Michael Patterson

Michael Patterson is a longstanding leader and active contributor to Arizona’s international trade community, with deep engagement across the state’s cross-border business and trade organizations. As an experienced international attorney and leader of the international team at Spencer Fane, LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 600 lawyers across 28 cities, Michael works closely with businesses, trade professionals, and international partners to navigate the opportunities and challenges of doing business across borders. More than half of his practice is dedicated to international trade, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, foreign direct investment, distribution and licensing, and market-entry strategies.

Michael’s work supports both Arizona companies expanding into international markets and foreign companies establishing and growing operations in Arizona. He advises clients on international business structures, distribution networks, export agreements, tariffs, taxes, intellectual property, compliance, trade finance, and cross-border disputes. His experience spans Latin America, Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Known as “Miguel” after living in Latin America for more than a decade, primarily in Costa Rica and Mexico, Michael is fully bilingual in Spanish. Through his legal practice and continued engagement with Arizona’s trade community, he helps build connections between businesses, professionals, and international markets. His combination of legal expertise, global experience, and commitment to Arizona’s international business ecosystem makes him a valuable voice in advancing the state’s global competitiveness.