Patrick James
Partner

Patrick James is a partner at the law firm Pinto Wray James LLP.  Mr. James practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation, labour and employment law, administrative law, human rights, and disability and benefits law.  Mr. James also possesses extensive experience advising clients with respect to regulatory matters and government relations.

Mr. James earns the trust and confidence of his clients, and is dedicated to resolving their problems and achieving their goals in a timely, cost-effective manner.

Mr. James is a member of the Ontario Bar Association's Council, and a former member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Executive.  Mr. James also served on the Ontario Bar Association’s Wrongful Dismissal Task Force and sits on the Board of Directors of the Society of Sharing, a charitable organization that provides volunteer services to seniors and disabled persons in downtown Toronto.

Mr. James has been a speaker and chaired numerous continuing legal education seminars relating to workplace law.  Recently, Mr. James spoke at Osgoode Hall Law School with respect to practical tips on legal practice management and at the Ontario Bar Association’s 2009 human rights conference entitled Ontario Human Rights System: Lessons from its First Year.

Prior to joining Pinto Wray James LLP, Mr. James served for several years as a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Mr. James represents clients in English, French and Spanish.  

Practice Areas

• Litigation
• Labour & Employment Law
• Human Rights Law
• Education Law
• Administrative Law
• Disability and Benefits Law
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Law

Representative Cases

Some of the cases Mr. James has recently been involved in include:

• Acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in employment and commercial litigation matters before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
• Representing clients on appeals before the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal, the Pension Appeals Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, the Social Benefits Tribunal, and the Ministry of Labour’s Employment Standards Branch
• Representing employers and employees in complex human rights litigation before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Negotiating settlements for long term employees suffering from severe mental and physical disabilities.
• Advising employers and employees regarding their labour and employment law rights and obligations
• Representing employees and employers regarding complaints under the Canada Labour Code
• Representing clients at labour arbitration proceedings
• Negotiating with school boards, on behalf of parents, to ensure the timely return of autistic, mentally disabled, or disciplined children to school 
• Negotiating the return of a mentally ill Canadian national from a foreign jurisdiction

Membership and Education

• Law Society of Upper Canada
• Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association
• Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario
• Toronto Board of Trade
• Board Member, Society of Sharing
• University of Ottawa (LL.B.)
• University of Toronto (Honours B.A.)
• Universite Laval (Diplome en Etudes de Francais)