Patrick Oot
Partner
901 15th Street, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, D.C., 20005
Patrick is a diverse, Chambers-ranked "Star Individual" litigator – Chambers & Partners highest honor. He represents major corporations in high-stakes complex litigation, government investigations, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on multidistrict litigation (MDL), class actions, mass torts, product liability, and government enforcement. A nationally recognized litigation strategist with 25 years of...
Patrick is a diverse, Chambers-ranked "Star Individual" litigator – Chambers & Partners highest honor. He represents major corporations in high-stakes complex litigation, government investigations, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on multidistrict litigation (MDL), class actions, mass torts, product liability, and government enforcement. A nationally recognized litigation strategist with 25 years of experience, he has held leadership roles in eight of the nation's largest MDLs and mass torts, guiding clients through coordinated federal and state proceedings involving significant legal, financial, and reputational risks.
Patrick advises some of the world's largest companies across the life sciences, financial services, retail, transportation, insurance and technology industries. His experience includes serving as national coordinating counsel and on defense leadership committees in complex litigation involving thousands of claims. He works closely with corporate legal departments to develop comprehensive defense strategies, manage litigation across jurisdictions, and address the scientific, regulatory, and discovery challenges that often shape the course of major disputes.
Drawing on experience in private practice, government service, and corporate legal leadership, Patrick brings a multifaceted perspective to litigation and investigations. He previously served as senior counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the General Counsel and as director of electronic discovery and senior litigation counsel and antitrust specialist at Verizon. These roles inform his approach to government investigations, regulatory enforcement, litigation strategy, risk and governance. He has advised clients responding to inquiries and investigations involving the U.S. Department of Justice, SEC, U.S. attorneys' offices, and state attorneys general.
Beyond his litigation practice, Patrick is a legal community thought leader actively involved in shaping legal standards and advancing the profession's understanding of discovery and complex litigation. He has testified before federal judicial rulemaking committees, contributed to the development of federal evidence rules, and worked alongside members of the federal judiciary on educational initiatives. He is a co-founder of the Electronic Discovery Institute and the Government Investigations and Civil Litigation Institute and serves in editorial and advisory roles for publications addressing litigation, government investigations and discovery.
experience, he has held leadership roles in eight of the nation's largest MDLs and mass torts, guiding clients through coordinated federal and state proceedings involving significant legal, financial, and reputational risks.
Patrick advises some of the world's largest companies across the life sciences, financial services, retail, transportation, insurance and technology industries. His experience includes serving as national coordinating counsel and on defense leadership committees in complex litigation involving thousands of claims. He works closely with corporate legal departments to develop comprehensive defense strategies, manage litigation across jurisdictions, and address the scientific, regulatory, and discovery challenges that often shape the course of major disputes.
Drawing on experience in private practice, government service, and corporate legal leadership, Patrick brings a multifaceted perspective to litigation and investigations. He previously served as senior counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the General Counsel and as director of electronic discovery and senior litigation counsel and antitrust specialist at Verizon. These roles inform his approach to government investigations, regulatory enforcement, litigation strategy, risk and governance. He has advised clients responding to inquiries and investigations involving the U.S. Department of Justice, SEC, U.S. attorneys' offices, and state attorneys general.
Beyond his litigation practice, Patrick is a legal community thought leader actively involved in shaping legal standards and advancing the profession's understanding of discovery and complex litigation. He has testified before federal judicial rulemaking committees, contributed to the development of federal evidence rules, and worked alongside members of the federal judiciary on educational initiatives. He is a co-founder of the Electronic Discovery Institute and the Government Investigations and Civil Litigation Institute and serves in editorial and advisory roles for publications addressing litigation, government investigations and discovery.
Experience
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (2014-2026)
- Co-founder and General Counsel, Electronic Discovery Institute (2006-present)
- Senior Special Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2010-2014)
- Director of Electronic Discovery and Senior Counsel, Verizon (2005-2009)
Representative Matters
- Served in a leadership role in national hair relaxer product liability litigation involving thousands of claims.
- Served as coordinating counsel in federal and California state proceedings involving pharmaceutical product liability claims.
- Led defense coordination in federal multidistrict litigation and related California proceedings involving passenger sexual assault claims.
- Represented a consumer products manufacturer before the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, successfully opposing the creation of a proposed MDL.
- Served on the defense steering committee in nationwide pharmaceutical product liability litigation involving complex scientific causation issues.
- Represented a technology company in class action litigation involving federal and state electronic privacy laws.
Publications
- Editor-in-chief, General Counsel’s Guide to Government Investigations
- Editor-in-chief, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Guie to Spoliation
- Executive editor, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Federal Judge’s Guide to Discovery
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, LLM (2005)
- Syracuse University College of Law, JD (2001)
- Syracuse University, BA, Policy Studies (1996)
Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Practice Areas
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (2014-2026)
- Co-founder and General Counsel, Electronic Discovery Institute (2006-present)
- Senior Special Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2010-2014)
- Director of Electronic Discovery and Senior Counsel, Verizon (2005-2009)
Representative Matters
- Served in a leadership role in national hair relaxer product liability litigation involving thousands of claims.
- Served as coordinating counsel in federal and California state proceedings involving pharmaceutical product liability claims.
- Led defense coordination in federal multidistrict litigation and related California proceedings involving passenger sexual assault claims.
- Represented a consumer products manufacturer before the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, successfully opposing the creation of a proposed MDL.
- Served on the defense steering committee in nationwide pharmaceutical product liability litigation involving complex scientific causation issues.
- Represented a technology company in class action litigation involving federal and state electronic privacy laws.
Publications
- Editor-in-chief, General Counsel’s Guide to Government Investigations
- Editor-in-chief, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Guie to Spoliation
- Executive editor, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Federal Judge’s Guide to Discovery
Media
Recognitions
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: E-Discovery (2015-2026)
- Star Individual and Band 1, Nationwide Litigation: E-Discovery & Information Governance (2015–2026)
- Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management (2025–2026)
- The Legal 500 United States
- Leading Partner, E-Discovery (2026)
- City Elite: Washington, D.C. (2026)
- Leading Lawyer (2021-2025)
- Who's Who Legal, "Thought Leader" - Commercial Litigation: E-Discovery (2015–2026)
Professional Activities
- Founder, Government Investigations & Civil Litigation Institute
- Planning Committee Chair, Federal Judicial Center Discovery Program
- Chair, ALM Legalweek Advisory Board
- Founder, Electronic Discovery Institute
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
- Board member, Georgetown Law Advanced e-Discovery Institute
Community
- Board member, Lambda Legal
Patrick is a diverse, Chambers-ranked "Star Individual" litigator – Chambers & Partners highest honor. He represents major corporations in high-stakes complex litigation, government investigations, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on multidistrict litigation (MDL), class actions, mass torts, product liability, and government enforcement. A nationally recognized litigation strategist with 25 years of... experience, he has held leadership roles in eight of the nation's largest MDLs and mass torts, guiding clients through coordinated federal and state proceedings involving significant legal, financial, and reputational risks.
Patrick advises some of the world's largest companies across the life sciences, financial services, retail, transportation, insurance and technology industries. His experience includes serving as national coordinating counsel and on defense leadership committees in complex litigation involving thousands of claims. He works closely with corporate legal departments to develop comprehensive defense strategies, manage litigation across jurisdictions, and address the scientific, regulatory, and discovery challenges that often shape the course of major disputes.
Drawing on experience in private practice, government service, and corporate legal leadership, Patrick brings a multifaceted perspective to litigation and investigations. He previously served as senior counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the General Counsel and as director of electronic discovery and senior litigation counsel and antitrust specialist at Verizon. These roles inform his approach to government investigations, regulatory enforcement, litigation strategy, risk and governance. He has advised clients responding to inquiries and investigations involving the U.S. Department of Justice, SEC, U.S. attorneys' offices, and state attorneys general.
Beyond his litigation practice, Patrick is a legal community thought leader actively involved in shaping legal standards and advancing the profession's understanding of discovery and complex litigation. He has testified before federal judicial rulemaking committees, contributed to the development of federal evidence rules, and worked alongside members of the federal judiciary on educational initiatives. He is a co-founder of the Electronic Discovery Institute and the Government Investigations and Civil Litigation Institute and serves in editorial and advisory roles for publications addressing litigation, government investigations and discovery.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (2014-2026)
- Co-founder and General Counsel, Electronic Discovery Institute (2006-present)
- Senior Special Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2010-2014)
- Director of Electronic Discovery and Senior Counsel, Verizon (2005-2009)
Representative Matters
- Served in a leadership role in national hair relaxer product liability litigation involving thousands of claims.
- Served as coordinating counsel in federal and California state proceedings involving pharmaceutical product liability claims.
- Led defense coordination in federal multidistrict litigation and related California proceedings involving passenger sexual assault claims.
- Represented a consumer products manufacturer before the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, successfully opposing the creation of a proposed MDL.
- Served on the defense steering committee in nationwide pharmaceutical product liability litigation involving complex scientific causation issues.
- Represented a technology company in class action litigation involving federal and state electronic privacy laws.
Publications
- Editor-in-chief, General Counsel’s Guide to Government Investigations
- Editor-in-chief, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Guie to Spoliation
- Executive editor, Electronic Discovery Institute’s Federal Judge’s Guide to Discovery
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, LLM (2005)
- Syracuse University College of Law, JD (2001)
- Syracuse University, BA, Policy Studies (1996)
Admissions
- Massachusetts
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Products Liability
- White Collar Defense & Government Investigations
Industries
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: E-Discovery (2015-2026)
- Star Individual and Band 1, Nationwide Litigation: E-Discovery & Information Governance (2015–2026)
- Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management (2025–2026)
- The Legal 500 United States
- Leading Partner, E-Discovery (2026)
- City Elite: Washington, D.C. (2026)
- Leading Lawyer (2021-2025)
- Who's Who Legal, "Thought Leader" - Commercial Litigation: E-Discovery (2015–2026)
- Founder, Government Investigations & Civil Litigation Institute
- Planning Committee Chair, Federal Judicial Center Discovery Program
- Chair, ALM Legalweek Advisory Board
- Founder, Electronic Discovery Institute
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
- Board member, Georgetown Law Advanced e-Discovery Institute
- Board member, Lambda Legal
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