B.A., L.L.B., C.S.

Patrick McCann is a silver medallist and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Ottawa Law School who has been practicing at the forefront of criminal law in Ottawa for over 35 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 represented clients in all trial and appellate courts in Ontario, and has been lead counsel in numerous major trials including over 60 homicide cases. Other cases involve drug trafficking, fraud, regulatory offence and prosecutions Under the Income Tax Act and the Competition Act. He has also practiced before military tribunals, including the defence of Private Kyle Brown, a Canadian Airborne soldier charged with murder while deployed in Somalia – a case which received national media coverage and contributed to several changes to the military justice system. During the past few years, Patrick has represented clients in three high profile cases of first degree murder which resulted in acquittals – Peter Chenier, Mark Yegin, and Mahmoud Kayem.

Patrick has also represented several individuals involved with public inquiries, including the Commission of Inquiry into the Deployment of Canadian Forces to Somalia, the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising (Gomery Commission), and the Cornwall Public Inquiry, and has appeared in the Federal Court of Canada representing Government officials in national security litigation. He is a Past President of the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa and a former lecturer at the Ontario Bar Admission Course. He has also been a guest lecturer at University of Ottawa, Carleton University and the Canadian Police College and has spoken on topics related to criminal law at a number of conferences and seminars conducted by such organizations as the National Judicial Institute, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa.

His knowledge and experience has earned Patrick respect from colleagues, opposing counsel and the judiciary.