Patricia Brum, a Brazilian native, is a business litigator with extensive experience representing companies (both large and small) with matters involving breach of contract, business torts and employment disputes. Before becoming a lawyer, she worked with a variety of these organizations for more than 15 years as an international trade director. Having previously resided in both Mexico and Argentina, Patricia has a deep understanding of the legal systems and business customs of these countries, using her unique perspective to help her Latin American clients navigate the legal system and business world in the United States. She represented a South American publicly traded company in a commercial dispute in excess of $70,000,000 and has also assisted in international venture capital/startup deals in the construction industry including overhead cranes, drywall, natural stone and other finish surface businesses.
Patricia has worked with over 200 companies in the building materials and construction supply market, including importers, distributors and fabricators. She has extensive experience in drafting construction supply agreements and representing her clients in legal disputes involving breach of warranty and defects in civil courts as well as arbitration proceedings. Patricia previously held a general contractor’s license in California, and a subcontractor license in Nevada for fabrication and installation of natural stones, tiles and cabinets.
Patricia has represented homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and HOA board members in a wide range of litigation and non-litigation matters, including drafting/amending governing documents (CC&Rs, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations), construction defects, breach of CC&Rs and breach of fiduciary duty disputes, Directors & Officers insurance claims, and many novel legal issues relating to cannabis law, vacation rental restrictions and assessment increase/collection. During her many years of practicing HOA law, Patricia has developed a unique method to assist homeowners and associations in independently identifying who is responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the elements of the community. She is a member of the Community Association Institute (CAI) – Greater Los Angeles Chapter and of the Publication Committee of Focus Magazine (a quarterly publication for homeowner’s association and board members) and has written several articles relating to HOA law.
Patricia is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She is a member of the Brazil California Chamber of Commerce. Patricia completed her undergraduate degree in International Relations and International Business at the Universidade de Brasilia. She completed her MBA at the University of Southern California and her JD at Southwestern University School of Law. Patricia is also involved in several of the firm’s internal committees. She currently serves as the co-chair of Snell & Wilmer’s LGBTQ+ affinity group (SNELLGBTQ), is a member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) and is a co-editor of the firm’s Global Connection Newsletter.
