Patrick McGuire is a trial lawyer by heart. Patrick focuses on cases with significant impact for clients. Patrick fights hard in high-stakes cases where a client is at risk of losing their career, family, or freedom. Everything that Patrick does is in anticipation of the trial. That is why Patrick and fellow law partner James Chiles include trials in their fees. Patrick never wants to lose the opportunity to fight for the right outcome for his clients.
After graduating from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Patrick started his career at the Kaufman County District Attorney’s Office as a misdemeanor prosecutor. There, Patrick regularly took misdemeanors to trial, specifically DWIs. Through this experience, Patrick cut his teeth on the basics of trials. Patrick prosecuted all types of misdemeanors at Kaufman County, from Class C’s to assaults, DWIs, and animal abuse cases.
Next, Patrick left Kaufman County to join the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Patrick worked his way up to felony prosecutor in the trial division, specifically prosecuting a variety of cases in Criminal District Court No. 1. During this time, Patrick grew his case-building strategy by prosecuting murders, aggravated assaults, aggravated robberies, drug offenses, felony thefts, felony DWIs, and many other types of cases. Notably, Patrick began his interest in arson cases.
Patrick attended the Arson and Explosives Investigation for Prosecutors course offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Patrick put these tools to work on the Arson Team within the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office by prosecuting arson cases.
After prosecuting cases for over three years, Patrick changed course and began working as a criminal defense attorney at a preeminent boutique criminal defense firm. While there, Patrick defended hundreds of clients facing charges such as Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Online Solicitation of a Minor, Possession/Distribution of Child Pornography, Arson, Manufacturing and Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and many other types of cases.
Patrick achieved not guilty verdicts at trial, including a not guilty verdict for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child as well as a not guilty verdict for Manufacturing and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl). Aside from these victories, Patrick achieved other notable results such as a denial of juvenile certification as an adult for the offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (meaning the case was dismissed), the dismissal of all charges for a client facing Arson of a Habitation (first degree felony) and Burglary of a Habitation (first degree felony), the outright dismissal of an arson charge, a dismissal for a client facing a charge of Assault on a Disabled Person, dismissals for many family violence cases, reductions of many charges, and other outstanding results.
Patrick then briefly worked in the Personal Injury field defending companies against wrongful death, negligence, premises liability, and other civil claims. Patrick worked on a team that specialized in cases where the amount in controversy was over $1,000,000.00.
Patrick grew up in Collin County, specifically Prosper, TX. Patrick graduated from Prosper High School and attended Texas Tech University. Patrick graduated and received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University. After graduation, Patrick worked as a Project Engineer on construction and maintenance jobs in oil refineries and chemical plants along the Gulf Coast. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
About Arsons
I received training titled “Arson and Explosives Investigation for Prosecutors” at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ National Center for Explosives Training and Research facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. During the training, I learned from ATF special agents and Certified Fire Investigators (CFIs). I learned the basics of explosives and arson investigations, including the science behind determining the Origin and Cause of fires, as well as legal training specific to these cases. I participated in live explosives and live-fire demonstrations, where I learned firsthand what a scene looks like and the differences between accidental and intentional fires.
After the training, I began defending clients charged with Arson. To date, I have never had a client enter a plea to the charge of Arson. I have had two Arson cases dismissed outright (Second-Degree Felony Arson and First-Degree Felony Arson of a Habitation). In addition, I have had arson cases reduced to misdemeanors. I maintain up to date on NFPA Regulations and Requirements for investigations.
