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.
Government Law & Policy & More Attorney · Serving Sacramento, CA · 36+ Years Experience
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.
Get Legal Help from Patrick Shannon in Sacramento
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About 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
- 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 Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Patrick Shannon handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Sacramento.
Government & Administrative Law in Sacramento
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Patrick Shannon is one of 131,162 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Sacramento
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.
Sacramento Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Sacramento-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
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?
What practice areas does Patrick Shannon handle?
How long has Patrick Shannon practiced law?
Where did Patrick Shannon go to law school?
How can I contact Patrick Shannon for a consultation?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Sacramento Choose Patrick Shannon
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Patrick Shannon's practice in the field of government.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Patrick Shannon brings 36+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Focused Government Practice
Concentrating on government means Patrick Shannon's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in Sacramento
A Sacramento-based practice means Patrick Shannon attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Search Reference
How People Find Patrick Shannon Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Sacramento commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Patrick Shannon.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Patrick Shannon directly.
Patrick Shannon's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Patrick Shannon
No reviews yet.