Experience

Patrick Kehoe is an expert on New York gaming law and policy. 

Patrick possess a unique understanding of the intricate evolution of New York's gaming law, and the policies and politics behind each piecemeal expansion and initiative. He has been personally involved in every evolution of gaming law and policy in NYS over the past 3 decades. He has served in legal roles for each the Assembly, Senate, Executive Chamber, and private clients. 

As the Governor's chief gaming advisor, Patrick was the principal author of Chapter 383 of the Laws of 2001, which legalized the operation of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in response to the State's immediate need for revenue in the aftermath of the tragic September 11th terrorist attacks. A landmark piece of legislation, upheld by both the NYS Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court (cert. denied), Chapter 383 marked the very first time any gambling devices were legally approved for operation in New York - ever. Patrick was also the principal negotiator for the Governor of the Gaming Compact entered into with the Seneca Nation of Indians in 2002, which successfully established the legal precedent of "regional exclusivity" as a basis for tribal-state revenue sharing under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), and which authorized the legal operation of slot machines in New York for the very first time in the State's history.

Fun fact: If you ever wanted to know why the eastern boundary of the Seneca Nation's "Gaming Exclusivity Zone" is State Route 14, Patrick can tell you, because he selected it. 

In addition to serving as an architect of much of New York's gaming landscape, Patrick has extensive experience with, and understanding of, New York's Native American / Indian Nations, and their history with the State and federal government on a wide spectrum of issues, including fundamental issues of Sovereignty, governance & self-determination, and economic development, including under IGRA. Patrick's service as the Governor's Counsel for Native American / Indian affairs included the honor of representing the Governor in meetings with each of the New York Indian nations; in the federal courts of the Northern and Western Districts of New York; in meetings with the White House, federal Departments of Justice, Interior, and the National Indian Gaming Commission; Congressional Committees and Commissions; and numerous local government and public forums.

Patrick's in-depth knowledge of politics, government, law, and policy is rounded out by his decade-long service in the private sector as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of the New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA), which under Patrick's legal guidance successfully reorganized under Chapter 11 (of title 11) of the United States Code and obtained a new 25-year exclusive franchise from the State of New York to operate world class thoroughbred racing at the historic Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct racetracks. 

Fun fact: Patrick is the Sole Incorporator of NYRA. 

Patrick's tenure at NYRA included working with Resorts World/Genting to establish the Resorts World New York City Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack, which is one of the world's highest grossing casinos, and which casino was only made possible by Chapter 383 of the Laws of 2001, which Patrick authored and shepherded through the legislature when he was the Governor's chief gaming advisor. Moreover, Patrick's executive leadership roles at NYRA gave him key business-operations experience in addition to his legal-government-regulatory experience. 

Prior to establishing his own firm, Patrick was a Partner in the law firm of Allen & Desnoyers LLP, where he represented clients on matters involving gaming; state legislation, regulation, and procurement; environmental and energy matters, including Brownfield Redevelopment and Superfund remediation matters; and general business & administrative law matters, with practice before state executive agencies, the State Supreme Court, and the Federal District Courts of the Northern District of New York and the Southern District of New York. 

In sum, Patrick achieves unique success in representing gaming and other clients in matters involving government regulation and policy because he has worked on both sides of the table, and he understands what to do and how to do it in a way that only somebody who has actually been there and done it can know and understand.