Patrick J. Hawkins

Partner

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6065

Patrick defends hospitals, healthcare organizations and their employees in medical malpractice litigation as counsel to the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC).

He acts as general counsel and provides situational advice to healthcare clients on a wide range of issues, including physician credentialing, privacy, freedom of information, quality of care reviews, adverse event management and disclosure.

He appears regularly in court and before administrative tribunals, including in regulatory proceedings under the Public Hospitals Act and Regulated Health Professions Act.

Prior to his call to the Bar, he articled as a justices' law clerk at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

 

Testimonials

Experience

  • Defends hospitals and healthcare providers in malpractice litigation, including obstetrical negligence, neurological injuries, breach of privacy, and occupier's liability.
  • Expertise in privacy and cybersecurity breach management and class action defence.
  • Advises hospital senior management and boards of directors on healthcare legal issues, including incident and crisis management, physician relationships and patient disclosure.
  • Represents Chiefs of Staff and Medical Advisory Committees in physician credentialing proceedings before hospital Boards of Directors and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board.
  • Serves as counsel to the Ontario Hospital Association, assisting on new legislation and policy initiatives.
  • Represents health professionals in complaints before the regulated health colleges.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Medico-Legal Society of Toronto; Past President
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association; Past Executive, Health Law Section
  • Member, The Advocates' Society, Canadian Bar Association, Toronto Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

  • Member, Board of Directors, William Osler Health System Foundation
  • Past Chair, National Organizing Committee, BLG Reads to Kids

Awards & Recognitions

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® for Privacy and Data Security Law, since 2024 for Administrative and Public Law, since 2015 for Health Care Law and since 2022 for Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Litigation.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of Chambers Canada - Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Healthcare) and in the 2021 edition (Healthcare: Contentious (Nationwide)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2018) of Benchmark Canada (Health, Medical Negligence, Product Liability; Local Litigation Star - Ontario).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2013) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Data Protection & Privacy, Medical Negligence, Personal Injury) and the 2023-2013 editions (Professional Liability).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences
  • Recognized in the 2021 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Health Sciences.
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition of Benchmark Canada (Litigation Star).
  • Recognized in Acritas Star 2019: Independently Rated Lawyer (Nominated as a stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel).
  • Recognized in the 2019 and 2017 editions of Acritas Stars. Nominated as a stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel.
  • Recognized as a 2019 Acritas Star (and since 2017)
  • Recognized in the 2018 edition of Chambers Canada - Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Healthcare).
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1992
  • LL.M., University of Cambridge, 1990
  • LL.B., Queen's University, 1989