With a strong background and experience in civil litigation, William (Will) Totzke takes a practical, results-oriented approach to dispute resolution in the environmental law space. Will understands that no two cases are alike and clients require creative thinking and tailored solutions to achieve their objectives when navigating complex environmental legal issues.
Will has extensive experience representing clients in civil lawsuits, regulatory prosecutions, and judicial review matters at the Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice (including on the Commercial List), the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Federal Court. Will works with clients to identify and meet their individual and business needs in environmental litigation matters including contaminated property disputes, environmental nuisances and other torts, and investigations and prosecutions initiated under a broad range of Federal and Provincial environmental statutes. He assists clients through all stages of the dispute resolution process, from initial case assessment to the disposal of any appeals. Will works with clients across several industries to strategize and attain their best-case outcomes.
In the transactional space, Will advises clients by conducting environmental due diligence, drafting environmental terms in commercial agreements and leases, and assessing and explaining the environmental risks that may impact his clients’ business interests.
He is also experienced in providing environmental compliance and permitting advice to commercial and individual clients navigating the intricate Canadian environmental regulatory space.
Education
Called to the Bar of Ontario (2022)
J.D., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (2021)
B.E.S. (Honours), Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo (2017)
Prior to joining Willms & Shier, Will completed his articles and practiced as an associate with the litigation and environmental groups at a prominent national firm. Representing a broad range of commercial clients, Will acted as litigation counsel on a variety of matters including complex tort and contract disputes, class action defence, insurance claims, and product liability defence. As environmental counsel, he advised corporate clients on large-scale M&A and securities transactions in the natural resource and industrial manufacturing sectors, and on environmental regulatory compliance matters.
