OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF:
Mindy Patterson
Mindy Patterson is President and Co-Founder of The Cavalry Group, LLC, regularly advocating for and defending the constitutional and private property rights of law-abiding animal owners and animal-related businesses.
Mindy specializes in working with animal related businesses, national animal associations, animal agriculture interests, and outdoor sportsmen, leading the charge in defending against the onslaught of anti-animal ownership ideology while challenging the infiltration of animal rights and environmental activism in government at the local, state and federal levels.
Mindy has battled against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on the state referendum front serving as the campaign manager for The Alliance for Truth Campaign Committee which was at the forefront of the hard fought campaign opposing the deceptive HSUS- driven "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act" (Proposition B) in the Missouri 2010 election and later helped defeat the HSUS sponsored "Your Vote Counts" referendum promoting direct democracy. The Cavalry Group was born out of the fight against The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act when Mindy witnessed law abiding animal enterprises wrongfully threatened.
You can hear Mindy share her knowledge and passion for these issues regularly on television, radio, print, and prominent internet news platforms such at Breitbart, JoeForAmerica, American Thinker, and many others.
Mindy was honored to be the 2018 recipient of American Agriwomen's Veritas Award.
Mindy is available for public speaking engagements and can be reached by contacting her through our office. Click here
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Mark Patterson
Mark Patterson is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of The Cavalry Group. Mark has lead executive teams fighting radical animal rights activists on multiple state campaigns, legal battles, and in federal legislative lobbying efforts including The Alliance For Truth. With over 35 years of executive commercial real estate experience, Mark has been involved in over $800 million dollars of real estate investments and transactions leading teams to achieve high financial returns for partners and investors.
Chris Wilson - Of Counsel
Chris Wilson joins our team from her recent post as Deputy Secretary and General Counsel of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Wilson is past president of American Agri-Women (AAW), the national coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women. She also founded the Food and Agriculture Network. She is an 11th generation U.S. farmer.
Wilson formerly served as Assistant to the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Assistant to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. At USDA, she was Director of the Office of Public Liaison. She also worked for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association as Director of Governmental Relations.
OUR LEGAL TEAM:
Alexander Penalta, Esquire Chief Litigation Counsel, Juris Doctor Office: (386) 847-5335 CIVIL & CRIMINAL COURT STATE AND FEDERAL LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS Licensed to practice in Florida and Washington, D.C. United States Supreme Court United States Court of International Trade United States Court of Military Appeals United States District Court, Southern and Middle District National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary Supreme Court of Florida Certified Arbitrator The Penalta Law Firm's ANIMAL ENTERPRISE DIVISION provides legal representation in compliance matters and sustainable management practices, Animal Husbandry, Food and Agriculture, F.S. 767 and ADA Canine Disability, Cattle, F.S. 828 Animal Related Crimes, F.S. 474 Veterinary Practice, USDA & FFWC Licensing Investigations and Actions, Administrative Law, Civil and Misdemeanor and Felony Criminal Judicial Proceedings involving Aquariums, F.S. 535, 773 Equine, Zoological Facilities, Bears, Elephants, Primates, Marine Mammals, Big Cat, Wildlife and other Federal and F.S. 379 Regulated and Licensed Facilities, Appeals and Judicial Review of State and Federal agency actions. The AVIATION DIVISION provides services to passengers, pilots, aviation powerplant mechanics involving repairs, accidents, collisions, catastrophic injury, investigations by the NTSB, FSDO, and FAA investigations, FAR licensing actions, Medical, Alcohol Substance Abuse, HIMS, criminal prosecutions, FBO Flight Operations. The COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT DIVISION provides professional legal advice, in civil and criminal prosecution of F.S. 775-896 crimes, Complex Business Litigation services for Negligence, Strict Liability, F.S. 561-568 Alcohol Licensing, F.S. 605-623 Business Organization and Incorporation, Contract Review, Corporate Compliance and Management, Title VII, F.S. 760 Employment, Negotiations, EEO proceedings, Business losses and Insurance claims handling, F.S. 766-774 Risk Management, Property Management and Liability, Arbitration, Mediation, Compliance and Litigation of legal matters affecting Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Taverns, Travel, Tourism and Transportation. The HIGH PERFORMANCE MOTORSPORTS AND AQUATICS DIVISION provides legal services related to compliance, claims handling and complex litigation affecting Marinas, Boating, Scuba Diving Operations, Aquatics Liability, Motor Vehicle Safety and Automobile Liability, Catastrophic Motorcycle Accidents. The STATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION protects any home, lawful business activity and corporation, Animal Enterprise, Aquarium, Sanctuary, Zoological Facility, Rehab/Rescue Facilities and Marine Mammal Park against Disruptive Business Practices, and Animal Enterprise Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, Drone UAS Air Space Intrusions, Clandestine Flight Activities, F.S. 934.50 Invasion of Privacy and threats to Florida and America’s National Security, Federal and F.S. 934 Data Intrusion, and Critical Infrastructure Security. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, AGRICULTURAL & WILDLIFE, MARINE MAMMALS, ZOOS & AQUARIUMS The Cavalry Group – Florida Litigation Counsel, Nationwide before Administrative Law Judges (DOAH) Animal Advocate, Marine Mammal Responder/Rescue Unit and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Facility of the Florida Keys, USA USDA & FFWC Licensing Actions, Administrative Law & Judicial Animal Legal Civil and Criminal Proceedings State of Florida, (FFWC) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Member, Bear Stakeholder Group (BSG) of the Central Bear Management Unit Florida Bar, Animal Law Section, Committee Member Co-Chair, Subcommittee of Marine Mammals, Zoological Facilities, and Aquariums for the Wildlife Committee of the Florida Bar, Animal Law Section Co-Chair, Subcommittee of Human-Wildlife Interaction for the Wildlife Committee of the Florida Bar, Animal Law Section Florida Bar, Animal Law Section, Equine Committee Volusia County, Florida Animal Control Advisory Board Volusia County, UF-IFAS Extension, Extension Overall Advisory Committee Member Volusia County, Agri-Business Inter-Relationship Advisory Committee Member Broward County Bar Association, Animal Law Section, Vice-Chair Past member of (IMATA) International Marine Animal Trainers' Association and (IAAM) International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (WIFT-FL) Women In Film and Television Florida, Member MARINE INDUSTRY, SCIENTIFIC DIVING, AQUATICS & WATERSPORTS United States Naval Academy, OSTS Squadron Training Officer Licensed USCG, U.S. Merchant Marine, Captain & Master 50Ton w/Auxiliary Sail United States Naval Reserve, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, (1990-92), Honorable Discharge, National Defense Medal Recipient Former UF Legal Advisor, Assistant Director/Instructor CMAS, NAUI, YMCA Gold/Silver Star, and UFADP, Academic Scuba Diving Program at the University of Florida, College of Health and Human Performance UF Environmental Department, Scientific Diving Coordinator CMAS Scientific Diver Rated #006 NAUI Master Scuba Diver NAUI Rescue Diver NACD/NSS-CDS Cavern Diver NAUI Wreck Diver (AAUS) American Academy of Underwater Sciences AVIATION, DRONES (UAS) & NATIONAL SECURITY Florida Bar, Aviation Law Committee Chair, Volusia County Bar Association, Aviation & National Security Association of Former Intelligence Officers, D.C. and Florida Satellite Chapter Licensed FAA Private Pilot - SEL AOPA Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Legal Services Plan Attorney (ERAU) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Former Adjunct Associate Professor BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE RISK MANAGEMENT & CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FBI Infragard, Orlando Branch Military Officer's Club of Volusia County (MOAA) National Rifle Association Panel Attorney Volusia County Officer’s Club, a division of the Military Officer’s Association, Board of Directors Edgewater Riverfest Business Expo, Inc., Board of Directors & President Florida Hospital Foundation, New Smyrna. Board of Directors, 2017-18 Allen West Foundation Boca Raton Board of Directors, Treasurer Space Coast Women In Defense Melbourne, a national security organization, Board of Directors Florida Bar, Speakers Bureau, Authorized Speaker City of Edgewater, Police Pension Board, Chair Serving the legal needs of Industry, Business and the Community, the Animal Industry, Breeders and Professional Animal, Cattle and Equine Associations, Marine Mammal Rehab/Rescue and Conservation Facilities, Animal Enterprise Terrorism and Business Disruptions, Aviation, Drones (UAS), Boating and SCUBA Operations, Defense, Energy, Food, Insurance, Hospitality, Restaurants, Tourism and the Transportation Industry. Advocates for Industry and Business before the Government and in the Courtroom in Civil, Criminal and Administrative Matters, in State and Federal Court. Complex Business Litigation, Commercial Contracts, Employment, Disruptive Business Practices, Environmental, Insurance, Risk-Management and National Security. PRACTICE AREAS Administrative Law & Animal/Agriculture related Civil and Criminal Court, USDA & State Licensing Compliance Violations Animal Law: Marine Mammal, Zoological Parks and Aquariums, Equine and Canine; Administrative Investigations & Proceedings Counselor and Attorney at Law for Animal Husbandry Professionals, Marine Mammal Trainers, Aquariums and Conservation Facilities Animal Enterprise Terrorism - Emphasis on Global Marine Mammal Eco-Terrorism, Racketeering and Business Disruption Authorized Contract Counsel for the State of Florida; Veteran Owned & Minority Business Enterprise, Certified by the State of Florida Aviation Injuries and Accidents involving Private and Commercial Aircraft; National Transportation & Safety Board Investigations (NTSB) Investigations, FAA UAS, Fixed Wing, Rotor Craft, Glider, Air Balloon Licensing Suspension Revocation Actions for any FAA violation including alcohol, drugs and psychological indicators; Defending Fixed Based Operators, Pilots, (A&P) Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanics Chair, Aviation and National Security Committee for the Volusia County Bar Association Business and Employment Claims and Litigation, Sexual Harassment, EEO/Title VII Actions Civilian Counsel for Members of the United States Armed Forces in Military Proceedings Legal Services Panel Plan Attorney: (AOPA) Aircraft Owners & Pilot's Association Unemployment Insurance Appeals, Employment Lectures & Workshops Designated Panel Plan Attorney: (NRA) National Rifle Association Corporate Flight Departments & Florida Scuba Diving Operators Business Intelligence/Cyber Warfare/Data Breach White Collar Crimes and Select Criminal Cases Certified Arbitrator and Mediation Services Professional License Disciplinary Actions Sea, Air, and Land Operations Environmental Law |
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