Patricia Gatling, Esq.

Patricia Gatling is an accomplished attorney with with over twenty years of executive-level attorney experience. An accomplished administrator who excels at reaching successful

negotiations in both the public and private sectors, she has collaborated  with other parties on a wide range of domestic and international issues, including elected and law enforcement officials in the U.S. and abroad. 

Gatling is  expert in integrating legal objectives with broader goals to craft a cohesive legal, business and political strategy and has outstanding communication skills, media presence and proven leadership ability.

Selected  Professional Experience 

Counsel – Windels, Marx, Lane & Mittendorf, LLP - Counseled clients on regulatory compliance, white collar defense and investigations, administrative law and public policy as well as general corporate topics EEOC and various HR issues and the Americans with Disabilities Act and strategies for complying with civil rights regulations. Conducted internal investigations to review clients’ personnel policies and operations and to advise on policies to avoid employment discrimination claims, including developing codes of conduct, monitoring systems, workplace training and diversity & inclusion planning. Administered guidance for resolving conflicts with city, state, and foreign governments, media outlets, organized labor, community associations and not for profit and advocacy organizations. Provided clients with business advice on international employment issues and the challenges of globalization. Provided corporate clients insight on the legal, political, economic, and security aspects of conducting international business.

Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights – Executive Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo -- Reported to the Governor, managed the operations and policy initiatives of assigned agencies. Directed the full range of legal, policy, legislative and operational matters affecting civil/human rights and labor issues statewide. Supervised the activities of the: Civil Service Agency, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, Public Employment Relations Board, and the Division of Human Rights.

Commissioner / Chair – New York City Commission on Human Rights -- Appointed by Mayor Bloomberg to chair a committee of 15 Commissioners addressing issues of discrimination. Managed a mayoral agency with a budget of over $12MM which directs the enforcement of New York City’s Human Rights Law prohibiting discriminatory actions.  Supervised the legal, administrative, and public education operations of the Commission. Conducted lectures and hosted workshops to educate the community on the Human Rights Law. Served as the human and civil rights representative for New York City, the Mayor, and the Commission, conducting interviews, advising human rights leaders worldwide on strengthening their protocols, and attending local, national, and international events. Produced 50+ human rights publications of varying lengths and in multiple languages. Facilitated public forums, soliciting public input and establishing a consensus on City Charter issues.

Executive Producer – Fighting for Justice New York Voices of the Civil Rights Movement-- Produced documentary films for the NYC Commission on Human Rights and NYC online Civil Rights Museum. Provided hands-on guidance in all aspects of the process, including the selection of interviewees, direction of the films, and material covered.  Collaborated with the featured civil rights leaders and supervised the on-set activities of the production crew.

Member – New York City Charter Commission – Served Two Terms

Senior Trainer – John Jay College of Criminal Justice -- Trained senior elected and law enforcement officials from 100+ countries, including newly emerging democracies on the importance of their role in protecting the human rights of citizens and the negative impact their failure would have on the success of their country.  Delivered lectures at conferences worldwide, including United Kingdom, Thailand, South Africa, Botswana,Romania, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Office of the King's County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes -- Progression of key positions within the office including First Assistant District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney, Executive Assistant District Attorney and Bureau Chief, Major Narcotics. Developed and implemented various office policies relating to narcotics prosecutions, personnel recruiting, employment, and procurement.  Supervised day-to-day operations involving legal and non-legal staff, including electronic surveillances, long-term investigations, plea negotiations, motion hearings, criminal trials, and appeals. Managed and prepared the operating budget, evaluating and reporting program cost-effectiveness. Supervised asset forfeiture and sharing resulting from narcotics investigations, including $3M from a program with US Customs. Wrote grant proposals for Federal and State funding. Served as a liaison to city, State, and Federal agencies. Arranged and participated in press interviews. Planned, coordinated, and participated in community outreach programs, such as drug prevention programs with private corporations and structured drug abuse awareness seminars.

Special Prosecutor – Office to Investigate the NYC Criminal Justice System -- Dec 2002 – Oct 2005. Appointed Special Assistant Attorney General by NY State Attorney General Robert Abrams. Prosecuted corruption cases involving public officials, including judges, police and corrections officers. Specialized in the prosecution of police brutality and death-in-custody cases.

Education

Juris Doctor – University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, MD

Bachelor of Arts, International Studies – The John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

French language Certificate —New York University, Paris, France

Professional Associations

The New York Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection – Board of Trustees, Vice Chair

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law – Board of Visitors – Served 8 years

Metropolitan Black Bar Association – Served on Board of Directors

International Association of Prosecutors

National Black Prosecutors Association (President, 1993-1994)

International Bar Association

National Black Crown Prosecutors Association

Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

Bar Admissions

State of New York

United States District Court, Eastern District of New York

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

United States Supreme Court