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Environment • Aboriginal • Energy

Alessia Petricone-Westwood

Associate

T: 416-642-4874  E: APetricone-Westwood@willmsshier.com

Bio

Alessia Petricone-Westwood is senior associate lawyer practicing in the areas of environmental law and environmental litigation.  Alessia has extensive experience with all aspects of civil litigation.  

Alessia joins Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers in our firm’s Toronto office as a litigation lawyer.  Prior to our firm, Alessia litigated a wide range of civil litigation matters at a leading law firm in Ottawa since her call to the bar in 2015.

Alessia obtained her law degree at the University of Ottawa, finishing in the top ten of her class.  While in law school, Alessia was heavily involved with the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic.  She has also acted as a mentor with the Women’s Legal Mentorship Program.

Alessia has appeared before administrative tribunals and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Environmental Litigation

Alessia was drawn to the practice of law to be an advocate.  She enjoys the problem-solving aspect of law, and the challenge of thoughtfully and effectively resolving issues.  She advocates environmental matters for clients as follows (i) environmental civil litigation, (ii) administrative appeals of environmental orders and approvals, and (ii) defence of environmental prosecutions.

Clients

  • Individuals
  • Industrial companies
  • Insurers and financial institutions
  • Land developers, property owners, landlords, and tenants
  • Construction companies
  • Waste management companies
  • Engineering and consulting firms
  • Municipalities

Representative Work

  • Defence of Garage Owner in Civil Claim—With co-counsel, successfully defended a garage owner in a four-day civil trial involving alleged damages associated with an accident at the garage owner’s property.
  • Representation of Individuals in Civil Claims—Assisted individuals who sustained damages following motor vehicle accidents, including (i) preparing written submissions to an administrative tribunal that resulted in a precedent-setting decision about the retrospective application of statutory accident benefits legislation, and (ii) preparing motions for production of documents.
  • Defence of Construction Company in Civil Claim—Assisted a construction company to defend a civil claim involving alleged damages associated with a construction project, which included the preparation and exchange of all pleadings and running examinations for discovery.
  • Defence of Snow Removal Company in Civil Claim—Assisted a snow removal company to defend a civil claim involving alleged damages following a slip and fall, which included preparing a mediation brief and attending mediation with co-counsel.
  • Representation of School Board in Civil Claim—Assisted a school board to defend a civil claim involving alleged damages associated with a sporting event, which included preparing materials for a summary judgment motion to strike the claim based on an expired limitation period.

Recognition

Organizations

  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA)—member
  • Ontario Bar Association (OBA)—member
  • The Advocates' Societymember
  • The Law Society of Ontariomember
  • Young Women in Lawmember

Speaking Engagements

March 06, 2024

Toronto Construction Association 2024 Course - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry

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March 06, 2024

OBA Environmental Law Program

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February 09, 2024

OBA Ontario Legal Conference - Environmental Case Law Update

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October 04, 2023

The Law Society of Ontario: The Eight-Minute Environmental Lawyer 2023

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May 10, 2023

CANECT 2023 - Due Diligence in Environmental Prosecutions: A Mock Trial

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March 01, 2023

Toronto Construction Association 2023 Course - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry

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September 12, 2022

The 25th Annual Short Course in Contaminated Site Management

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November 02, 2022

Toronto Construction Association (TCA) - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry

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April 28, 2022

CANECT 2022 - Due Diligence in Environmental Prosecutions: A Mock Trial

More
March 23, 2022

Toronto Construction Association Course - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry 2022

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October 27, 2021

Toronto Construction Association Course - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry

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February 25, 2021

SMART Remediation Seminar Series - Your Credibility Is On The Line: Examining Your Role As An Expert Witness

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February 24, 2021

Toronto Construction Association: Construction Law Course – Environmental Issues

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October 28, 2020

Toronto Construction Association - Environmental Law for the Construction Industry

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March 18, 2020

Toronto Construction Association Environmental Law Course

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April 20, 2020 to April 21, 2020

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2020: Roundtable Discussions

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March 24, 2020

Toronto Construction Association - An Environmental Law Primer For Ontario's Construction Industry

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November 26, 2019

Bureau Veritas Laboratories - National Science Summit

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Education

  • Called to the Bar of Ontario (2015)
  • J.D., (Dean's Honour List), University of Ottawa (2014)
  • M.A., Human Rights Studies, Columbia University (2011)
  • B.A. Political Science, International Development Studies History, McGill University (2008)

Expertise

"Willms & Shier is a bluechip environmental law firm."

Judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice