About Us
Our Approach
At Ryder Wright we pride ourselves on being open and approachable. We work with you as part of a team to address your issues and needs.
The members of Ryder Wright value the long term relationships we develop with our clients. We can help you see the big picture and achieve long term solutions, rather than simply focusing on matters on a case by case basis. We strive for efficiency and always provide high quality service at reasonable rates.
The members of the firm have many passions outside of law: social and political causes, playing music, travel, and, of course, spending time with our families. We are committed to maintaining a balance between our work and our outside interests and believe this balance allows us to bring energy, creativity and focused attention to our work on behalf of our clients.
Our Firm
Based in Toronto, Ryder Wright LLP is a mid-sized law firm. Each of the lawyers in the firm offers a unique expertise. Together we have built Ryder Wright’s reputation as an exceptional union side labour law firm.
Ryder Wright represents unions and workers in any and all types of issues that arise in the workplace.
We have represented unions before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Divisional Court as well as in all manner of Labour Relations Boards proceedings, arbitrations, mediations and contract negotiations.
The members of the firm have successfully represented clients operating throughout the broader public sector (including local and provincial governments; universities, colleges and school boards; hospitals; and health centres) and in industrial and commercial settings. The firm has also acted on behalf of the members of a number of different professions in professional discipline matters and in other regulatory and licensing proceedings.
Ryder Wright also has a wide range of experience in representing clients on public policy issues. We have been retained to appear before legislative committees and inquiries, to draft briefs and position papers and to provide strategic public policy advice.
The land upon which Ryder Wright operates is the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishnabeg, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. This territory is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Anishnabeg and Haudenosaunee allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands around the Great Lakes.
History
Our firm continues to evolve to reflect the changing nature of the workplace and society.
On Labour Day 2022, with new partners and colleagues joining, and in light of retirements, we became Ryder Wright Holmes Bryden Nam LLP.
We remain very proud of our firm’s roots, which reach back to James McRuer, distinguished counsel and later Chief Justice of Ontario, and author of a seminal report on civil liberties in Ontario; to Andrew Brewin, Q.C., who, among other seminal cases, defended the rights of Japanese-Canadians before the Privy Council and was for many years NDP Member of Parliament in Toronto’s east end; and on to Ian Scott, Q.C., who was one of the leading appeal and administrative lawyers in the province and later Attorney-General of Ontario between 1985 and 1990.
Alick Ryder and John Brewin began their practice with the firm Cameron, Brewin, McCallum and Scott. In 1980 Cameron, Brewin and Scott merged with Gowling & Henderson. In 1989 Alick Ryder, David Wright and Pamela Chapman left Gowlings and, along with Kevin Whitaker, formerly Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board and a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, formed the firm which has continued to grow and evolve to become Ryder Wright LLP.
