Bio
John Georgakopoulos resolves complex environmental legal issues for clients, uniquely drawing on his technical knowledge as a former senior environmental scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. John is called to the bars of Ontario and Alberta.
Environmental Risk and Liability Protection
John advises corporations, directors and officers on environmental risks and liabilities regarding real estate and corporate/commercial transactions. He has particular expertise advising industrial manufacturers, property developers and REITs about brownfields and contaminated land. John’s strategic advice helps protect clients against corporate and personal environmental liabilities including civil claims, regulatory orders, prosecutions and fines.
Regulatory Approvals and Compliance
John guides clients through the complex regulatory environment, assisting with regulatory approvals for air, waste and water. He provides strategic advice to help clients maintain compliance with environmental laws. John negotiates with regulators on behalf of clients to avoid or minimize regulatory action, including prosecutions, orders, fines and penalties. He assists clients with regulatory inspections and investigations.
Environmental Litigation
- Defence of environmental prosecutions
- Administrative appeals and hearings
- Environmental civil litigation
John represents clients in regulatory and civil proceedings about contaminated soil and groundwater, nuisance, air, noise, waste and odour issues. John appears before Ontario courts and tribunals. He is also retained by litigation counsel as an environmental expert.
Clean Tech, Climate Change, and Emissions Trading
John advises clients on importing and exporting of new products and substances, and on emissions trading and greenhouse gas reporting.
Prior Environmental Experience
Prior to becoming a lawyer, John was a senior environmental scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).
At the MOECC, John twice received the Ministry’s Emerald Award for superior quality service and environmental protection.
Clients
Industrial corporations, including waste management, food processing, petroleum processing, steel manufacturing, auto manufacturing and chemical manufacturing
- Real estate investment trusts (REITs) & portfolio companies
- Land developers, property owners, landlords, tenants
- Directors and officers and other individuals
- Corporate and commercial lawyers
- Financial institutions and insurers
- Estates and estate trustees
- Transit authorities
- Municipalities
- Mining & exploration companies
Representative Work
Environmental Risk and Liability Protection
- Environmental Due Diligence on Share Purchase—Provided strategic legal advice to a multinational industrial client on a $1.65 billion share purchase. Represented the client during negotiations concerning environmental risks and liabilities associated with complex industrial facilities impacting the transaction.
- Strategic Environmental Law Advice for a REIT—Advising a real estate investment trust with a portfolio value of approximately $2 billion about environmental risks and liabilities associated with its portfolio. Created action plan for addressing and ranking environmental issues and setting priorities for action to deal with environmental risks and liabilities as part of the client’s environmental management program.
- Procurement of Financing to Develop Contaminated Site—Assisted a developer client to obtain $10 million in construction financing for commercial development on contaminated land. Prepared submission to lender explaining potential exposure to environmental liability associated with the transaction.
- Municipal Acquisition of Federal Harbour—Advised a municipality about potential environmental risks, obligations and liabilities (civil and regulatory) associated with the client’s acquisition of a federal harbour with contamination issues. Advised on environmental terms to be negotiated in the divestiture agreement to address environmental liability.
- Environmental Law Advice to Estate and Estate Trustees—Provided environmental legal advice to estates and estate trustees to minimize and manage environmental liabilities associated with contaminated property held by the estate.
Regulatory Approvals and Compliance
- Environmental Regulatory Compliance Advice to Major Petroleum Company—Advised a multinational oil and gas company about responding to complex regulatory matters concerning industrial environmental approvals. Responded to regulatory investigations and neighbouring complaints. Guided client through inspections, investigations and requirements by the environmental regulator, resulting in the client avoiding regulatory enforcement action.
- Environmental Regulatory Advice to International Steel Manufacturer—Advising a steel manufacturing client about regulatory requirements for air, noise, odour and waste management issues. Assisting client to obtain regulatory approvals including an Environmental Compliance Approval for an on-site landfill.
- Response to Federal Investigations of On–Road and Off-Road Vehicle and Engine Importers—Represented on-road and off-road engine and vehicle importers during investigations about compliance with federal air emissions standards. Prepared due diligence submissions, resulting in closure of the investigations without regulatory prosecution.
Environmental Litigation
- Defence of ECA Appeal Before the Environmental Review Tribunal—Defending the appeal of a client’s Environmental Compliance Approval for a wastewater treatment system and stormwater system before Ontario’s ERT.
- Appeal of ECAs for Food Manufacturers—Representing multiple food manufacturing clients to oppose the issuance of Environmental Compliance Approvals to a neighbouring industrial operation with high environmental risk.
- Settlement of Environmental Civil Litigation About Contaminant Migration—Represented commercial property owners to negotiate a settlement in favour of the clients in excess of $1 million for migration of contamination from a former gas station onto the clients’ properties.