Best Lawyers in Canada for Environmental Law
Practice Area Overview
The range of legislation and regulations concerning protection of the environment, at the federal, provincial, and territorial level continues to expand, and the enforcement provisions continue to expand as well. At the federal level, the major environmental statutes include the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which focuses primarily on the regulation of toxic substances; the Fisheries Act, which contains strict provisions for the protection of fish habitat and waters frequented by fish; and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which requires federal authorities to conduct detailed environmental assessments of projects on federal land, projects for which the federal government is undertaking itself or is providing financing, and projects which require federal licences, permits, or authorizations under specific environmental statutes and regulations. At the provincial level, environmental management and protection statutes generally include specific provisions prohibiting discharges of waste to land, water, or air, subject to obtaining permits or licences which contain strict provisions for meeting discharge standards and requiring regular monitoring and reporting of both the level of discharges and potential effects on the environment. Provincial legislation also includes environmental assessment statutes requiring detailed environmental assessment of projects which have potential impacts on the environment. Similar environmental protection provisions and environmental assessment processes are applicable in the northern territories.
Environmental lawyers provide advice to businesses with respect to the development and adoption of policies and procedures for protection of the environment. The leading case of R. v. Bata Industries in 1995 addressed the potential for personal liability of corporate officers and directors and led to increased focus on the need to develop corporate environmental management policies to ensure compliance with environmental statutes, regulations, licences, permits, and approvals.
The leading case of R. v. Sault Ste. Marie established the concept of due diligence as a defense to non-compliance with environmental statutes and regulations. More recently, federal and provincial jurisdictions have moved toward the introduction of administrative penalties for non-compliance where the concept of strict liability applies. Environmental law includes both the prosecution and the defense of prosecutions relating to non-compliance.
Fines and penalties for non-compliance can be substantial and may exceed $1,000,000 per day for each day of the occurrence. Environmental statutes have also moved towards creative sentencing which can include requirements for implementing procedures for prevention of further non-compliance, remediation requirements, and public statements of accountability.
Addressing the issue of liability for contaminated sites has been a significant focus of environmental law. Commencing in the 1980s and 1990s, provincial jurisdictions adopted contaminated sites legislation which imposed absolute and retroactive liability for the remediation of contaminated sites on a wide range of potentially responsible persons including current and former owners and operators of the site. Both the rules and the processes for determining liability for remediation of contaminated sites are complex areas of the law.
Environmental lawyers also provide advice and services in relation to commercial and financial transactions, including the conduct of due diligence processes, the identification of environmental responsibilities and risks, and the allocation of those risks between the parties to the transaction.
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Brad Armstrong, QC has extensive experience in civil litigation, aboriginal law, administrative and constitutional law, and environmental law. He represents clients involved with land use issues, project development, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments, First Nations consultation, and litigation, in a range of natural resource industries including mining, forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, energy, independent power projects, oil and gas, and transportation. His practice extends t...
Aaron Atcheson practices in the area of real estate and business transactions, and energy and infrastructure projects. Aaron has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer and expert in energy, environmental law and property development and he represents a wide variety of parties across the infrastructure sector, including in the renewable energy industry. Aaron advises clients on structuring, regulatory, site acquisition, permits, procurement, construction and financing of energy and inf...
Dan Bennett's practice is focused in the areas of trial, arbitration, hearing and appeal work in commercial and administrative litigation. As a member of our litigation group, Mr. Bennett has conducted a broad range of cases in commercial, real estate, and natural resource matters in British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon superior courts and courts of appeal as well as the Federal Courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He also appears regularly before a number of administrative boards de...
Richard is the chair of Harper Grey’s environmental law group and a senior member of our commercial litigation group. He is the former Managing Partner of the firm, recently completing two three-year terms. Consistently recognized as a leader is his field by numerous ranking publications, including Lexpert, Chambers, Best Lawyers, and Benchmark, Richard has established a reputation as one of Canada’s leading environmental law practitioners. An accomplished author, Richard has co-a...
Janet Bobechko is a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law and a nationally recognized senior practitioner with extensive experience in all aspects of environmental law, specializing in environment, governance and compliance. Janet’s environmental law practice is focused on climate change and sustainability, Environment Social Governance (ESG), real estate and brownfield development and environmental dispute resolution. She routinely provides sophisticated and strategic advice on env...
Jessica Boily is an environmental lawyer in Gowling WLG's Toronto office. Her practice focuses on environmental litigation, drawing on her commercial litigation background to achieve successful and cost-effective outcomes. She uses her procedural expertise and technical knowledge to advocate for her clients. Jessica understands that complex disputes require creative scientific and legal approaches. Her clients appreciate her practical advice when managing and resolving multi-party environment...
Charles Bois has a diverse practice that focuses on the oil and gas, energy, mining and natural resources, Aboriginal, environmental, commercial, and construction and infrastructure sectors. In addition to his legal experience, prior to becoming a lawyer, Charles spent over 20 years working in the natural gas industry, including senior management and consulting roles. Charles is a trusted adviser to his clients on commercial, administrative and regulatory, and environmental matters (such as p...
Kinji Bourchier is a leading commercial and business litigator in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Kinji’s primary practice areas include complex commercial and civil litigation with a focus on contractual disputes, environmental remediation claims, product liability claims, shareholder and transactional disputes, and business torts. Kinji has a focused practice in the field of environmental remediation cost-recovery claims and contaminated-site litigation. He regularly appears as lead ...
Wally Braul is a partner in the firm's Advocacy Group, and is one of Western Canada’s most highly regarded energy, Aboriginal law and environmental lawyers. He has been repeatedly recognized by Lexpert as a leading lawyer in energy, environmental and Aboriginal law, and by The Best Lawyers in Canada and Who’s Who Legal as one of Canada’s foremost environmental lawyers. Wally’s recent work includes: Tribunal and judicial proceedings respecting shale gas fracking, water,...
John is the former head of the firm's litigation practice. With degrees in both engineering and law, he practises in the areas of environmental law, litigation, and administrative law, and has appeared as counsel on matters in all levels of the courts in Ontario, and before several administrative tribunals, including the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Board of Directors of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, the Commercial Registration Appeal Tribunal, the Law Society of Upper Canada...
Richard Butler, BSc (Hons.), MSc, LLB, is a partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Richard practises advocacy before all levels of court and tribunals, including civil litigation, administrative appeals, and defence of environmental prosecutions. He provides advice and support to clients on all aspects of environmental law including regulatory compliance and approvals, contaminated land investigations and remediation and spills response, wastewater discharges, and waste mana...
Bryan Buttigieg is recognized as one of the leading practitioners of environmental law in Canada and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in Environmental Law. His practice includes a combination of litigation and transactional advice involving civil litigation and regulatory defence representation in environmental and occupational health and safety matters. Bryan has provided extensive advice in support of brownfields developments, site remediation, and financing o...
Adam Chamberlain is an active member of Gowling WLG's Environmental Law, Indigenous Law and the Canada North Practice Groups. Certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada, Adam has practised environmental and energy law for most of his career, focused on infrastructure development. Adam's practice encompasses diverse matters related to the environmental and other regulatory requirements involved with project development. Adam is also extensively involved i...
Stuart prioritizes communication, preparation, and professionalism. He makes every effort to ensure his clients’ interests are protected by providing responsive and result-oriented representation. Stuart’s practice focuses on environmental, energy, and regulatory law as well as occupational health and safety law. He has substantial knowledge in the environmental field and previously chaired the Canadian Bar Association’s National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Secti...
Emily Chan practises in the areas of Indigenous, energy regulatory, and environmental law. As the co-chair of the Indigenous law practice, Emily provides strategic advice to clients ranging from industry and government agencies to Indigenous groups on a wide range of issues in relation to the development of energy, industrial, and infrastructure projects; joint ventures and commercial arrangements with Indigenous groups; negotiation of relationship building and impact and benefit agreements; ...
Pierre-Olivier Charlebois is a leading lawyer in the areas of environmental, mining, energy, climate change and corporate social responsibility law. Recognized by his peers across Canada and internationally due to his multidisciplinary expertise, Pierre-Olivier is the go-to legal reference. Pierre-Olivier is the leader of the Corporate Social Responsibility group. He also heads the Environmental, Energy and Climate Change group for the Quebec region. Pierre-Olivier advises clients on complian...
Max Collett is a leading real property, planning and environmental lawyer with a keen interest in the development of sustainable cities. Mr. Collett provides timely and practical advice to public and private sector clients on a diverse range of projects, including the remediation and re-development of industrial brownfield sites, development of healthcare-related facilities, complex mixed-use strata developments and commercial joint ventures on First Nations lands. He regularly assists on pro...
Rosalind Cooper is one of the leading and most widely-recognized environmental lawyers in Canada. She defends environmental charges, and litigates contaminated land and other environmental disputes before all levels of court. Rosalind is also involved in appeals and environmental assessment proceedings before the Environmental Review Tribunal and provides regulatory advice in all areas of environmental law. She is also a recognized environmental mediator and certified by the Law Society as an...
Robert Daigneault, Ad. E. has been involved for more than 45 years in the environmental, resource and land use sectors (as a biologist, a manager and a legal counsel). He founded Daigneault, avocats inc. - Daigneault, Lawyers Inc., a team of specialized lawyers who finds creative and proactive solutions to issues clients are facing in their day-to-day operations or following environmental incidents. He also provides proper support and representation before regulatory authorities or courts whe...
Jennifer Danahy is a partner in the firm's Toronto office, practising exclusively in the area of environmental law. As a solicitor, Jennifer works proactively with clients to provide timely and practical legal advice on environmental matters. This includes providing advice to lenders, borrowers, vendors and purchasers in relation to the environmental aspects of corporate transactions, assisting clients with the design and implementation of Environmental Management Systems and Best Management ...
Mélissa Devost has extensive experience in environmental law. She provides legal and strategic advice on environmental matters concerning Quebec, federal and municipal legislation. She also advises clients on obtaining environmental permits and authorizations and verifies environmental compliance in their operations. Ms. Devost conducts a number of environmental due diligence reviews in order to assess the environmental risks and compliance in connection with mergers and acquisitions a...
Due to chance and circumstances, Christine was one of the few fortunate attorneys to be immersed in Environmental law at the very beginning of her career in 1990. She has stayed on course ever since. After 20 years in prominent Montreal law firms, namely as a partner, she decided in 2009 to found her own firm, dedicated to her areas of practice, in order to offer her clients more proximity and flexibility while maintaining the same high standards of quality she was accustomed to offering in l...
Patrick Duffy is a partner and Co-Head of the Projects & Infrastructure Group. His practice focuses on project development that includes municipal and planning law, environmental permitting and litigation, energy regulation, and Indigenous engagement. He is highly sought after for his considerable experience with environmental assessments and other regulatory approvals in a variety of sectors, including renewable and non-renewable electricity generation, electricity transmission, mining, ...
Ron Ezekiel is a leading Canadian energy and natural resources lawyer, and co-leader of Fasken’s Global Energy Group. Utilities, independent power producers, oil & gas companies and other resource industry clients seek out Ron for his depth of expertise and his creative and practical problem-solving skills. His industry knowledge, ability to navigate complex negotiations and broad business transaction background make him an ideal choice for counsel on projects and M&A transactio...
Tamara Farber is a partner in the Toronto office of Miller Thomson practicing exclusively in environmental matters. She provides expertise on real estate and business transactions involving brownfield redevelopment and contaminated land sale and acquisition including investigating contaminated lands, environmental due diligence, audits, property remediation, site decommissioning, waste management, environmental compliance matters, environmental risk management, representations, warranties, in...
Shauna practices administrative law in the areas of professional and regulatory compliance, municipal taxation and assessment, environment, and municipal law. She also practices in the area of bankruptcy and insolvency law. Shauna regularly acts for regulatory bodies, private entities, non-profit entities and public bodies. Her clients benefit from her 20 years of diverse experience. This depth of experience is complemented by a thorough and practical approach. Shauna works to understand the ...
Gavin Fitch is an award-winning lawyer and K.C. working in environmental, regulatory, energy permitting, and Indigenous law. He’s a respected and trusted advisor who provides sound, practical advice geared towards keeping his clients out of the hearing room. When necessary, however, he is a strong and fearless advocate, whether in negotiations or in a courtroom. His clients include developers, energy producers, environmental monitoring agencies, governments and landowners. For each indi...
Myriam Fortin is a partner and heads the Montréal office’s Environmental Group. Myriam acts on a wide range of corporate, transactional and environmental litigation matters. She advises and represents clients in their dealings with both private parties and governmental authorities regarding all regulatory and contractual environmental issues which may arise in the context of new projects, ongoing operations, purchase and sale transactions, reorganizations, leases, financing, chan...
Matthew Gardner B.Sc. (Hons.), LL.B., is a Partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP and is a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario. Matthew practices environmental law and environmental litigation. He provides advice and solutions about environmental due diligence and compliance to a wide range of clients including industrial corporations, the construction and land development sectors and municipalities. Matthew also provides advice and solutio...
John Georgakopoulos B.Sc. (Hons.), M.Sc., LL.B., is a Partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP and is a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario. John resolves complex environmental legal issues for clients, uniquely drawing on his technical knowledge as a former senior environmental scientist with Ontario’s environmental regulator. John has particular expertise advising property developers, REITs, industrial manufacturers, and municipalitie...
Adina Georgescu practises in administrative, municipal, environmental and energy law in Miller Thomson’s Montreal office. Her practice includes public and constitutional law and litigation. In municipal law, she advises and represents landowners, promoters and public bodies, on planning and execution of large-scale real estate ventures, on the operation of companies and the management of properties (including compliance with applicable laws and regulations; municipal litigation; issuanc...
Bridget Gilbride is a litigator in Vancouver specializing in Indigenous, environmental and public law. Bridget assists large energy and mining companies seeking major project approvals ranging from advice and representation in environmental assessments, permitting and consultation processes, to representing them in regulatory hearings, judicial reviews, injunctions and other litigation. Bridget has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and the Federal Court, and has appeared...
Alan Harvie has practised energy and environmental/regulatory law since 1989 and regularly deals with commercial, operational, environmental and regulatory issues, especially for the upstream and midstream oil and gas, energy, waste disposal and chemical industries. He is a member of our energy and environmental departments. Mr. Harvie also has significant legal experience acting for the oil and gas industry in commercial transactions and regulatory matters, including enforcement proceedings,...
L. Michel Huart joined the firm in 2006 following a lengthy career in the railway industry, where he held the position of General Counsel for Canadian National. He was Solicitor for the Canada Labour Relations Board and for the Canadian Transport Commission before joining VIA Rail following its creation in 1978. At VIA, he was Solicitor and Deputy General Secretary until 1984, when he became VIA’s General Superintendent, Transportation, for Quebec. He later held the position of Director...
Larry is a partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP practising at the intersections of Indigenous rights and environmental law. Larry has worked with First Nations on lands and resources issues for over 25 years, and has developed extensive experience in the negotiation of impacts and benefits agreements, environmental assessment, co-management measures, self-government and treaty provisions. He also represents and advises First Nations dealing with major mining, forestry and energy developme...
Matt Keen is an energy regulatory lawyer who practises in the inter-related areas of energy law, environmental assessment and permitting, tolls and tariffs, and issues concerning Indigenous peoples. He appears before tribunals such as the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Environmental Appeal Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, and the National Energy Board of Canada. Matt has extensive experience with major industrial facility applications and the associated environmental assessment an...
Christine practices environmental and aboriginal law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects. She provides specialized mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. Her other clients include energy, forestry and other natural resource sector companies,...
Environmental law is dynamic and as an experienced environmental and regulatory lawyer, Ron Kruhlak, K.C. enjoys the challenges of handling new environmental projects with novel issues. His focus is on resource development applications and commercial disputes. He has a knowledge base that covers a broad range of environmental matters, including energy, regulatory, and construction-related projects and conflicts. On the resource side, Ron assists with current and emerging issues in sectors inc...
Lorraine Land practises Aboriginal and environmental law as a partner at OKT. She advises Aboriginal clients across Canada and particularly in the North. Lorraine provides negotiation advice and appears before Courts and tribunals on Aboriginal rights, land claims implementation, self government negotiation and implementation, consultation, impacts and benefits agreements, energy, and environmental matters. Lorraine has a Master's of Environmental Studies (with a concentration on northern Abo...
Dennis Langen practices regulatory law and litigation and has an in-depth knowledge of the energy industry. With a practice focused on oil and gas and electricity, Dennis assists clients in navigating energy regulatory regimes and frameworks in dynamic technical and business environments. He has extensive experience in the regulation of energy and infrastructure development, energy markets and energy services. He advises clients in respect of federal and provincial regulation of infrastructur...
Rob Lonergan is a recognized environmental law lawyer practicing in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Environmental assessment and environmental, energy and transportation regulation and litigation are Rob’s specialties. He also has experience in Indigenous litigation. He acts principally for energy companies, public utilities and resource oil and gas companies, marine terminal operators, commercial carriers (rail, truck and marine), and mining companies.
Michael Manhas is a litigation, administrative law, and regulatory lawyer. He focuses on matters relating to the environment, energy, natural resources, economic regulation, and Indigenous law. Michael regularly represents clients before courts in British Columbia and Alberta, and has extensive experience in administrative proceedings before tribunals, including the British Columbia and Alberta Utilities Commissions, the Environmental Appeal Board, the National Energy Board, the Forest Appeal...
Christopher is a Partner practicing in the Firm’s Saskatoon office where he maintains a commercial transactions and project development practice focusing on Saskatchewan key economic sectors – energy, natural resources and agricultural. Chris Masich is a partner at McKercher LLP focused on acquisitions, divestitures, business transactions, project development, and project finance in Saskatchewan’s key economic sectors – energy, renewable energy, mining, natural resourc...
Marc McAree, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., M.E.S., is a partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP and certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario.Marc provides advice and solutions to a wide range of clients to overcome their environmental law and litigation issues. Marc has significant environmental law expertise in contaminated land/brownfields clean ups, transactions and litigation, and environmental compliance and approvals. Marc also helps clients re...
Rod Northey is a partner in the Toronto office of the firm and a member of the firm’s Environmental Law Group. He is in his 29th year of private practice and certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in environmental law. Rod's practice focuses on regulatory approvals, hearings and appeals across the full range of approval regimes involving the environment — including environmental assessment, land use, endangered species, cultural heritage, energy, resource ext...
Jennifer advises clients on environmental, Indigenous, and real property law matters in natural resource, transportation and other industry sectors. Jennifer represents clients involved in environmental assessment and major project permitting for a wide variety of projects and project expansions, providing advice as needed throughout the regulatory process and during development, operations and closure. These projects include mines, electrical generation and transmission projects, other linea...
Kevin O'Callaghan is a respected litigator in British Columbia and Leader of the firm’s Indigenous Law group. He is also the regional Lead for the Corporate Social Responsibility Law group. Providing strategic advice on indigenous, regulatory, environmental and other corporate social responsibility issues, Kevin advises clients throughout Western and Northern Canada, and around the world. Kevin provides strategic advice on managing projects through environmental assessment and consultat...
Mark Oulton is senior litigation counsel practicing general commercial and administrative litigation with a focus on forestry related matters. For over 20 years, Mark has appeared regularly as counsel before the Forest Appeals Commission, all levels of the British Columbia Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also has an active commercial arbitration and mediation practice, representing clients in all manner of disputes. Mark’s focus is on solving his clients’ problems, whet...
Guillaume Pelegrin's practice covers all aspects of public and administrative law. He helps his clients achieve compliance in complex regulatory environments, assists them in obtaining permits and authorizations, and represents them in litigation before all levels of court in civil, administrative, criminal and expropriation matter. His practice focuses mainly on environmental, municipal, constitutional, access to information and transportation issues for businesses in the natural resources, ...
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