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Environment • Aboriginal • Energy

Richard Butler

Partner

T: 416-862-4837  E: rbutler@willmsshier.com

Bio

Richard Butler provides effective advocacy and creative solutions to help clients meet their goals. Richard is a partner in the firm’s litigation group, focusing on environmental and natural resource law. He represents parties in civil lawsuits and in regulatory proceedings, including defense of prosecutions. Richard is called to the bar of Ontario.

Environmental Litigation

Richard represents clients before the Superior court of Justice in trial, appellate and bankruptcy proceedings, the Court of Appeal, and tribunals including Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal and the Mining and Lands Commissioner.

  • Defends environmental charges, under the Provincial Offences Act, in environmental and mining matters.
  • Litigates contaminated land and other environmental disputes before all levels of Ontario’s Courts.
  • Protects clients’ interests in land and resources, including mining claims, leases, option agreements and joint ventures.
  • Advises on regulatory requirements for product liability, product recalls and risk management.
  • Involved in appeals and environmental assessment proceedings.

Environmental Law

  • Deals with regulators on spills, discharges, contaminated land and waste issues.
  • Advises on environmental law aspects of business transactions, including the purchase and sale of brownfields and contaminated land.
  • Provides compliance and permitting advice, including Mining, Agricultural and Food clients, and construction and infrastructure.

Prior Environmental Experience

Richard has multiple degrees in environmental sciences and prior experience as an environmental consultant:

  • Worked with Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the Great Lakes environmental indicators program.
  • Helped coordinate Toronto’s community workshops for waterfront parks and consulted with stakeholders on Toronto’s pesticide by-law.

Clients

  • Industrial and manufacturing companies, including food producers and waste generators
  • Mining, exploration and aggregates
  • Land developers, property owners, landlords, tenants
  • Construction sector
  • Insurers and financial institutions
  • Municipalities
  • Renewable energy sector
  • Directors, officers and other individuals

Representative Work

Civil Litigation

  • Damage Control for Storage Tank Spill—Acted for a large industrial manufacturer, assisting with the environmental investigation and remediation of a spill from an onsite underground storage tank. Assisted with the ongoing monitoring and remediation of groundwater, resolved civil litigation with neighbours, and responded to a regulatory Order for remediation and monitoring.
  • Insurance Coverage Opinion—Provided an opinion on the underwriter’s duty to defend and duty to indemnify. Examined facts for contaminated land and allegations of groundwater contamination onto neighbouring properties. Reviewed insurance contract to determine a cost-effective response.
  • Protecting Mining Tenure—Represented a mining and exploration client to protect its interest in mining claims in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario. Successfully resisted a challenge to the validity of the mining claims and maintained the client’s mining tenure.
  • Contamination at Former Industrial Site—Defended a multi-national industrial client with a former industrial property. Responded to allegations of soil and groundwater contamination, resulting in the withdrawal of the claim against the client.
  • Migration of Petroleum Hydrocarbons—Represented a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit for PHC contamination that migrated to client’s property from a former gas station. Managed environmental investigations and remediation.

Defence of Environmental Regulatory Prosecutions 

  • Management of Investigation—Acted for a large-scale meat packaging company over the condition and operation of its facilities, including responding to CFIA and Ministry of the Environment inquiries.  Able to avoid prosecution through negotiation with regulatory agencies.
  • Discharge of Gas—Defending a construction company against charges under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act for the discharge of gas. Representing the client before the Ontario Court of Justice, including settlement negotiations.
  • Resolution of Alleged Sewer Discharge—Represented a condominium developer against allegations of sewer discharge. Negotiated a resolution that included minimizing the number of charges and reduced fines per charge.
  • Reduced Fine for Waste—Defending charges against a client in Western Canada operating in Ontario. Successfully negotiated minimal fine for charges relating to biomedical/pathogenic waste.

Administrative Appeals & Hearings

  • Waste Management—Represented a municipality before Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal, appealing an Order for remediation.
  • Mine Closure Plan for Tailings—Represented a mining company before the Ontario Mining and Lands Commissioner to successfully appeal a Mine Closure Order by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Amending forms of Order.
  • Noise and Vibration—Represented a transit authority with noise and vibration issues. Assisted with complex investigations of infrastructure to ensure ongoing compliance reporting obligations to the environmental regulator.

Environmental & Natural Resource Law

  • Brownfield Environmental Risk Assessment—Assisted with the pre-purchase due diligence of contaminated property. Reviewed Phase One and Phase Two Environmental Site Assessments to assist client with risk analysis and remediation costs.
  • Environmental Risk Management for REIT—Provided legal advice to a Real Estate Investment Trust on one of its portfolio properties. Advised the client on potential environmental liabilities, including regulatory and civil liability, associated with contaminated property. Supported the client during investigations and remediation.

 

 

 

 

Recognition

Organizations

  • Law Society of Ontario—member
  • The Advocates’ Society—member
  • Canadian Bar Association—member
  • Ontario Bar Association—member
  • Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada—member
  • Defence Research Institute—member
  • Scouts Canada—volunteer and colony leader

 

Speaking Engagements

April 08, 2024

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2024 Roundtables

More
January 25, 2024

Western University Guest Lecture - Environmental Legal Issues in Mining

More
May 04, 2023

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2023 Roundtables

More
March 07, 2023

PDAC 2023 Convention

More
November 05, 2022

Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference

More
September 21, 2022 to September 22, 2022

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2022

More
May 17, 2022

Law Society of Ontario 12th Business Law Summit - ESG: What Business Lawyers Need to Know

More
December 01, 2021

Grow Up Conference & Expo

More
December 07, 2021

OBA Program - ESG and Corporate Governance in Natural Resources and Energy Law

More
May 10, 2021

The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer - Protect, Support, and Recover…and Build? The New Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act

More
May 07, 2021

The Advocates' Society - Virtual Client Management throughout the Lifecycle of Litigation

More
May 13, 2020

CANECT 2020 - Water & Wastewater Regulation and Compliance

More
April 20, 2020 to April 21, 2020

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2020: Roundtable Discussions

More
January 23, 2020

SMART Remediation Seminar Series 2020 - Toronto Conference

More
November 26, 2019

Bureau Veritas Laboratories - National Science Summit

More
October 23, 2019

A&WMA OVC Workshop - Cannabis in Canada, Clearing the Air (and Waste)

More
October 10, 2019

Waste & Recycling Expo - The Highs and the Lows of the Cannabis Industry

More
September 13, 2019

Grow Up Conference - Waiting to Exhale: Cannabis in Canada - The Potential Environmental Impacts and the Regulatory Landscape

More
June 25, 2019

A&WMA's 112th Annual Conference & Exhibition

More
April 30, 2019

CIM Convention 2019

More
May 08, 2019

CANECT 2019 - Managing Industrial Air Emissions: Air, GHGs, Odour and Noise

More
March 27, 2019 to March 28, 2019

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2019: Roundtable Discussions

More
February 05, 2019

Ontario Bar Association Institute - Consultation, Consent & Shared Decision-Making

More
March 26, 2019

Ontario Bar Association - Beyond the Construction Act: Other Legal Updates for Construction Lawyers

More
October 01, 2018

OBA Civil Litigation Law Program - Succeeding in Motions and Applications

More
April 30, 2018 to May 01, 2018

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2018: Roundtable Discussions

More
May 07, 2018

The Law Society of Ontario: The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer 2018

More
May 10, 2018

CANECT 2018 - Managing Water & Wastewater Issues

More
February 06, 2018

OBA Institute - Hot Topics for Infrastructure and Development Projects: Avoiding Environmental Pitfalls and Mitigating Risks

More
October 04, 2017

The Law Society of Upper Canada: The Six-Minute Environmental Lawyer 2017

More
November 02, 2017 to November 04, 2017

2nd Annual National Conference on Food Law and Policy in Canada

More
May 03, 2017

CANECT 2017 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
April 26, 2016 to April 27, 2016

CANECT 2016 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
April 29, 2015

CANECT 2015 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
November 26, 2014

Envirogate 2014: Water & Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
April 30, 2014

CANECT 2014: Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
February 12, 2014

Toronto Construction Association: Environmental Law - Pitfalls, Perils & Risk Management

More
November 26, 2013

Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence, Envirogate

More

Articles

April 08, 2024

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2024 Roundtables

More
January 23, 2024

Western University Guest Lecture - Environmental Legal Issues in Mining

More
March 28, 2023

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2023 Roundtables

More
March 07, 2023

PDAC 2023 Convention

More
November 05, 2022

Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference

More
September 21, 2022

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2022

More
May 17, 2022

Law Society of Ontario 12th Business Law Summit - ESG: What Business Lawyers Need to Know

More
December 01, 2021

Grow Up Conference & Expo

More
November 24, 2021

OBA Program - ESG and Corporate Governance in Natural Resources and Energy Law

More
May 10, 2021

The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer - Protect, Support, and Recover…and Build? The New Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act

More
May 07, 2021

The Advocates' Society - Virtual Client Management throughout the Lifecycle of Litigation

More
March 12, 2020

CANECT 2020 - Water & Wastewater Regulation and Compliance

More
March 12, 2020

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2020: Roundtable Discussions

More
January 23, 2020

SMART Remediation Seminar Series 2020 - Toronto Conference

More
November 26, 2019

Bureau Veritas Laboratories - National Science Summit

More
October 23, 2019

A&WMA OVC Workshop - Cannabis in Canada, Clearing the Air (and Waste)

More
October 10, 2019

Waste & Recycling Expo - The Highs and the Lows of the Cannabis Industry

More
August 29, 2019

Grow Up Conference - Waiting to Exhale: Cannabis in Canada - The Potential Environmental Impacts and the Regulatory Landscape

More
June 19, 2019

A&WMA's 112th Annual Conference & Exhibition

More
April 26, 2019

CIM Convention 2019

More
April 03, 2019

CANECT 2019 - Managing Industrial Air Emissions: Air, GHGs, Odour and Noise

More
February 26, 2019

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2019: Roundtable Discussions

More
February 05, 2019

Ontario Bar Association Institute - Consultation, Consent & Shared Decision-Making

More
February 05, 2019

Ontario Bar Association - Beyond the Construction Act: Other Legal Updates for Construction Lawyers

More
September 24, 2018

OBA Civil Litigation Law Program - Succeeding in Motions and Applications

More
May 16, 2018

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2018: Roundtable Discussions

More
April 26, 2018

The Law Society of Ontario: The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer 2018

More
March 22, 2018

CANECT 2018 - Managing Water & Wastewater Issues

More
January 30, 2018

OBA Institute - Hot Topics for Infrastructure and Development Projects: Avoiding Environmental Pitfalls and Mitigating Risks

More
September 19, 2017

The Law Society of Upper Canada: The Six-Minute Environmental Lawyer 2017

More
September 19, 2017

2nd Annual National Conference on Food Law and Policy in Canada

More
April 04, 2017

CANECT 2017 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
April 21, 2016

CANECT 2016 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
January 27, 2015

CANECT 2015 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
October 29, 2014

Envirogate 2014: Water & Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
February 26, 2014

CANECT 2014: Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
February 03, 2014

Toronto Construction Association: Environmental Law - Pitfalls, Perils & Risk Management

More
September 25, 2013

Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence, Envirogate

More

A Shield or a Sword?, Canada’s New Proposed Consumer Product Legislation, co-authored with P. Pliszka, Westlaw Journal Products Liability, Vol.21, Issue 12, Andrews Publications January 2011

A Shield or a Sword?, Canada’s New Proposed Consumer Product Legislation, co-authored with P. Pliszka, Lexpert, December 13, 2010

Has the Province of Ontario Downloaded the Duty to Consult with Canada’s First Nations, Conference Paper, International Bar Association Annual Conference October 2009

Canada Gets Serious About Consumer-Product Safety, co-authored with Peter Pliszka, The National Law Journal May 25, 2009

The Proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act: Beware the “CPSC of the North”, International Association of Defense Counsel, Product Liability Committee Newsletter October 2008

Assisted with revisions to: J. Falconer and P. Pliszka, Annotated Coroners Act, 2nd ed. (Toronto: Butterworths)  2007/2008

Mandatory Orders - When Protecting Justiciable Rights Requires Positive Action, co-authored with J. Kaufman, presented at the Ontario Bar Association - Remedies Fast Forward October 2007

News

April 08, 2024

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2024 Roundtables

More
January 23, 2024

Western University Guest Lecture - Environmental Legal Issues in Mining

More
March 28, 2023

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2023 Roundtables

More
March 07, 2023

PDAC 2023 Convention

More
November 05, 2022

Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference

More
September 21, 2022

ICSC Canadian Law Conference 2022

More
May 17, 2022

Law Society of Ontario 12th Business Law Summit - ESG: What Business Lawyers Need to Know

More
December 01, 2021

Grow Up Conference & Expo

More
November 24, 2021

OBA Program - ESG and Corporate Governance in Natural Resources and Energy Law

More
May 10, 2021

The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer - Protect, Support, and Recover…and Build? The New Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act

More
May 07, 2021

The Advocates' Society - Virtual Client Management throughout the Lifecycle of Litigation

More
March 12, 2020

CANECT 2020 - Water & Wastewater Regulation and Compliance

More
March 12, 2020

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2020: Roundtable Discussions

More
January 23, 2020

SMART Remediation Seminar Series 2020 - Toronto Conference

More
November 26, 2019

Bureau Veritas Laboratories - National Science Summit

More
October 23, 2019

A&WMA OVC Workshop - Cannabis in Canada, Clearing the Air (and Waste)

More
October 10, 2019

Waste & Recycling Expo - The Highs and the Lows of the Cannabis Industry

More
August 29, 2019

Grow Up Conference - Waiting to Exhale: Cannabis in Canada - The Potential Environmental Impacts and the Regulatory Landscape

More
June 19, 2019

A&WMA's 112th Annual Conference & Exhibition

More
April 26, 2019

CIM Convention 2019

More
April 03, 2019

CANECT 2019 - Managing Industrial Air Emissions: Air, GHGs, Odour and Noise

More
February 26, 2019

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2019: Roundtable Discussions

More
February 05, 2019

Ontario Bar Association Institute - Consultation, Consent & Shared Decision-Making

More
February 05, 2019

Ontario Bar Association - Beyond the Construction Act: Other Legal Updates for Construction Lawyers

More
September 24, 2018

OBA Civil Litigation Law Program - Succeeding in Motions and Applications

More
May 16, 2018

ICSC Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference 2018: Roundtable Discussions

More
April 26, 2018

The Law Society of Ontario: The Six-Minute Municipal Lawyer 2018

More
March 22, 2018

CANECT 2018 - Managing Water & Wastewater Issues

More
January 30, 2018

OBA Institute - Hot Topics for Infrastructure and Development Projects: Avoiding Environmental Pitfalls and Mitigating Risks

More
September 19, 2017

The Law Society of Upper Canada: The Six-Minute Environmental Lawyer 2017

More
September 19, 2017

2nd Annual National Conference on Food Law and Policy in Canada

More
April 04, 2017

CANECT 2017 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
April 21, 2016

CANECT 2016 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
January 27, 2015

CANECT 2015 - Water and Wastewater: Regulation and Compliance

More
October 29, 2014

Envirogate 2014: Water & Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
February 26, 2014

CANECT 2014: Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence

More
February 03, 2014

Toronto Construction Association: Environmental Law - Pitfalls, Perils & Risk Management

More
September 25, 2013

Water and Wastewater: Compliance and Due Diligence, Envirogate

More

Education

  • Called to the Ontario Bar (2006)
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (2005)
  • M.Sc., Environmental Geography, Queen’s University (2001)
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Environmental Science, Queen’s University (1998)

 

Expertise

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

Judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice