Patrick J. Hynes - St Paul, MN
Attorney at Messerli | Kramer
Government Relations Lawyers in St Paul, MN
525 Park Street Suite 130 St Paul, MN 55103
- Free Consultation
St Paul Government Relations Lawyer
Updated: 09/01/2026
Areas of Practice
- Government Relations
- Agriculture
- Association Management
- Capital Investment
- Energy
- Environment/Natural Resources
- Global Business
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Local Government
- Non-Profit
- Public Safety
- Regulatory
- Tax & Economic Development
- Transportation
Attorney Information
Overview
Patrick Hynes is a Shareholder and Chair of the St. Paul Division. As a lobbyist, Patrick spends the majority of his time interfacing with legislators, executive branch officials, and clients — in addition to overseeing all business operations for the Government Relations office. He is also an attorney and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors.
Patrick focuses his work on educating and advocating. With nearly 20 years of legislative and private practice experience, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and his time spent as an attorney grants him invaluable insight into both sides of the legislative equation — client-facing and legal-facing. Having served in the Minnesota Senate for six years in a number of key positions, including policy advisor to the Senate Majority Leader, Patrick understands the nuances of legislative procedure that can be the difference between success and failure during the crush of legislative activity. For instance, as the Intergovernmental Relations Counsel at the League of Minnesota Cities, Patrick represented the interests of over 800 cities at the Legislature, and was called to the testimony table many times to explain the potential impacts of bills and legislation.
As a private practice attorney, Patrick represented numerous clients in complex construction defect litigation and provided legal advice and counsel to small businesses, individuals, and local units of government. Patrick enjoys learning the details of his clients’ businesses and organizations and working with them to achieve their goals, whether they relate specifically to legislative work or to the overall success of the organization. He believes that a strong government relations practice is inextricably linked to successful organizations — and he loves being a part of both
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Champion of Change Award, North American Council on Adoptable Children, 2018
- Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2016
- Friend of Greater Minnesota, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, 2015
- Volunteer of the Year, Community Associations Institute, Minnesota Chapter, 2011
Education
Legal Education
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University of Minnesota Law School,
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
J.D.
Non Legal Education
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American University
M.A. -
University of Vermont
B.A.
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Classes and Seminars
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Presenter, “2017 MCIOA Amendments: Maintenance, Defects, and Disclosures” – CAI Minnesota Law Seminar, 2017
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Presenter, “Legislative Update” – Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Employment Law Committee, 2016
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Presenter, “Legislative Update” – Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, 2015
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Presenter, “Fixing the Public Entity Sales Tax Exemption on Construction Materials” – Municipal Utilities Legal Seminar, 2014
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Presenter, “Legislative Update” – Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, 2014
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Presenter, “Legislative Update” – Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, 2013
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Presenter, “2021 Legislative Update” – Community Associations Institute Minnesota Law Seminar, October 2021
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Presenter, “2023 Legislative Update” – Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Trial Techniques Seminar, August 2023
- Presenter, “2025 Legislative Update” – Community Associations Institute Minnesota Law Seminar, October 2025
Pro Bono Activities
- Minnesota Land Trust, Secretary and Board Member
Published Works
Articles
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
Other Affiliations
- Minnesota State Bar Association (Member)
- Ramsey County Bar Association (Member)
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section (Member)
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 1st District Bar Association (Member)
Photo
Contact
525 Park Street
Suite 130
St Paul, MN 55103
Phone Number: 612-473-1240
Fax Number: 612-672-3777
Email: Send a message
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