Our Team

Ryland MacDonald

Ryland MacDonald

Partner

416.679.2781 x 225
rmacdonald@sbalawyers.ca

Clerk: Heather Demeyre
416.679.2781 x 313
hdemeyre@sbalawyers.ca

Assistant: Kelly Lord
416.679.2781 x 213
klord@sbalawyers.ca

Once upon a time, under intense studio lights, Ryland worked as a sports journalist for a national television network which was less glamorous than it sounds – requiring lots of coffee, late nights and tight deadlines.

Fast forward more than a decade later, Ryland is now an experienced litigator employing his gumshoe journalistic instincts to dive deep into cases whether they involve “Right to Sue” applications under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act or fraudulent claims arising from accident benefits claims.

Ryland relishes the opportunity to argue novel legal issues and is eager to “get to the bottom of every case” like a film noir detective, but way less cool and with way more paperwork. Ryland is always open for business; there is no case too big and no claim too strange that he won’t take on. His dogged determination coupled with his analytical mind ensure accurate and cost-effective results for his clients.

When he is not envisioning himself as a hard-boiled detective from a Raymond Chandler novel, Ryland enjoys watching 60 Minutes, cheering on Crystal Palace F.C. and spending time with his wife and daughter. He also has a passion for travel and has visited many countries including Iceland, South Africa and Japan.

Primary Practice Areas
  • Auto Insurance
  • Loss Transfer and Priority Disputes
  • Fraud and Misrepresentation
Notable Matters
  • Chandrarajah vs. Economical Insurance, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2024 CanLII 10566
  • Miller v Economical Insurance, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2023 CanLII 116481
  • Weafer v Wawanesa Insurance, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2023 CanLII 65771
  • Watson v Echelon General Insurance Company, (Licence Appeal Tribunal),  2021 CanLII 121075
  • Wright v Northbridge General Insurance Company, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2020 CanLII 98749
  • A.M.v Wawanesa Mutual, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2020 CanLII 45490
  • C.X. v. Belair Direct, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2020 CanLII 30417
  • P.S. v. Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2020 CanLII 87934
  • D. G. v Co-operators General Insurance Company, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2020 CanLII 61461
  • J.S. v Cooperators General Insurance, (Licence Appeal Tribunal), 2019 CanLII 130616
  • Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 2058 v. Cresford Developments Inc., (Superior Court of Justice), 2019 ONSC 801
Thought Leadership
  • Author, “Civil Machines: The Current State of Autonomous Vehicle Liability”, Lawyers Daily, 2022
Professional Memberships
  • Advocates’ Society
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers
Bar Admissions & Education
  • Ontario Bar, 2013
  • LL.B, University of Windsor, 2012
  • J.D., University of Detroit Mercy, 2012