About James Richard
James Richard Patterson is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2000. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Patterson is the founder and managing partner of Patterson Law Group, APC, a law firm located in San Diego, California. He has been practicing law for over 25 years, serving clients throughout the San Diego area and beyond.
Mr. Patterson earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2000, graduating magna cum laude. During his time at law school, he was a member of the Law Review and the Order of the Coif, honors that reflect his academic excellence. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Davis, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Finance in 1997. His strong academic background has provided a solid foundation for his legal career.
Mr. Patterson concentrates his practice in the areas of consumer protection, employee rights, and class action litigation. He represents individuals and businesses in matters involving workplace discrimination, wage and hour disputes, and consumer fraud. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts. He has been appointed lead or co-lead counsel in more than 50 state and federal class actions, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits for class members.
Throughout his career, Mr. Patterson has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he spent six years with the national law firm Cooley Godward LLP and six years with Harrison Patterson & O'Connor LLP, gaining extensive experience in class action litigation.
Mr. Patterson is an active member of the California State Bar Association and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer from 2012 to 2026. He is also involved in various consumer and employee rights organizations and has been invited to testify before the California legislature on important privacy rights issues. He is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve a diverse clientele effectively.
