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Find Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Administrative and Public Law
Practice Area Overview
The subject matter within the scope of administrative and public law is broad and diverse. Generally, “public law” refers to the areas of law that govern relationships between individuals and their governments, as well as those relationships between individuals that are of importance to society as a whole. It is an umbrella term encompassing such areas as constitutional law, competition law, professional discipline, aboriginal law, energy law, municipal law, health law, human rights law, immigration law, labour law, environmental law, information and privacy law, securities law, competition law, public inquiries, inquests, and professional regulation.
All of these fields have an administrative law component. “Administrative law” refers to the area of law that regulates the procedures and powers of administrative agencies, boards, and tribunals which exercise delegated authority in the various spheres of public law.
Administrative and public law lawyers help clients navigate the complex web of legal institutions that regulate their personal and business activities. As a starting point, this includes helping clients understand how their activities are regulated, as well as how to navigate the bureaucracy created by statutes and regulations and how to comply with legislation as well as agency, board, and tribunal policies. This may involve compliance advice, obtaining a permit or license, representing clients at regulatory hearings, and providing strategic advice to achieve business objectives.
At the enforcement stage, administrative and public lawyers represent clients being investigated by public authorities, and defend clients in hearings involving allegations of non-compliance before adjudicative tribunals as well as in courts, inquests and inquiries. Lawyers also assist clients challenging decisions or actions taken by governments, agencies, and tribunals. Where a client is dissatisfied with an expert tribunal’s decision, administrative and public lawyers may assist clients in appeals and judicial reviews of the administrative body’s decision.
Some lawyers practicing administrative and public law have general experience navigating the legal institutions by which governments impose rules, provide policy and strategic advice, or represent clients in hearings and in courts. Others have very specialized expertise in specific regulated spheres.
Philip Abbink, Hons BA, MA, JD, practices in the areas of professional regulation and labour law, primarily providing advocacy for health care professionals in grievance arbitrations and at professional Colleges. He also represents employees in investigations, quasi-criminal regulatory proceedings and at Coroners' Inquests. Philip is also the Co-managing Partner at Cavalluzzo. After earning a JD and a MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto, Phil articled at Cavalluzzo. D...
Jeff has extensive experience advising Unions on an ongoing basis. He practises before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the courts, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, at arbitration hearings and inquests. He also practises in the fields of privacy and wrongful dismissal. Jeff is the Past Chair of the Labour and Employment Law Section of the Ontario Bar Assoc...
For over 30 years, trade unions have relied on Steven Barrett to represent their interests, and the interests of their members, in all types of legal proceedings. Grievance and interest arbitration, labour relations board applications, collective bargaining – Steven does it all and makes it look easy. That’s why a member of parliament once referred to Steven as “the Wayne Gretzky of labour law”. From protecting the scope of bargaining unit work, to challenging discipli...
With a practice spanning Canada and the US, Simon focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, directors’ and officers’ liability, securities litigation, class actions, and professional negligence. Simon represents a broad range of clients, including various regulated professionals, directors and officers, oppressed shareholders, and public and private companies. Simon delivers results, both in and out of the courtroom. He has a robust trial and appellate practice, appearing re...
Danielle is a partner with Cavalluzzo LLP practising in the areas of workers’ and Indigenous rights, equality, health and Aboriginal law. She is also the Chair of the firm’s Student Committee. She represents unions and associations, regulated professionals including nurses and midwives, and First Nations in diverse contexts including labour disputes, government relations, human rights and constitutional law, health equity, pay equity, professional regulation, judicial reviews and ...
Amy Block is a Partner in the Regulatory Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP whose practice is focused on professional self-regulation, administrative and public law, and civil litigation. Prior to joining WeirFoulds, Amy was Senior Legal Counsel and Appeal & Review Lead for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. In this role, Amy built considerable experience over the course of 15 years litigating a wide variety of matters including conducting complex hearings involving allegati...
During his practice of over 40 years, Alan Bromstein has come to be recognized by his clients as an expert in matters relating to Regulated Health Professions (Colleges). His work has included the preparation of regulations, bylaws, policies, procedures, rules and submissions to government. Alan has had the privilege of advising Councils (Boards of Directors), Statutory and Standing Committees and College staff to assist them in meeting their public protection mandate. Although his current pr...
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...
As the senior partner in his firm, Paul is a leading constitutional, labour and administrative law lawyer, arguing significant cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Courts of Ontario, and labour and administrative tribunals. Paul was appointed by Associate Chief Justice Dennis O'Connor to act as lead commission counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar. Previously, Paul acted as lead commission counsel in the Walkerton Inquir...
Shantona co-founded Pape Chaudhury in 2018. She represents both individual and institutional clients in civil and commercial disputes. Her practice includes commercial litigation, class actions, torts, professional discipline, professional negligence, administrative, constitutional, and public international law. Shantona has considerable expertise in appeals: she has been counsel in over 30 cases at the Ontario Court of Appeal and has successfully argued at the Supreme Court of Canada. She al...
Jeff Cowan is recognized as one of Canada's leading public law litigators. He acts as counsel before administrative tribunals and the trial and appellate courts in many aspects of public law, including professional self-regulation and discipline, judicial review of government decision-making, freedom of information and privacy matters, municipal and provincial planning and environmental approvals, municipal assessment and taxation, health, education, alcohol and gaming, legislative drafting a...
Brian Crane is a partner in Gowlings' Ottawa office. As senior member of Gowlings' Advocacy Law Group, he practises in constitutional, administrative and Aboriginal law. Brian appears as counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Ontario Courts. He has worked extensively in the negotiation of native land claims and self-government agreements and related litigation, and in arbitration and mediation. An active member of the Canadian Bar Association, Brian has chaired ...
Christine Davies is a labour lawyer and civil litigator in Goldblatt Partners' Toronto office. She is known for her tenacious commitment to getting clients the best possible result. A skilled litigator who started her career as a research lawyer, Christine now has one of the broadest practices at the firm. She is equally comfortable before labour arbitrators and administrative tribunals as she is before the civil courts. Christine’s labour practice includes representing unions and their...
Kelly Doctor has the smarts to see all possible solutions, and the heart and practical intuition to reach the best ones for her clients. She’s driven to fight for the rights of people experiencing disadvantage and discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere in their lives. While she loves to litigate, she also works quietly behind the scenes to advise clients on how to handle difficult situations in the workplace and negotiate resolutions to them. A former Supreme Court of Canada law ...
Jill Dougherty has over 20 years of experience acting on behalf of both private and public sector clients. She appears regularly as counsel before the trial and appellate courts and administrative tribunals in many aspects of public law. Jill specializes in public law and civil litigation focusing on professional self-regulation and discipline, judicial review of government decision-making, alcohol and gaming, access to information and privacy, municipal and provincial planning approvals and ...
Jackie practices in the areas of Labour, Constitutional, Public Law and Indigenous Rights. She has litigated at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also appeared before many administrative tribunals. With an extensive background in writing policy, Jackie has written many policy submissions aimed at government, inquiries and public advocacy. She was also a researcher and writer for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final rep...
Rated by Martindale-Hubbell as AV-Preeminent (highest rating) in litigation, commercial law and regulatory law, named one of Canada’s top 50 trial lawyers by Benchmark Litigation, listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada and Chambers Canada, Andrew has extensive trial and appellate experience before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Andrew is regularly chosen by nationally-recognized corporations, institutions and individuals to assist in complex commercial, regula...
Bryan Finlay KC is recognized as one of the top litigation lawyers in Canada. Bryan's counsel practice is broad and has engaged the most complex commercial, constitutional, tort and public law issues. These have included issues of corporate espionage, spoliation, fraud, shareholder rights, directors' and officers' responsibilities, financial reporting obligations, responsibilities and obligations of government and its various agencies, securities regulation, fiduciary obligations, defamation,...
Paul Fruitman’s commercial litigation practice focuses on contract disputes, health law, real estate, departing employee cases, shareholder disputes and product liability. He has extensive experience acting for healthcare institutions and professionals in civil and regulatory proceedings. He also regularly acts as counsel to corporate directors and officers and in shareholder disputes and oppression claims. Paul has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court and the F...
Guy Giorno leads the firm’s Political Law practice. He advises clients on lobbyist registration, government accountability and ethics, public-sector conflict of interest and government procurement. Former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada, Guy remains an active, influential force in shaping lobbyist registration laws in Canada. Widely recognized as Canada’s leading expert in lobbying law, Guy regularly represents corporate executives and lobbyists in enforcement proce...
Jordan has acted for clients before judges, juries and arbitrators throughout Ontario. He represents licensed professionals, professional associations, insurance companies, and both private and public corporations across issues spanning general commercial, tort, professional responsibility, administrative and public law litigation. In particular, Jordan: routinely advises corporations on all manner of disputes, including corporate governance and commercial litigation engagements; was lead cou...
Matthew Gottlieb practises business litigation including corporate and commercial disputes, insolvency and restructuring and fraud and securities litigation. Matt’s extensive track record of success in complex, high-stakes disputes explains why he has been recognized as one of Canada’s top litigation lawyers. He has significant expertise in trials, applications, tribunals and arbitrations and regularly appears at all levels of court in Ontario and other provinces, the Federal Cour...
David Jacobs is a senior partner at the firm of Watson Jacobs Bosnick LLP and has practiced litigation for over 39 years in the areas of labour relations, human rights, health law, professional regulation and discipline, administrative law, insolvency law, constitutional law, criminal law, international criminal and humanitarian law, civil litigation and employment law, among others. He represents tribunals, unions, organisations, and individuals before boards and courts at all levels in Cana...
Ben Kates is a litigation partner in the Regulated Professions and Industries Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP. Ben’s practice straddles administrative and civil law. Ben provides advice and counsel to a number of industry regulators, and also practises civil litigation for public and private sector clients. Ben is experienced in civil, corporate-commercial, and administrative matters, having handled corporate and contractual disputes, as well as professional liability, media and defama...
Lara’s practice encompasses Indigenous laws and governance work, Aboriginal and Treaty rights litigation, and constitutional and public law litigation with a focus on equality rights and anti-discrimination law and policy matters. Lara works with First Nations on lands and resource issues and is passionate about advancing Indigenous land and water stewardship, including through Guardians and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) initiatives. Lara has a background in internation...
Josh Koziebrocki is the principal lawyer and founder of Koziebrocki Law. Josh is an experienced litigation lawyer and advocate who has appeared extensively before courts, tribunals, and regulatory bodies. His practice focuses on defending professionals in regulatory and disciplinary proceedings. He works with professionals in difficult and challenging situations involving their license to practice. Josh has represented countless professionals before licensing bodies from the complaint process...
Paul's practice includes corporate commercial litigation, securities litigation, class proceedings, professional liability, claims against directors and officers, employment litigation and professional liability and regulation. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by The Law Society of Upper Canada. Bilingual, argues cases in English and French before all levels of Court as well as trib...
Described by his peers as ‘the gold standard in this space, a phenomenal litigator’, for more than thirty years Jonathan has won landmark decisions across a broad variety of subject matter including competition law, constitutional law, liability of public authorities, professional liability, criminal law, financial services, franchise law and contract disputes. He has tried over 90 cases to judgment and argued over 55 appeals in provincial appellate courts and the Supreme Court of...
Andrew practices in the areas of constitutional law, appeals, administrative law, labour and employment law, and pension litigation. He clerked for Madam Justice (now Chief Justice) Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989-90. Prior to joining Paliare Roland, he worked at a national law firm, and taught law at Ottawa University and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He has appeared in more than 20 cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, and regularly appears before ...
Senwung Luk is a partner at OKT. He has appeared in different levels of court and tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada and various courts of appeal, representing Indigenous clients fighting for their rights. He focuses on the protection of sacred spaces and cultural sites, in asserting treaty rights, in on-reserve service delivery, and in the duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous communities. He has published a number of peer-reviewed articles on the Crown's fiduciary obligat...
Richard was called to the Bar in 1993, and has extensive experience in a broad range of litigation cases including; contract, shareholders, real estate, condominium, employment, construction, defamation and other disputes. Richard has also developed considerable experience in government litigation including: coroner’s inquests, licencing, general administrative, Indigenous and constitutional law. In addition to extensive trial experience, Richard appears regularly in appeal courts and h...
Ian Mathany was a partner at one of the largest law firms in Canada prior to starting Mathany & Higgs Law with Christel Higgs in 2018. Ian’s practice is focused on real property litigation with an emphasis on expropriation law. Ian appears frequently at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and at the Board of Negotiation in expropriation cases and has significant experience assisting public sector clients, including transit authorities, local and upper tier municipalities, and private...
Kate McGrann provides her clients with pragmatic and strategic representation on matters including complex corporate/commercial, securities, and administrative and public law issues. She has represented clients at all levels of the Court in Ontario, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and before regulatory tribunals including the Ontario Securities Commission and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) (formerly, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and ...
Debra McKenna is a litigation partner and the Chair of the Professional Self-Regulatory Bodies Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP. Debra’s practice is focused on professional self-regulation and civil litigation. She provides strategic advice and acts as counsel for a number of regulatory bodies, as well as public and private sector clients, in relation to regulatory issues, complaints and discipline, and civil litigation matters. She has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, includ...
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