Patrick Kruse

Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Altes Detroit Brewing Company - Altes Beer; Owner, Patrick G Kruse PLC

Detroit Metropolitan Area

About

I am an entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of Detroit National Brewing Company, the owner of Altes Beer. I formerly worked as a business lawyer, representing clients in general corporate and transactional matters, as well as litigation in all phases, including trials and appeals. I began my attorney career as a judicial clerk for Justice Patricia Boyle on the Michigan Supreme Court, and for Judge James Ryan on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. I was General Counsel for Blaze Contracting, Inc., a Detroit based construction contractor, for approximately 8 years, until leaving the active practice of law to focus on development of the Altes brand and other ventures. I am a co-founder of the Tuxedo Project, a nonprofit fighting blight and rebuilding a neighborhood in Detroit, and I formerly served on its board of directors. I also managed the municipal work for the City of Woodhaven, Michigan, as its City Attorney, for five years. In addition, I am an experienced law professor. I have worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where I periodically teach a class I created on counseling entrepreneurs, and I previously taught Contracts and Civil Procedure at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School as a tenure track professor.

Experience

  • Co-Founder at Detroit National Brewing Company LLC - Altes Beer
    Mar 2015 - Present · 11 yrs 4 mos

  • Owner at Patrick G Kruse PLC
    Jan 2012 - Present · 14 yrs 6 mos

    General practitioner with 25 years experience. Solutions for small businesses and entrepreneurs; contracts; general corporate; litigation, appeals

  • Adjunct Professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
    2010 - 2022 · 12 yrs

    Teaching in Law Firm Program: Advising Entrepreneurs in New Business Startups; teaching Contracts module for Dual Canadian-US law degree program, Fall 2022; Advising Entrepreneurs, January 2023

  • Attorney at Flood, Lanctot, Connor, & Stablein, PLLC
    Mar 2009 - Jan 2012 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution in all phases; municipal law.

  • Of Counsel at Flood, Lanctot & Connor PLLC
    Jun 2005 - Mar 2009 · 3 yrs 10 mos

    Advise and consult in civil litigation matters.