John is an associate with Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. John's practice includes advising clients on compliance with federal and provincial laws, defending prosecutions, tribunal hearings and litigation of environmental claims.

John’s previous career as an environmental scientist and consultant spanned six years, where he worked for both the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and Environment Canada. During that time he gained extensive experience with emissions inventories, estimation (point, area, and mobile source) and reporting under provincial and federal regimes in Canada, and various regimes in the US. John conducted complex technical analyses concerning emissions to air (toxic and smog causing pollutants, and GHGs), effluent discharges to water, and releases to land. He also prepared environmental reports, and assisted in the drafting of reporting guidelines and regulations. Further, he consulted with and led technical regulatory reporting seminars for Ontario industrial sectors (e.g. energy producers, petroleum producers, chemical producers, mining, and automotive manufacturers). While at the MOE, John also worked with US state representatives for the development of a regional, bi-national emissions inventory for the Great Lakes region. As well, in 2001 and 2002 John was a recipient of the MOE’s Emerald Award for superior quality service and environmental protection.

John obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. from the University of Toronto with a focus in environmental science, received his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008. John was a summer student at Willms & Shier for two years before returning to the firm as an associate. He articled with the Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO) where he gained real estate law and litigation experience.

• Called to the Bar of Ontario, 2008
• LL.B., University of Ottawa, 2007
• M.Sc., Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto, 1999
• B.Sc. (Honours), Environmental Science and Management, University of Toronto, 1997

• “Environmental Undertakings: Making the Deal Stick”, 6th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (Toronto: LSUC, April 2009) [Co-authored with Donna Shier]
• “Pitfalls of Dispersion Modelling Odour Emissions”, Influents (Spring 2009, Vol. 4) [Co-authored with Raj Bharati]
• “Commercial Lease Provisions: Allocating Liability for Contamination and Environmental Remediation”, The Six-Minute Commercial Leasing Lawyer (Toronto: LSUC, February 2009) [Co-authored with Marc McAree]
• “Direct Sales: A Common Challenge for Lawyers and Title Agents”, The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer (Toronto: LSUC, November 2007) [Co-authored with Kathleen Waters of LawPRO]
• Storage Tanks in Canada: The Guide to Environmental Regulation and Compliance (Toronto: Templegate Information Services Inc., 2006) [Editor, drafter and researcher for Douglas Petrie of W+SEL]
• “Monitoring and Regulation of Odours – An Oxymoron?” (Oak Brook, IL: Air and Waste Management Association Conference, 2005) [Co-authored with John Willms of W+SEL]
• “The Evolution of Air Emissions Inventories in Ontario, Canada” (Clearwater, FL: USEPA International Conference, 2004) [Co-authored with Peter Wong and Nicholas Ting of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment]
• 2001 Inventory of Toxic Air Emissions: Point, Area and Mobile Sources (Ann Arbor, MI: Great Lakes Commission/USEPA, 2004) [Co-editor and Author of the Ontario Chapter]

• Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations, Member, 2005 to present
• Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association, Member, 2005 to present
• Air & Waste Management Association, Member, 2008 to present