Patrick is BLG's Regional Group Manager of Specialized Litigation (Labour & Employment, Health and Insurance practices). He has been practising law for 20 years, primarily in the area of complex insurance defence and has recently been appointed as an adjudicator of Law Society Law Society of Alberta complaint hearings.
Patrick is an integral part of the BLG Health Law Group. His extensive experience in professional negligence defence, in addition to his current role as Manager of Specialized Litigation, makes him a key player in this important client sector.
Patrick's practice spans a broad range of insurance areas with his primary focus on defending professionals. These include claims advanced against architects, engineers (in disciplines including structural, mechanical, geotechnical and water resources), project consultants and locating/surveying professionals. In addition to construction related matters, Patrick has successfully defended manufacturers and distributors respecting product liability claims, insurers, insurance brokers, MGAs, real estate agents and commercial hosts for many years. He acts for insurers respecting subrogated claims. Patrick has also acted for owners, general contractors and subcontractors in uninsured construction disputes, as well as for a variety of parties in shareholder disputes, estate litigation and intellectual property matters. In addition to litigation, he has provided coverage opinions for a number of insurers on a variety of policies, including CGL, D&O and EPL, and has even assisted insurers in the development of their Canadian policy wordings.
Prior to joining BLG in 2007, Patrick developed his litigation skills acting against personal injury claimants. This time, combined with his practice with BLG, has seen Patrick successfully defend clients in numerous trials, arbitrations and mediations. He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta and has also conducted matters in the Courts of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Federal Court of Canada.
Patrick provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
Experience
- Successfully defended physician and health care worker claims advanced against Alberta Health Services respecting its COVID-19 mandatory immunization policy.
- Acting counsel for the Lloyds insurance market in the defence of Canadian Class Actions arising from business interruption claims made due to COVID-19 closures.
- Regularly represents owners, general contracting firms and subcontractors on matters ranging from residential construction to major infrastructure projects throughout western Canada.
- Successfully advanced an arbitration for general contractor in relation to dispute involving the construction of water treatment facility in permafrost conditions.
- Serves as panel counsel to several insurers (including Lloyd’s Syndicates) and acts regularly for the same, defending claims brought against insureds as well as providing opinions respecting Builders Risk/COC, EPL, Commercial Host Liability, CGL and D&O policy coverage issues.
- Successfully defended physician and health care worker claims advanced against Alberta Health Services respecting its COVID-19 mandatory immunization policy.
- Acting counsel for the Lloyds insurance market in the defence of Canadian Class Actions arising from business interruption claims made due to COVID-19 closures.
- Regularly represents owners, general contracting firms and subcontractors on matters ranging from residential construction to major infrastructure projects throughout western Canada.
- Successfully advanced an arbitration for general contractor in relation to dispute involving the construction of water treatment facility in permafrost conditions.
- Serves as panel counsel to several insurers (including Lloyd’s Syndicates) and acts regularly for the same, defending claims brought against insureds as well as providing opinions respecting Builders Risk/COC, EPL, Commercial Host Liability, CGL and D&O policy coverage issues.
