E. riaz@savardfoy.ca
T. 416.789.7843 x 103
Riaz Sayani
Riaz is an associate at Savard Foy LLP. He practices criminal, constitutional and regulatory law, with a special focus on appeals and prison law. He regularly represents progressive activists who have engaged in disobedience, as well as complainants seeking non-custodial resolutions to criminal charges.
Riaz graduated as Bronze Medallist from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he received several awards for his achievements in criminal law. For his extra-curricular contributions to organizations like the community legal clinic Downtown Legal Services, he received the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award. Riaz completed his undergraduate degree at McMaster University, where he was valedictorian of his class.
Before joining Savard Foy LLP, Riaz worked for two of Canada’s leading criminal defence firms and clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Riaz believes in using the law as a tool to fight for social justice. This passion originated during his years working in Hamilton’s youth shelters, transitional housing complexes, group homes, and youth centres, where he saw first-hand how racialized, migrant, and poor communities are criminalized. He is currently a member of the Law Union of Ontario and Criminal Lawyers’ Association.