Hon. Patrick O. Gottschalk

Patrick O. Gottschalk is 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. Mr. Gottschalk has substantial experience assisting clients in accessing federal, state and local business location incentives and grant and loan programs.

Patrick O. Gottschalk is 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. Mr. Gottschalk has substantial experience assisting clients in accessing federal, state and local business location incentives and grant and loan programs.

From January 2006 to January 2010, Mr. Gottschalk served as the secretary of commerce and trade under Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine. Under his leadership, 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, Mr. Gottschalk 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.

Mr. Gottschalk serves on the boards of the Virginia Economic Developers Association and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. He has previously served as chairman of the Virginia State Bar International Practice Section and the Henrico Business Council. In addition, Mr. Gottschalk participated in Leadership Metro Richmond and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. He has a Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ peer rating.

Mr. Gottschalk earned his bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975 and his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1983. At the University of Virginia School of Law, Mr. Gottschalk was a member of the editorial board of the Virginia Journal of International Law.