Patrick McCann’s practice is focused on white collar crime litigation. He has represented clients in all trial and appellate courts in Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been lead counsel in numerous major criminal trials and has handled over 60 homicide cases. Other cases involve drug trafficking, commercial fraud, regulatory offences and prosecutions under the Income Tax Act, the Competition Act and the Lobbying Act.
Patrick McCann has been practicing at the forefront of criminal law for over 40 years. In 1989 he was among the first group of lawyers in Ontario to be certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in criminal law. He has been and currently is listed in Best Lawyers in the category of “Criminal Defence”.
Patrick has also practiced before military tribunals. He defended a Canadian Airborne soldier charged with murder while deployed in Somalia. This case, which received national media coverage, contributed to several changes to the military justice system.
Patrick has been appointed to the list of Special Advocates, a group of Top Secret cleared lawyers capable of representing the interests of outside parties in closed national security matters. He has appeared in the Federal Court of Canada representing Government officials in national security litigation and has been appointed Amicus Curiae to a designated Federal Court judge in other national security litigation. He has also acted for public officials involved in police investigations as well as businessmen facing investigation and charges under the Competition Act and Income Tax Act.
Patrick represented several individuals involved with public inquiries, including the Somalia Inquiry, the Gomery Inquiry and the Cornwall Public Inquiry. Recently Patrick has appeared as lead counsel in two high profile appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Patrick is a founding member and past president of the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa, one of the first organizations in Canada formed to advance the interests of criminal defence lawyers. He has lectured extensively at the Ontario Bar Admission Course on Criminal Procedure and related criminal topics. He has also been a guest lecturer at University of Ottawa, Carleton University and the Canadian Police College. Patrick has presented at a number of conferences and seminars conducted by organizations like the National Judicial Institute, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa. He has also provided services to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP.
Over the course of his career, Patrick has acquired unparalleled experience in all aspects of criminal trial procedure. Clients rely on Patrick’s extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system, charter litigation, the law of evidence, appellate litigation, forensic science, investigative procedures, and prosecutorial conduct and policy.
Patrick is a silver medallist and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Ottawa Law School.
