E. Patrick Shea, MStJ, LSM, CS
Patrick Shea is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office, practising in the area of commercial law with a particular focus on the areas of bankruptcy and insolvency.
A certified specialist in bankruptcy and insolvency law, Patrick has acted for a variety of clients in large corporate restructuring and insolvency matters in the entertainment, retail, automotive, airline, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industrial sectors. He has also advised the Government of Canada and governments in the Caribbean Region on the reform of their insolvency laws.
Patrick was an instructor for the business law and insolvency portions of the Bar Admission Course run by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and taught an advanced restructuring course at Queen's University. He is coach for the LSO's Coach and Advisory Network and tutors students who are taking the LSO Licensing Exams.
Patrick is a past chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Section, the Canadian Bar Association's Insolvency Section, and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association's Insolvency Committee. He is currently the co-chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute's International Committee and chair of the OBA's Recognition and Leadership Development Committee.
Patrick is a licensed pilot and a former officer in the Canadian Forces reserves. He is the secretary for the 48th Highlanders of Canada's Regimental Senate, the RCAF Foundation and the Rangers' Foundation.
Patrick has been admitted as a Member/Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. He is a past director of St. John Ambulance Ontario and currently sits on the Board of St. John Ambulance's Toronto Branch. He is the chair of the St. John Canada Foundation.
In 2012, Patrick was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; in 2018, he received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers; and in 2019, he received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award. Patrick has also been awarded two Minister of Veteran's Affairs Commendations for his work to commemorate veterans of WWI and WWII. In 2015, Patrick was awarded the Law Society Medal, the Law Society of Ontario's highest award.