Rhoades McKee Welcomes Audrey Patterson

Audrey Patterson joins Rhoades McKee as an Associate on the Real Estate, Environmental, and Agriculture Law teams.

She will serve clients in matters that include environmental permitting, agency rule-making and enforcement defense, regulatory compliance, pesticide regulation, ground contamination and cleanup, and food safety.

Patterson began practicing law in California, focusing primarily on natural resources law and policy, with an emphasis on water rights and water quality issues. She expanded her practice into matters involving contaminated property, underground storage tanks, including policy work for the state’s UST reimbursement fund, chemical regulation (specific focus on pesticides), and consumer product labeling. She was invited to be a member of and served on the California Bar Agribusiness Committee. In addition to state law matters, she regularly dealt with legal issues arising under statutes such as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, Food Safety Modernization Act, Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.

Prior to joining Rhoades McKee, Patterson served as a Director of Regulatory Affairs for a Fortune 500 corporation and as outside counsel to individuals and corporations.  With this diverse perspective, she will be an asset in assisting clients to navigate the myriad of issues in not only regulatory environmental compliance, agency enforcement defense, and contract negotiations and drafting.  Patterson has also served on national task groups charged with reviewing and reforming national regulations and guidance pertaining to the food and beverage industry.  In addition to the federal regulatory programs, Audrey frequently managed matters relative to federal hazard communication standards, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

Licensed in California and Michigan, she is a member of the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Patterson completed her Bachelor of Science at Ferris State University and her Juris Doctor at University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law.