it, including coordinating an economic analysis by a consulting firm of the negative impact on in-state jobs and company out-migration.° • Spearheaded a legislative campaign for California to conform state tax laws to federal treatment of mutual fund companies in part by commissioning a fiscal analysis by the former California Finance Director, who concluded the plan was revenue-neutral.° • On behalf of a financial services firm, managed a public relations and legislative effort to transition San Francisco’s tax system away from a payroll tax and to a gross receipts tax.° • At the 11th hour, beat back a proposal by a telecommunications giant submitted to the City of Hillsborough to install massive cell towers near homes in residential areas by organizing a full-scale public relations, media relations, community outreach, lobbying, scientific, and federal, state, and local legal opposition campaign in a very compressed time frame.° • Managed a three-state campaign in California, Arizona, and Oregon to defeat legislation and regulations to enact competitive disadvantages to the business model of technology-enabled referral agencies for senior housing.° °The above representations were handled by Mr. Shannon prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Government Experience • Bay Area Policy Director, Office of Governor Pete Wilson, San Francisco, 1995 • Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of the Governor, Sacramento, 1992-1994 Previous Experience • Founder, Government Relations Counsel, 2008-2020 • Vice President of Client Services, Quovera, 2000-2001 • Sierra Performance Coatings, 1998–2000 o President, 1999–2000 o Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, 1998-1999 • President, Shannon Corporate Strategies, 1997 Recognition & Leadership Professional & Community Involvement • Member, California Bar Association • Former Board Member, Lincoln Club of Northern California • Former Board Member, Lead 21 (Young Executives PAC) • Former Board Member and Development Chair, Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross

Practice Areas Explained

Patrick Shannon's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Patrick Shannon handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Government & Administrative Law

Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.

Patrick Shannon is one of 118,414 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Sacramento are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Sacramento or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Patrick Shannon

Where is Patrick Shannon's law office located?
Patrick Shannon's law practice is located in Sacramento, California. The firm is Greenberg Traurig, LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Patrick Shannon handle?
Patrick Shannon focuses on government. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Patrick Shannon practiced law?
Patrick Shannon has 36+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1990.
Where did Patrick Shannon go to law school?
Patrick Shannon earned their education at (J.D., 1990); (M.Sc. Rotary, 1987).
How can I contact Patrick Shannon for a consultation?
You can contact Patrick Shannon directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D.
University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
- 1990
M.Sc. Rotary
London School of Economics
- 1987

Bar Admissions

California
Admitted: 1990

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