For years, Patterson served as Newsom’s cabinet secretary, essentially working as his top advisor. When Patterson’s husband became the chief of staff, she transitioned into a senior advisory role focusing exclusively on the recovery efforts around the devastating fires in Los Angeles.
She is currently spearheading the fire recovery problems in southern California but has a history working in emergency conflict resolution. Prior to joining the Newsom Administration, Patterson was a partner in the law firm of Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe until 2018. Her national practice focused on advising emerging technology clients in finance, insurance and other highly regulated industries to anticipate as well as solve complex legal and operational challenges. She received the Legal Momentum Women of Achievement Award in 2020 for her work on sexual extortion.
“Students in McGeorge’s Capital Lawyering Concentration study with professors who have extensive experience in government law and policy and our Legislative & Public Policy Clinic provides our students with the opportunity to not just learn the law, but help to shape it, while in law school,” O’Neal said.
Patterson was recognized as one of McGeorge’s 40 inaugural Alumni of Honor award recipients during the school’s centennial anniversary in 2024.