Patrick Brackins
As a partner with the firm, Patrick’s practice is focused on all aspects of local government law and litigation for public and private sector clients. He is an assistant city, town, or village attorney for the firm’s eight municipal clients and actively provides legal counsel and represents them in litigation. Patrick is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law.
Patrick received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Florida and, in 2006, his Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. He moved to Orlando in 2006, where he began his career as a staff attorney for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. From 2008 to 2016, Prior to joining Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer, & Hand, P.A., Patrick served as the career law clerk for a United States Magistrate Judge in the Orlando Division of the Middle District of Florida, which statistically ranked as the second busiest district court in the United States.
Patrick’s practice focuses on all aspects of local government law, commercial litigation, and business transactions. He serves as assistant general counsel to the firm’s seven municipal clients, counsel to the Orange County Code Enforcement Board, and counsel to the Winter Park Housing Authority. Patrick frequently represents municipal clients as special counsel in land use, sunshine, public records, and federal litigation. He is currently the local hearing officer for the City of Orlando’s red-light camera program and the City Attorney for the City of Dade City.
Patrick also maintains a robust litigation practice serving businesses, individuals, and associations to resolve their disputes. Patrick and the firm also serve community associations as general and special litigation counsel. In addition, Patrick frequently speaks and offers training on sunshine law, public records, ethics, quasi-judicial hearings, and land use planning.
Patrick is an active participant in the local community. Patrick has served on the board of directors and executive committee of the Christian Service Center of Central Florida, a homeless prevention organization. Patrick has also served as one of the few non-judicial members of United States District Court, Middle District of Florida’s Bench Bar Fund Committee.
Patrick was born and raised in Indian River County, Florida, and resides in Orlando with his wife, Alison Chastain Brackins, and their two children – Russell and Reese. The Brackins are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.