Patrick is an accomplished civil litigator and arbitrator who has represented clients in the Manitoba courts, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada since 1977. He also appears before administrative bodies, including the Pension Commission of Manitoba.

Partner
Born Montreal, Quebec, May 5, 1952; Admitted to the Bar, 1977, Manitoba.

Education
Atlantic College, Wales, Int. BAC., Queen's University, Kingston (B.A., 1972); University of Manitoba (LL.B., 1976; LL.M., 1985).

Member
Canadian Bar Association, Manitoba Advocates Society, Association des Juristes D'Expression Francaise du Manitoba, Life Member No. 3 Alma Mater Society of Queen's University.

Positions
Former Member, University Council, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; Editor, Manitoba Law Journal (1976), Bencher, Law Society of Manitoba (1996-98); Vice-President, Advocates Society (1995); President, Advocates Society 1996-2004; President, Law Society of Manitoba (2003 - 2004).

Lecturer
Bar Admission Course, Civil Litigation, Law Society of Manitoba, (1991-93), Panelist "Effective Litigation" (1996) Law Society of Manitoba and panelist/participant in various litigation education programs since 1988.

Author
"The Official Language Act of Quebec"; Thesis, "Welfare Law Issues in Canada".

Service en français
Maître Riley offre ses services en français.

Peer Recognition
Mr. Riley was elected by his fellow lawyers four times to be a Bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba, thereby becoming a Life Bencher; and served as President of the Law Society of Manitoba in 2003-2004.

He has been President of the Advocates Society of Manitoba - an organization of senior litigators and judges - since 1998. 

Mr. Riley has been Chairperson of Taylor McCaffrey LLP's Litigation Department since 1988. 

In 1992, Mr. Riley was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation by the Governor General of Canada "in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada." 

Most recently, he was the co-chair of the planning committee for the 2006 Pitblado Lectures on Manitoba's Court of Appeal.

Range of Civil Litigation
Mr. Riley, with the assistance as required of an experienced team of other lawyers and paralegals, conducts a wide range of civil litigation including:
     commercial disputes
     pension matters
     insurance claims, including all kinds of professional negligence claims
     suits by and against governments and First Nations, including appearances
     before the Manitoba Securities Commission and other tribunals
     matters relating to estates and trusts
     environmental matters

Arbitration
Mr. Riley also argues matters before arbitration panels, and acts as an arbitrator. He is an appointed member of the panel of arbitrators established by the Manitoba Labour Board to deal with expedited arbitrations.

Some Reported Cases
Apotex v. Novopharm - Manitoba Court of Appeal, 1998 - obtained an award of damages and costs totaling $6.5 million, as well as an injunction lasting 7.5 years in a case involving the misappropriation of trade secrets.
Finlay v. the Minister of Finance of Canada - Supreme Court of Canada, 1986 - established the right to public interest standing to sue government officials.
Granove v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc - Manitoba Court of Appeal, 1985 - statements given to the Toronto Stock Exchange were not privileged, and had to be disclosed.
G. v. G. - Manitoba Queen's Bench, 1995 - first and still largest award of an interim marital property equalization payment in Manitoba.
Rodriguez v. the Queen - Supreme Court of Canada, 1993 - a case which dealt with the issue of assisted suicide.