Background

Alex Paterson is a former senior partner at our Montréal office. Mr. Paterson was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1957, started his professional career in 1957 with McMaster Meighen, and in 1971 was admitted to the Bar of Alberta. He is a graduate of the McGill University Law School, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop's University in 1952.

Professional Experience

Health Sector

• In the health sector, Mr. Paterson is well recognized as one of the leading litigation lawyers in Québec in health law. For over 40 years he acted for the McGill Hospitals and several community hospitals. He was a member of the Medical Faculty and taught medical law in the 1980s. He now serves on the Quality Control Committee of the MUHC and is an Honorary Co-Chair of the Best Care for Life Campaign.

Construction

• In the 90s, the Canadian National Railway retained Mr. Paterson with his partner, Jacques Brien, to bring a claim in the construction field against a supplier that involved many regional offices of the railway, and lengthy litigation, finally resolved by settlement.
• Mr. Paterson also won a case in the Supreme Court for the well-known Architect, the Late Richard Bolton against Montréal Trust, involving the trust company's having to pay an architect for his blueprints for the McGregor Place building.

Accounting

• Mr. Paterson has also represented several of the large accounting firms, acting for their insurers in professional liability cases, the most recent of which related to the independence of the auditor and the rules that should cover that independence.

Arbitration and Meditation

• In the summer of 1976, Mr. Paterson acted as a Commissioner of School Disputes appointed by the Provincial Government (Poirier Commission) and in September acted as a Special Enquirer of the labour dispute in the English education sector.
• Mr. Paterson has arbitrated in disputes relating to school principals and school boards, and in a major dispute between two computer firms. He also served on a panel for the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris in a dispute between a Québec and Italian company.
• In 1990, he acted as Chief Negotiator for the Québec Government in the negotiations with the Mohawks, and in 1976 he was a member of a provincial panel of three to settle a province-wide strike in the education sector.

General

• Mr. Paterson also acted for many individuals in a variety of well-known causes. As the Québec Counsel to Sergei Nemstanoff, who was a Russian diver, who defected to Canada during the 1976 Olympics, he and David Matheson of Toronto negotiated with the Russians, the R.C.M.P. and the Government of Canada.
• When the family of a world chess champion, who was a Spaniard incarcerated in a Uruguayan prison, came to see if he could be released and then admitted to Canada, Mr. Paterson put together an international team that brought him to Montréal without a visa, passport or identification.
• Mr. Paterson acted as General Counsel to the Attorney for Lloyds in Canada since 1982. He has appeared before two Royal Commissions (Nelles and Krever) to represent two distinguished medical scientists.
• As well as appearing before the courts, a good portion of Mr. Paterson's career has been representing clients in the preparation and presentation of briefs before governmental bodies. He has appeared before the Committees of the Legislatures of Ontario and Manitoba and the Parliament of Canada in relation to legislation affecting language and the Constitution. He has presented briefs on behalf of the health and educational sectors in Québec before the National Assembly, and has been involved in the development of health legislation in Québec for over 25 years.

Professional and Community Activities

• Mr. Paterson is active in the community and was Chairman of the Foundation for Greater Montreal until June 2009. He also served on the board of the MUHC and is now on the Butters Home Foundation, the Eastern Townships Disabled Skiers Foundation and Wilder Penfield Council of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. He is an Emeritus Governor of McGill and an Honorary Trustee of Bishop's University, and a member of the Honorary Council of the Blue Metropolis. He reads to kids at the Mackay and St-Gabriel Schools as part of BLG's Reads to Kids program.
• From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Paterson was Chairman of McGill's Board of Governors and from 1995 to 2005 Chancellor of Bishop's University. He also served as interim Chairman of the McGill University Health Centre from 1994 to 1995 and Co-Chairman of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada from 1995 to 2008. He is now Honorary Co-Chairman.
• In 1996, he was awarded both the CASE District I Distinguished Friend of Education Award and the Bar of Montréal's Medal of Honour, and the citation read "For his major contribution to the cause of justice and his exemplary devotion to the communities of Québec and of Canada ". In 1998, he was named to the Academy of Great Montrealers.
• Mr. Paterson has also been appointed Officer of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Québec and holds Honorary Doctorates in Law from both McGill University and Bishop's University.
• In 2006, Mr. Paterson was appointed Chair of Advisory Council to the Quebec English School Boards Association which reported on October 26, 2006 after visiting several schools around the province and interviewing principals, teachers and parents.
• In 2006, Mr. Paterson published a book entitled “My Life at the Bar and Beyond”, published by McGill-Queen's University Press.
• In April 2010 he was named Avocat Émerite of the Bar of Quebec.