For companies seeking to locate or establish operations in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, Pat Gottschalk offers broad experience to assist with the intricacies inherent in the process.  As the former Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Virginia, Pat possesses insights on how to assist with economic development incentives, corporate law issues and project management. 

For companies seeking to locate or establish operations in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, Pat Gottschalk offers broad experience to assist with the intricacies inherent in the process.  As the former Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Virginia, Pat possesses insights on how to assist with economic development incentives, corporate law issues and project management. 

Pat serves as the Chair of the Williams Mullen Economic Development Team and is a member of the firm’s corporate and government relations practice groups, where he focuses primarily on economic development projects, foreign inward investment transactions, joint ventures, multi-party agreements and business law issues, including mergers and acquisitions, general corporate law and financing transactions. Pat has substantial experience assisting clients in accessing federal, state and local business location incentives and organizing complex joint ventures and research consortia.

From January 2006 to January 2010, Pat served as the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine.  During his tenure as Secretary, Virginia was recognized as the “Top State for Business” eight times, including four consecutive times by Forbes.com and twice by CNBC.  As Secretary, he was responsible for the performance of 13 state agencies, including, among others, those involved with economic development, tourism and film promotion, housing and community development and small business assistance.

As Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Pat served as an ex officio member of the board of directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park Authority, the Center for Innovative Technology, the Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority, the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board, the Virginia Workforce Council and the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority.

Pat’s extensive knowledge of the complexities related to bringing economic development projects to fruition can benefit any company considering a location or expansion decision.

  • Assisted a Virginia County’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in the location of a large internet retailer in the County.
  • Assisted an advanced manufacturing research joint venture, with university and industry partners, to establish a research center in Virginia. 
  • Assisted a large pharmaceutical distributor with local incentive negotiations in connection with a major distribution center in Virginia.
  • Assisted a large food manufacturing client in incentive negotiations in several Southeastern states.
  • Assisted a large German OEM with advice pertinent to its operations in the United States.
  • Assisted a university and industry research consortium focused on applied logistics systems research.

Experience

Assisted locality with a one million square foot fulfillment center for major internet retailer expanding operations to southeastern Virginia.

$50 million
390 jobs