Pat Haughian

In Pat, clients have a unique and valuable resource – a business lawyer who understands both sides of the partnership between internal and external counsel and can translate that balanced perspective into positive outcomes.

His strong business background includes working in-house as corporate counsel to a large mining contractor and significant experience in the oil sands industry. These experiences continue to guide him in acting as a strategic partner to clients. He appreciates the important balance between risk management and commercial reality and is genuinely concerned with safeguarding interests while providing practical legal solutions.

Pat maintains a broad practice, supporting his clients in corporate and commercial transactions and labor and employment matters. His wide variety of corporate and commercial legal experience allows him to effectively assist a diverse clientele in overcoming challenging legal issues. He has advised clients concerning business start-ups, corporate structuring, corporate re-organizations, commercial leasing and real estate, commercial financing, creating and implementing joint ventures, conducting commercial bid reviews, negotiating procurement contracts, and negotiating lending agreements.

Pat regularly advises clients regarding transactions involving the sale of businesses (share sales, asset sales, etc.). Notably, he assisted in a large-scale refinancing and management buyout, aiding the management team in securing financing to buy out a private equity owner from its majority position.

Employers engage Pat to assist with policy development, collective bargaining, union organizing efforts, workplace grievances and arbitration, wrongful dismissal claims, human rights claims, and in challenging WCB decisions.

Pat is also actively involved in the firm’s Political Law group, acting as legal counsel to third-party advertisers and lobbyists. He frequently advises on corporate structuring and requirements concerning Third Party Advertising in Canada as well as issues relating to the Conflicts of Interest Act. He counsels individuals and organizations concerning the compliance and applicability of lobbyist legislation. In particular, Pat regularly provides advice on whether an individual or corporation’s activities fall within the definition of lobbying.

Pat is exceptionally hardworking. While he appreciates the law, he is more passionate about understanding the intricacies of a business so he can position himself as a trusted resource. Never complacent, he works hard to become a company’s out-of-house in-house lawyer. He doesn’t just provide sterilized, academic, legal briefs, he provides business solutions.

Outside of his practice, Pat is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association. He is also the Former Director and Vice President of the Board, Personal Support Network, and a current Director and Treasurer of the Oliver Parents Advisory Association.