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Patricia Briones had years of experience working in law even before she became a lawyer.
After graduating from Arizona State University in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in finance, Patti worked for a mutual fund, often working with the firm’s legal department. After years of working with other legal departments, the time had come: “When our youngest child started pre-school and an evening law program became available, my husband and I decided it was the right time for me to begin my legal studies,” she says.
This range of career experiences gives Patti a wealth of knowledge: She has worked with outside counsel in developing compliance programs for financial service companies, including an investment advisor, a broker dealer, a hedge fund, and a mutual-fund. With a blend of business, accounting and legal expertise, she has a unique perspective on her clients’ needs, and the experience and ability to meet them.
Patti, who graduated from the Phoenix School of Law (J.D. 2008), is licensed to practice in Arizona; her areas of concentration include administrative and regulatory law, white-collar criminal defense and Native American law, including gaming, governance and economic development. She is also a trained mediator.
“Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be able to use my financial services and business experience to offer alternative solutions that benefit our clients,” she says. “It is always rewarding when you are able to advocate and assist your clients but I am particularly proud when there is client recognition that our legal services and backgrounds are unique.”
An externship with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office of Criminal Prosecutions proved pivotal in Patti’s career. “The work involved researching and assisting attorneys who prosecuted financial crimes involving securities and fraud; the externship proved to be a very complementary fit for my 20 years of financial services experience,” she says. “My career plan was to apply for a prosecutor position, but due to a hiring freeze brought on by the economic downturn in 2008, I set my sights on finding a criminal defense job.”
She found one, and began working with Fred Petti. After realizing that their talents and experience complimented each other, the two decided to join forces and form Petti and Briones. “Our partnership reminds me of the definition of synergy because while both of us are strong lawyers,” says Patti, “together we are more.”
Professional Activities
Patti is licensed to practice in Arizona state and federal court. She is a trained mediator and is an alumnus of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy. She is a member of the American Bar Association’s business law section.