Called to the Bar
  • Ontario (1978)
Education
  • LL.M., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1983
  • Dip.L., University of Oxford, 1977
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1975
  • B.A., University of Toronto, 1972
Affiliations
  • ADR Institute of Ontario, Inc.
  • Canadian Institute for Administration of Justice
  • Canadian Property Tax Association
  • International Property Tax Institute
  • Lambda Alpha International (Honorary Land Economics Society)
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Toronto Lawyers Association
  • The Advocates' Society
  • The Osgoode Society

Jeff Cowan is recognized as one of Canada’s leading public law litigators.

He acts as counsel before administrative tribunals and the trial and appellate courts in many aspects of public law, including professional self-regulation and discipline, judicial review of government decision-making, freedom of information and privacy matters, municipal and provincial planning and environmental approvals, municipal assessment and taxation, health, education, alcohol and gaming, legislative drafting and government relations, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, Jeff regularly litigates in matters relating to real property, including purchase and sale disputes, lease and contract interpretation, expropriation, valuation, taxation, boundary and ownership issues, Indigenous peoples’ land claims, and arbitration proceedings, including acting as an arbitrator and mediator.

Jeff has argued many of the leading cases – including in the Supreme Court of Canada – in the areas of tribunal jurisdiction and independence, Ministerial discretion, standard of judicial review, equality rights, constitutionality and interpretation of taxation and valuation legislation and remedies, freedom of information, Indigenous peoples’ land claims and remedies, ownership of waterfront property, and the interpretation of commercial leases.

Experience

C.U.P.E. v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) – Jeff was co-counsel, along with WeirFoulds partner Greg Richards, for the Canadian Bar Association in its successful intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in this leading case in administrative law involving judicial review of the Minister’s discretionary decision to appoint retired judges as chairs of interest arbitration panels in the health care sector.

Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point v. Canada and Chippewas of Sarnia v. Canada – Jeff was successful counsel in these important decisions on aboriginal law and remedies in land claims, in the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

M. v. H. Jeff was counsel for the United Church of Canada in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on equality rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd. and Nesse Holdings Inc. v. Regional Assessment Commissioner – Jeff was counsel in these leading Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions on the interpretation of property assessment legislation.

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services) – Jeff was counsel for the Social Benefits Tribunal in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the jurisdiction of tribunals to deal with challenges to their decision-making based on human rights legislation.

Orlando Corp. v. Zellers Inc., and CT Securities Ltd. v. Oxford Properties. Ltd. – Jeff was successful counsel in these two Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions involving the interpretation of commercial leases.

Hewat v. Ontario – Jeff acted as counsel for the Canadian Bar Association as an intervenor in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the independence and appointment of members of the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

W.C.B. v. Ontario – Jeff was counsel for the Workers’ Compensation Board in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the release of competitive information to third parties under freedom of information and privacy legislation.

Hudson’s Bay Company v. Ontario – Jeff was successful counsel to numerous shopping centre owners in Toronto in this Court of Appeal for Ontario case involving the constitutionality of municipal legislation.

Freidberg Ltd v. City of Toronto – Jeff was successful counsel in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision regarding taxpayer remedies against municipalities.

Rowntree Beach Association v. Ontario (Attorney General)- Jeff was successful counsel in this leading case on original Crown surveys and the ownership of waterfront property in Ontario.

Michnick v. Bass Road Beach Association, 2015 ONSC 1936

Ellard v. Tiny Township, 2012 ONSC 280

GlaxoSmithKline Inc v Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15, [2011] OARBD No 234

James Dick Construction Ltd. v. Caledon (Town) (2010), 66 OMBR 263

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd (2010), 325 DLR (4th) 69

North Bay Plaza Ltd v Municipal Property Assessment Corp Region No 28 (2010), 66 OMBR 206

H & M Hennes & Mauritz Inc. v. T.E.C. Leaseholds Ltd., [2010] OJ No 1490

Begon v. Worrall, [2010] OJ No 210

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City), [2009] OARBD No 114

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2009), 309 DLR (4th) 250

Brookfield Properties Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2009] OARBD No 28

Kimvar Enterprises Inc., Re (2009), 61 OMBR 293

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City) (2009), 61 OMBR 349

BCE Place Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 9, [2008] OARBD No 278

Chrysler Canada Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (2008), 61 OMBR 57

Ontrea Inc. V. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2008), 51 MPLR (4th) 206

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 927

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 928

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 459

Oxford Properties Group Inc. v. Toronto (City), 2008 CarswellOnt 1735

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Simcoe (County), [2008] OMBD No 211

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2007), 39 MPLR (4th) 196

Ontario Harness Horse Assn. v. Ontario Racing Commission (2007), 229 OAC 307

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2007] OARBD No 638

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 3, [2007] OARBD No 606

Bell-Northern Research Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 3, 9 and 19, 2007 CarswellOnt 5366

Cambridge (City) v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Region No. 21, [2007] OARBD No 589

Geranium Corp. v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner) (2007), 31 MPLR (4th) 229

Curtis Properties (Bridgeland) Inc. v. Toronto (City) (2006), 27 MPLR (4th) 140

Rocca v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment (2006), 54 OMBR 156

Erie Shores Golf and Country Club v. Essex (County), [2006] OMBD No 864

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services), [2006] 1 SCR 513

Werbeski v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community & Social Services), (April 21, 2006) S.C.C. 14

Georgian Glen Development Ltd. v. Barrie (City), [2005] 13 M.P.L.R. (4th) 194

Fox (In Trust) v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment, (July 20, 2004) 47 O.M.B.R. 385

Mississauga Business Park Inc. v. Mississauga Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (May 28, 2004), 47 O.M.B.R. 442

Gioris v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program) (June 20, 2002), 161 O.A.C. 227

Carlro Holdings Ltd. v. Mississauga (City) and Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 15 (May 30, 2002), 44 O.M.B.R. 137

Ontario Property Assessment Corporation v. Praxair Canada Inc.(January 14, 2002), 155 O.A.C. 360

682056 Ontario Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Finance)(February 23, 2001), 41 O.M.B.R. 455

Metropolitan Hamilton Real Estate Board v. Ontario Property Assessment Corp., Region No.19,(February 19, 2001) 41 O.M.B.R. 471

Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. v. Pacific Centre Ltd. (December 6, 1999) 48 C.P.C. (4th) 338

Toronto (City) Zoning By-law 1997-0321 (Re) (October 16, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 239

Darius Alain Holdings Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (July 21, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 369

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. University/Elm Holdings Inc. (May 12, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 40

Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation v. Keppel (Township) (1998), 164 D.L.R. (4th) 511

Canadian Centre for Torture Victims (Toronto) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9(February 4, 1998), 36 O.R. (3d) 743

Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. v.Trentway-Wagar Inc., [1997] 35 O.R. (3d) 145

Trentway-Wagar Inc. v. Ontario (Highway Transport Board) (April 11,1997), 101 O.A.C. 293

Fanshawe Park Place (1988) Ltd. v. Sifton Properties Ltd. (April 7, 1997) 35 O.M.B.R. 28

Tarxien Corp., Re Court Ontario Securities Commission (December 13, 1996)19 O.S.C.B. 6913<

Decaire v. Wahta Mohawks First Nation (December 12, 1996) 124 F.T.R. 241

Pickering (Town) Zoning By-law 4621/95 (Re) Ontario Municipal Board (September 18, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 138

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 17 v. Hunt (July 19, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 1

748093 Ontario Ltd. et al. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 23 (May 27, 1996), 29 O.R. (3d) 106

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Ontario (December 8, 1995) 33 O.M.B.R. 202

Canadian National Railway v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 18, 1995) 32 O.M.B.R. 481

Mississauga (City) v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue), (April 12, 1995) 23 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.)

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Wedekind(1994), 21 O.R. (3d) 289 (C.A.)

Dome Petroleum Ltd. v. Ontario (Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 27) (July 24, 1992) 28 O.M.B.R. 47

Canada (Department of National Defence) v. Ontario (Workers’ Compensation Board) (November 16, 1992) 98 D.L.R. (4th) 122

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (May 11, 1992) 8 O.R. (3d) 220

Uniroyal Chemical Ltd., Re Ontario Environmental Appeal Board (February 4, 1992) 9 C.E.L.R. (N.S.) 85

Pensionfund Realty Ltd. v. Ontario(January 24, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 175

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (January 14, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 147

Harbour Quay Developments Ltd. v Metropolitan Toronto (Municipality) (November 19, 1991) 6 O.R. (3d) 88

Myers v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 32(June 5, 1991) 3 O.R. (3d) 488

United Church v. Anderson (February 6, 1991) 2 O.R. (3d) 304

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Conway (December 12, 1990) 75 D.L.R. (4th) 564

Greenwin Property Management v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (September 10, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 496

Evans v. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (June 25, 1990) 70 D.L.R. (4th) 486

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (April 27, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 460

Mod-Aire Homes Ltd v. Bradford (Town) (No. 2) (April 28, 1989) 23 O.M.B.R. 263

Tarailo v. Allied Chemical Canada Ltd. (April 4, 1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 288

Meyer v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd., McDermott (next friend of) v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd. (March 25, 1988) 38 O.A.C. 398

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Christie Gardens (March 10, 1988) 21 O.M.B.R. 410

Farr v. Attwood (February 16, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 543 (C.A.)

Medwid v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) (January 22, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 578

Group R. Ltd., Re (December 30, 1987) 38 M.P.L.R. 300

Movel Restaurants Ltd. v. Ontario Regiona Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 454

Allport Investments Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, No. 11 (May 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 250

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 29 v. McLennan (April 9, 1987) 59 O.R. (2d) 318

Metropolitan Toronto School Board v. Metropolitan Separate School Board (February 26, 1987) 20 O.A.C. 400

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Shelter Corp. of Canada (February 20, 1987) 19 O.M.B.R. 440

Sarnia (Township) Official Plan Amendment No. 21 (Re) (June 19, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 374

Serrie v. Vaughan (Town) (May 12, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 310

Temar Construction Ltd. v. West Hill Redevelopment Co. (January 29, 1986) 21 C.L.R. 156

Augustine Fathers (Ontario) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 et al (November 12, 1985) 52 O.R. (2d) 536

Joshi v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 11 (July 23, 1985) 18 O.M.B.R. 88

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (March 27, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 311

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 19 v. Neo Industries Ltd. (January 15, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 125

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner Region No. 12 v. Regal Paper Products Ltd. (November 19, 1984) 17 O.M.B.R. 141

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 (February 15, 1984) 45 O.R. (2d) 263

Pattison et al. v. Sceviour et al (October 18, 1983) 43 O.R. (2d) 229

Emily (Township) v. Johnson (March 11, 1983) 15 O.M.B.R. 371

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 22 (March 7, 1983) 21 M.P.L.R. 99

Scanti Investments Ltd. v. National Bank of Canada (March 7, 1983) 33 C.P.C. 113

Muskoka Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 19 (Re) (June 10, 1982) 13 O.M.B.R. 374

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sutton Place Ltd. (November 19, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 364

London (City) Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 154, 159, 160 & 16 (Re) (October 5, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 48

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Buildevco Ltd. (April 14, 1981) 12 O.M.B.R. 467

Peterborough (City) Restricted Area By-law 1980-13 (Re) (March 6, 1981) 13 O.M.B.R. 253

Niagara Planning Area Official Plan (Re) (February 27, 1981) 11 O.M.B.R. 353

Weirdale Investments Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (C.I.B.C.) (February 6, 1981) 32 O.R. (2d) 183

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. 397298 Ontario Ltd. (December 17, 1980) 12 O.M.B .R. 77

Peterborough (City) v. Smith (Township) (November 24, 1980) 12 O.M.B.R. 158

Hotel Toronto v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (May 5, 1980) 11 O.M.B.R. 170

Campeau Corporation v. Gloucester (Township) (January 10, 1979) 22 O.R. (2d) 652

  • Repeatedly recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a leading lawyer in Professional Negligence matters (2022, 2023)
  • Recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2020
  • Repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in Administrative and Public Law and Real Estate Law
  • Repeatedly recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Litigation – Regulatory and Public Law, Property Law, Property Development, and Indigenous Law
  • Recipient of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators Medal for outstanding service to the administrative justice system of Ontario
  • Recipient of the Ontario Court of Appeal Medallion for contributions to the administration of justice
  • Dedicated Service Award, Canadian Bar Association – Ontario
  • Rated by Martindale Hubbell Ratings as “pre-eminent” (AV)
  • Managing Partner of WeirFoulds from 1999-2003
  • Former Member-at-Large, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
  • Co-Editor, Ontario Annual Practice, Thomson Reuters (a leading publication in civil and public law litigation)
  • Past Director, The Advocates’ Society
  • Member, International Property Tax Institute
  • Member and Past President, Canadian Property Tax Association
  • Member of the Secretariat, Civil Rules Committee
  • Past Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (Barristers’ Advisory Group – Bar Admission Course)
  • Member, Ontario Divisional Court Users Committee
  • Member of Administrative Tribunals Committee, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
  • Course Director, Policy-Making in Administrative Tribunals, Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Program in Law (LLM), Winter 2011 and Summer 2012
  • Head of Section for Public Law in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course from 1986 to 2005, prior to the Course changing to licensing examinations in 2006
  • Past Chair and Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section
  • Former Council Member, Ontario Bar Association

C.U.P.E. v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) – Jeff was co-counsel, along with WeirFoulds partner Greg Richards, for the Canadian Bar Association in its successful intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in this leading case in administrative law involving judicial review of the Minister’s discretionary decision to appoint retired judges as chairs of interest arbitration panels in the health care sector.

Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point v. Canada and Chippewas of Sarnia v. Canada – Jeff was successful counsel in these important decisions on aboriginal law and remedies in land claims, in the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

M. v. H. Jeff was counsel for the United Church of Canada in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on equality rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd. and Nesse Holdings Inc. v. Regional Assessment Commissioner – Jeff was counsel in these leading Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions on the interpretation of property assessment legislation.

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services) – Jeff was counsel for the Social Benefits Tribunal in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the jurisdiction of tribunals to deal with challenges to their decision-making based on human rights legislation.

Orlando Corp. v. Zellers Inc., and CT Securities Ltd. v. Oxford Properties. Ltd. – Jeff was successful counsel in these two Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions involving the interpretation of commercial leases.

Hewat v. Ontario – Jeff acted as counsel for the Canadian Bar Association as an intervenor in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the independence and appointment of members of the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

W.C.B. v. Ontario – Jeff was counsel for the Workers’ Compensation Board in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the release of competitive information to third parties under freedom of information and privacy legislation.

Hudson’s Bay Company v. Ontario – Jeff was successful counsel to numerous shopping centre owners in Toronto in this Court of Appeal for Ontario case involving the constitutionality of municipal legislation.

Freidberg Ltd v. City of Toronto – Jeff was successful counsel in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision regarding taxpayer remedies against municipalities.

Rowntree Beach Association v. Ontario (Attorney General)- Jeff was successful counsel in this leading case on original Crown surveys and the ownership of waterfront property in Ontario.

Michnick v. Bass Road Beach Association, 2015 ONSC 1936

Ellard v. Tiny Township, 2012 ONSC 280

GlaxoSmithKline Inc v Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15, [2011] OARBD No 234

James Dick Construction Ltd. v. Caledon (Town) (2010), 66 OMBR 263

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd (2010), 325 DLR (4th) 69

North Bay Plaza Ltd v Municipal Property Assessment Corp Region No 28 (2010), 66 OMBR 206

H & M Hennes & Mauritz Inc. v. T.E.C. Leaseholds Ltd., [2010] OJ No 1490

Begon v. Worrall, [2010] OJ No 210

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City), [2009] OARBD No 114

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2009), 309 DLR (4th) 250

Brookfield Properties Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2009] OARBD No 28

Kimvar Enterprises Inc., Re (2009), 61 OMBR 293

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City) (2009), 61 OMBR 349

BCE Place Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 9, [2008] OARBD No 278

Chrysler Canada Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (2008), 61 OMBR 57

Ontrea Inc. V. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2008), 51 MPLR (4th) 206

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 927

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 928

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 459

Oxford Properties Group Inc. v. Toronto (City), 2008 CarswellOnt 1735

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Simcoe (County), [2008] OMBD No 211

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2007), 39 MPLR (4th) 196

Ontario Harness Horse Assn. v. Ontario Racing Commission (2007), 229 OAC 307

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2007] OARBD No 638

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 3, [2007] OARBD No 606

Bell-Northern Research Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 3, 9 and 19, 2007 CarswellOnt 5366

Cambridge (City) v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Region No. 21, [2007] OARBD No 589

Geranium Corp. v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner) (2007), 31 MPLR (4th) 229

Curtis Properties (Bridgeland) Inc. v. Toronto (City) (2006), 27 MPLR (4th) 140

Rocca v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment (2006), 54 OMBR 156

Erie Shores Golf and Country Club v. Essex (County), [2006] OMBD No 864

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services), [2006] 1 SCR 513

Werbeski v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community & Social Services), (April 21, 2006) S.C.C. 14

Georgian Glen Development Ltd. v. Barrie (City), [2005] 13 M.P.L.R. (4th) 194

Fox (In Trust) v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment, (July 20, 2004) 47 O.M.B.R. 385

Mississauga Business Park Inc. v. Mississauga Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (May 28, 2004), 47 O.M.B.R. 442

Gioris v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program) (June 20, 2002), 161 O.A.C. 227

Carlro Holdings Ltd. v. Mississauga (City) and Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 15 (May 30, 2002), 44 O.M.B.R. 137

Ontario Property Assessment Corporation v. Praxair Canada Inc.(January 14, 2002), 155 O.A.C. 360

682056 Ontario Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Finance)(February 23, 2001), 41 O.M.B.R. 455

Metropolitan Hamilton Real Estate Board v. Ontario Property Assessment Corp., Region No.19,(February 19, 2001) 41 O.M.B.R. 471

Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. v. Pacific Centre Ltd. (December 6, 1999) 48 C.P.C. (4th) 338

Toronto (City) Zoning By-law 1997-0321 (Re) (October 16, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 239

Darius Alain Holdings Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (July 21, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 369

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. University/Elm Holdings Inc. (May 12, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 40

Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation v. Keppel (Township) (1998), 164 D.L.R. (4th) 511

Canadian Centre for Torture Victims (Toronto) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9(February 4, 1998), 36 O.R. (3d) 743

Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. v.Trentway-Wagar Inc., [1997] 35 O.R. (3d) 145

Trentway-Wagar Inc. v. Ontario (Highway Transport Board) (April 11,1997), 101 O.A.C. 293

Fanshawe Park Place (1988) Ltd. v. Sifton Properties Ltd. (April 7, 1997) 35 O.M.B.R. 28

Tarxien Corp., Re Court Ontario Securities Commission (December 13, 1996)19 O.S.C.B. 6913<

Decaire v. Wahta Mohawks First Nation (December 12, 1996) 124 F.T.R. 241

Pickering (Town) Zoning By-law 4621/95 (Re) Ontario Municipal Board (September 18, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 138

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 17 v. Hunt (July 19, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 1

748093 Ontario Ltd. et al. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 23 (May 27, 1996), 29 O.R. (3d) 106

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Ontario (December 8, 1995) 33 O.M.B.R. 202

Canadian National Railway v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 18, 1995) 32 O.M.B.R. 481

Mississauga (City) v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue), (April 12, 1995) 23 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.)

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Wedekind(1994), 21 O.R. (3d) 289 (C.A.)

Dome Petroleum Ltd. v. Ontario (Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 27) (July 24, 1992) 28 O.M.B.R. 47

Canada (Department of National Defence) v. Ontario (Workers’ Compensation Board) (November 16, 1992) 98 D.L.R. (4th) 122

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (May 11, 1992) 8 O.R. (3d) 220

Uniroyal Chemical Ltd., Re Ontario Environmental Appeal Board (February 4, 1992) 9 C.E.L.R. (N.S.) 85

Pensionfund Realty Ltd. v. Ontario(January 24, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 175

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (January 14, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 147

Harbour Quay Developments Ltd. v Metropolitan Toronto (Municipality) (November 19, 1991) 6 O.R. (3d) 88

Myers v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 32(June 5, 1991) 3 O.R. (3d) 488

United Church v. Anderson (February 6, 1991) 2 O.R. (3d) 304

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Conway (December 12, 1990) 75 D.L.R. (4th) 564

Greenwin Property Management v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (September 10, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 496

Evans v. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (June 25, 1990) 70 D.L.R. (4th) 486

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (April 27, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 460

Mod-Aire Homes Ltd v. Bradford (Town) (No. 2) (April 28, 1989) 23 O.M.B.R. 263

Tarailo v. Allied Chemical Canada Ltd. (April 4, 1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 288

Meyer v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd., McDermott (next friend of) v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd. (March 25, 1988) 38 O.A.C. 398

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Christie Gardens (March 10, 1988) 21 O.M.B.R. 410

Farr v. Attwood (February 16, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 543 (C.A.)

Medwid v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) (January 22, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 578

Group R. Ltd., Re (December 30, 1987) 38 M.P.L.R. 300

Movel Restaurants Ltd. v. Ontario Regiona Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 454

Allport Investments Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, No. 11 (May 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 250

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 29 v. McLennan (April 9, 1987) 59 O.R. (2d) 318

Metropolitan Toronto School Board v. Metropolitan Separate School Board (February 26, 1987) 20 O.A.C. 400

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Shelter Corp. of Canada (February 20, 1987) 19 O.M.B.R. 440

Sarnia (Township) Official Plan Amendment No. 21 (Re) (June 19, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 374

Serrie v. Vaughan (Town) (May 12, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 310

Temar Construction Ltd. v. West Hill Redevelopment Co. (January 29, 1986) 21 C.L.R. 156

Augustine Fathers (Ontario) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 et al (November 12, 1985) 52 O.R. (2d) 536

Joshi v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 11 (July 23, 1985) 18 O.M.B.R. 88

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (March 27, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 311

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 19 v. Neo Industries Ltd. (January 15, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 125

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner Region No. 12 v. Regal Paper Products Ltd. (November 19, 1984) 17 O.M.B.R. 141

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 (February 15, 1984) 45 O.R. (2d) 263

Pattison et al. v. Sceviour et al (October 18, 1983) 43 O.R. (2d) 229

Emily (Township) v. Johnson (March 11, 1983) 15 O.M.B.R. 371

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 22 (March 7, 1983) 21 M.P.L.R. 99

Scanti Investments Ltd. v. National Bank of Canada (March 7, 1983) 33 C.P.C. 113

Muskoka Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 19 (Re) (June 10, 1982) 13 O.M.B.R. 374

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sutton Place Ltd. (November 19, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 364

London (City) Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 154, 159, 160 & 16 (Re) (October 5, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 48

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Buildevco Ltd. (April 14, 1981) 12 O.M.B.R. 467

Peterborough (City) Restricted Area By-law 1980-13 (Re) (March 6, 1981) 13 O.M.B.R. 253

Niagara Planning Area Official Plan (Re) (February 27, 1981) 11 O.M.B.R. 353

Weirdale Investments Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (C.I.B.C.) (February 6, 1981) 32 O.R. (2d) 183

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. 397298 Ontario Ltd. (December 17, 1980) 12 O.M.B .R. 77

Peterborough (City) v. Smith (Township) (November 24, 1980) 12 O.M.B.R. 158

Hotel Toronto v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (May 5, 1980) 11 O.M.B.R. 170

Campeau Corporation v. Gloucester (Township) (January 10, 1979) 22 O.R. (2d) 652

  • Repeatedly recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a leading lawyer in Professional Negligence matters (2022, 2023)
  • Recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2020
  • Repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in Administrative and Public Law and Real Estate Law
  • Repeatedly recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Litigation – Regulatory and Public Law, Property Law, Property Development, and Indigenous Law
  • Recipient of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators Medal for outstanding service to the administrative justice system of Ontario
  • Recipient of the Ontario Court of Appeal Medallion for contributions to the administration of justice
  • Dedicated Service Award, Canadian Bar Association – Ontario
  • Rated by Martindale Hubbell Ratings as “pre-eminent” (AV)
  • Managing Partner of WeirFoulds from 1999-2003
  • Former Member-at-Large, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
  • Co-Editor, Ontario Annual Practice, Thomson Reuters (a leading publication in civil and public law litigation)
  • Past Director, The Advocates’ Society
  • Member, International Property Tax Institute
  • Member and Past President, Canadian Property Tax Association
  • Member of the Secretariat, Civil Rules Committee
  • Past Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (Barristers’ Advisory Group – Bar Admission Course)
  • Member, Ontario Divisional Court Users Committee
  • Member of Administrative Tribunals Committee, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
  • Course Director, Policy-Making in Administrative Tribunals, Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Program in Law (LLM), Winter 2011 and Summer 2012
  • Head of Section for Public Law in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course from 1986 to 2005, prior to the Course changing to licensing examinations in 2006
  • Past Chair and Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section
  • Former Council Member, Ontario Bar Association

Jeff Cowan is recognized as one of Canada’s leading public law litigators.

He acts as counsel before administrative tribunals and the trial and appellate courts in many aspects of public law, including professional self-regulation and discipline, judicial review of government decision-making, freedom of information and privacy matters, municipal and provincial planning and environmental approvals, municipal assessment and taxation, health, education, alcohol and gaming, legislative drafting and government relations, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, Jeff regularly litigates in matters relating to real property, including purchase and sale disputes, lease and contract interpretation, expropriation, valuation, taxation, boundary and ownership issues, Indigenous peoples’ land claims, and arbitration proceedings, including acting as an arbitrator and mediator.

Jeff has argued many of the leading cases – including in the Supreme Court of Canada – in the areas of tribunal jurisdiction and independence, Ministerial discretion, standard of judicial review, equality rights, constitutionality and interpretation of taxation and valuation legislation and remedies, freedom of information, Indigenous peoples’ land claims and remedies, ownership of waterfront property, and the interpretation of commercial leases.

Experience

C.U.P.E. v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) – Jeff was co-counsel, along with WeirFoulds partner Greg Richards, for the Canadian Bar Association in its successful intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in this leading case in administrative law involving judicial review of the Minister’s discretionary decision to appoint retired judges as chairs of interest arbitration panels in the health care sector.

Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point v. Canada and Chippewas of Sarnia v. Canada – Jeff was successful counsel in these important decisions on aboriginal law and remedies in land claims, in the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

M. v. H. Jeff was counsel for the United Church of Canada in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on equality rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd. and Nesse Holdings Inc. v. Regional Assessment Commissioner – Jeff was counsel in these leading Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions on the interpretation of property assessment legislation.

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services) – Jeff was counsel for the Social Benefits Tribunal in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the jurisdiction of tribunals to deal with challenges to their decision-making based on human rights legislation.

Orlando Corp. v. Zellers Inc., and CT Securities Ltd. v. Oxford Properties. Ltd. – Jeff was successful counsel in these two Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions involving the interpretation of commercial leases.

Hewat v. Ontario – Jeff acted as counsel for the Canadian Bar Association as an intervenor in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the independence and appointment of members of the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

W.C.B. v. Ontario – Jeff was counsel for the Workers’ Compensation Board in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the release of competitive information to third parties under freedom of information and privacy legislation.

Hudson’s Bay Company v. Ontario – Jeff was successful counsel to numerous shopping centre owners in Toronto in this Court of Appeal for Ontario case involving the constitutionality of municipal legislation.

Freidberg Ltd v. City of Toronto – Jeff was successful counsel in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision regarding taxpayer remedies against municipalities.

Rowntree Beach Association v. Ontario (Attorney General)- Jeff was successful counsel in this leading case on original Crown surveys and the ownership of waterfront property in Ontario.

Michnick v. Bass Road Beach Association, 2015 ONSC 1936

Ellard v. Tiny Township, 2012 ONSC 280

GlaxoSmithKline Inc v Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15, [2011] OARBD No 234

James Dick Construction Ltd. v. Caledon (Town) (2010), 66 OMBR 263

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd (2010), 325 DLR (4th) 69

North Bay Plaza Ltd v Municipal Property Assessment Corp Region No 28 (2010), 66 OMBR 206

H & M Hennes & Mauritz Inc. v. T.E.C. Leaseholds Ltd., [2010] OJ No 1490

Begon v. Worrall, [2010] OJ No 210

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City), [2009] OARBD No 114

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2009), 309 DLR (4th) 250

Brookfield Properties Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2009] OARBD No 28

Kimvar Enterprises Inc., Re (2009), 61 OMBR 293

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City) (2009), 61 OMBR 349

BCE Place Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 9, [2008] OARBD No 278

Chrysler Canada Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (2008), 61 OMBR 57

Ontrea Inc. V. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2008), 51 MPLR (4th) 206

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 927

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 928

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 459

Oxford Properties Group Inc. v. Toronto (City), 2008 CarswellOnt 1735

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Simcoe (County), [2008] OMBD No 211

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2007), 39 MPLR (4th) 196

Ontario Harness Horse Assn. v. Ontario Racing Commission (2007), 229 OAC 307

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2007] OARBD No 638

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 3, [2007] OARBD No 606

Bell-Northern Research Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 3, 9 and 19, 2007 CarswellOnt 5366

Cambridge (City) v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Region No. 21, [2007] OARBD No 589

Geranium Corp. v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner) (2007), 31 MPLR (4th) 229

Curtis Properties (Bridgeland) Inc. v. Toronto (City) (2006), 27 MPLR (4th) 140

Rocca v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment (2006), 54 OMBR 156

Erie Shores Golf and Country Club v. Essex (County), [2006] OMBD No 864

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services), [2006] 1 SCR 513

Werbeski v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community & Social Services), (April 21, 2006) S.C.C. 14

Georgian Glen Development Ltd. v. Barrie (City), [2005] 13 M.P.L.R. (4th) 194

Fox (In Trust) v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment, (July 20, 2004) 47 O.M.B.R. 385

Mississauga Business Park Inc. v. Mississauga Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (May 28, 2004), 47 O.M.B.R. 442

Gioris v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program) (June 20, 2002), 161 O.A.C. 227

Carlro Holdings Ltd. v. Mississauga (City) and Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 15 (May 30, 2002), 44 O.M.B.R. 137

Ontario Property Assessment Corporation v. Praxair Canada Inc.(January 14, 2002), 155 O.A.C. 360

682056 Ontario Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Finance)(February 23, 2001), 41 O.M.B.R. 455

Metropolitan Hamilton Real Estate Board v. Ontario Property Assessment Corp., Region No.19,(February 19, 2001) 41 O.M.B.R. 471

Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. v. Pacific Centre Ltd. (December 6, 1999) 48 C.P.C. (4th) 338

Toronto (City) Zoning By-law 1997-0321 (Re) (October 16, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 239

Darius Alain Holdings Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (July 21, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 369

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. University/Elm Holdings Inc. (May 12, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 40

Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation v. Keppel (Township) (1998), 164 D.L.R. (4th) 511

Canadian Centre for Torture Victims (Toronto) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9(February 4, 1998), 36 O.R. (3d) 743

Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. v.Trentway-Wagar Inc., [1997] 35 O.R. (3d) 145

Trentway-Wagar Inc. v. Ontario (Highway Transport Board) (April 11,1997), 101 O.A.C. 293

Fanshawe Park Place (1988) Ltd. v. Sifton Properties Ltd. (April 7, 1997) 35 O.M.B.R. 28

Tarxien Corp., Re Court Ontario Securities Commission (December 13, 1996)19 O.S.C.B. 6913<

Decaire v. Wahta Mohawks First Nation (December 12, 1996) 124 F.T.R. 241

Pickering (Town) Zoning By-law 4621/95 (Re) Ontario Municipal Board (September 18, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 138

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 17 v. Hunt (July 19, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 1

748093 Ontario Ltd. et al. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 23 (May 27, 1996), 29 O.R. (3d) 106

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Ontario (December 8, 1995) 33 O.M.B.R. 202

Canadian National Railway v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 18, 1995) 32 O.M.B.R. 481

Mississauga (City) v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue), (April 12, 1995) 23 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.)

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Wedekind(1994), 21 O.R. (3d) 289 (C.A.)

Dome Petroleum Ltd. v. Ontario (Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 27) (July 24, 1992) 28 O.M.B.R. 47

Canada (Department of National Defence) v. Ontario (Workers’ Compensation Board) (November 16, 1992) 98 D.L.R. (4th) 122

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (May 11, 1992) 8 O.R. (3d) 220

Uniroyal Chemical Ltd., Re Ontario Environmental Appeal Board (February 4, 1992) 9 C.E.L.R. (N.S.) 85

Pensionfund Realty Ltd. v. Ontario(January 24, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 175

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (January 14, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 147

Harbour Quay Developments Ltd. v Metropolitan Toronto (Municipality) (November 19, 1991) 6 O.R. (3d) 88

Myers v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 32(June 5, 1991) 3 O.R. (3d) 488

United Church v. Anderson (February 6, 1991) 2 O.R. (3d) 304

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Conway (December 12, 1990) 75 D.L.R. (4th) 564

Greenwin Property Management v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (September 10, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 496

Evans v. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (June 25, 1990) 70 D.L.R. (4th) 486

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (April 27, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 460

Mod-Aire Homes Ltd v. Bradford (Town) (No. 2) (April 28, 1989) 23 O.M.B.R. 263

Tarailo v. Allied Chemical Canada Ltd. (April 4, 1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 288

Meyer v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd., McDermott (next friend of) v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd. (March 25, 1988) 38 O.A.C. 398

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Christie Gardens (March 10, 1988) 21 O.M.B.R. 410

Farr v. Attwood (February 16, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 543 (C.A.)

Medwid v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) (January 22, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 578

Group R. Ltd., Re (December 30, 1987) 38 M.P.L.R. 300

Movel Restaurants Ltd. v. Ontario Regiona Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 454

Allport Investments Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, No. 11 (May 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 250

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 29 v. McLennan (April 9, 1987) 59 O.R. (2d) 318

Metropolitan Toronto School Board v. Metropolitan Separate School Board (February 26, 1987) 20 O.A.C. 400

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Shelter Corp. of Canada (February 20, 1987) 19 O.M.B.R. 440

Sarnia (Township) Official Plan Amendment No. 21 (Re) (June 19, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 374

Serrie v. Vaughan (Town) (May 12, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 310

Temar Construction Ltd. v. West Hill Redevelopment Co. (January 29, 1986) 21 C.L.R. 156

Augustine Fathers (Ontario) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 et al (November 12, 1985) 52 O.R. (2d) 536

Joshi v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 11 (July 23, 1985) 18 O.M.B.R. 88

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (March 27, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 311

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 19 v. Neo Industries Ltd. (January 15, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 125

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner Region No. 12 v. Regal Paper Products Ltd. (November 19, 1984) 17 O.M.B.R. 141

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 (February 15, 1984) 45 O.R. (2d) 263

Pattison et al. v. Sceviour et al (October 18, 1983) 43 O.R. (2d) 229

Emily (Township) v. Johnson (March 11, 1983) 15 O.M.B.R. 371

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 22 (March 7, 1983) 21 M.P.L.R. 99

Scanti Investments Ltd. v. National Bank of Canada (March 7, 1983) 33 C.P.C. 113

Muskoka Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 19 (Re) (June 10, 1982) 13 O.M.B.R. 374

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sutton Place Ltd. (November 19, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 364

London (City) Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 154, 159, 160 & 16 (Re) (October 5, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 48

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Buildevco Ltd. (April 14, 1981) 12 O.M.B.R. 467

Peterborough (City) Restricted Area By-law 1980-13 (Re) (March 6, 1981) 13 O.M.B.R. 253

Niagara Planning Area Official Plan (Re) (February 27, 1981) 11 O.M.B.R. 353

Weirdale Investments Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (C.I.B.C.) (February 6, 1981) 32 O.R. (2d) 183

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. 397298 Ontario Ltd. (December 17, 1980) 12 O.M.B .R. 77

Peterborough (City) v. Smith (Township) (November 24, 1980) 12 O.M.B.R. 158

Hotel Toronto v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (May 5, 1980) 11 O.M.B.R. 170

Campeau Corporation v. Gloucester (Township) (January 10, 1979) 22 O.R. (2d) 652

  • Repeatedly recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a leading lawyer in Professional Negligence matters (2022, 2023)
  • Recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2020
  • Repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in Administrative and Public Law and Real Estate Law
  • Repeatedly recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Litigation – Regulatory and Public Law, Property Law, Property Development, and Indigenous Law
  • Recipient of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators Medal for outstanding service to the administrative justice system of Ontario
  • Recipient of the Ontario Court of Appeal Medallion for contributions to the administration of justice
  • Dedicated Service Award, Canadian Bar Association – Ontario
  • Rated by Martindale Hubbell Ratings as “pre-eminent” (AV)
  • Managing Partner of WeirFoulds from 1999-2003
  • Former Member-at-Large, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
  • Co-Editor, Ontario Annual Practice, Thomson Reuters (a leading publication in civil and public law litigation)
  • Past Director, The Advocates’ Society
  • Member, International Property Tax Institute
  • Member and Past President, Canadian Property Tax Association
  • Member of the Secretariat, Civil Rules Committee
  • Past Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (Barristers’ Advisory Group – Bar Admission Course)
  • Member, Ontario Divisional Court Users Committee
  • Member of Administrative Tribunals Committee, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
  • Course Director, Policy-Making in Administrative Tribunals, Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Program in Law (LLM), Winter 2011 and Summer 2012
  • Head of Section for Public Law in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course from 1986 to 2005, prior to the Course changing to licensing examinations in 2006
  • Past Chair and Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section
  • Former Council Member, Ontario Bar Association

C.U.P.E. v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) – Jeff was co-counsel, along with WeirFoulds partner Greg Richards, for the Canadian Bar Association in its successful intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in this leading case in administrative law involving judicial review of the Minister’s discretionary decision to appoint retired judges as chairs of interest arbitration panels in the health care sector.

Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point v. Canada and Chippewas of Sarnia v. Canada – Jeff was successful counsel in these important decisions on aboriginal law and remedies in land claims, in the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

M. v. H. Jeff was counsel for the United Church of Canada in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on equality rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd. and Nesse Holdings Inc. v. Regional Assessment Commissioner – Jeff was counsel in these leading Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions on the interpretation of property assessment legislation.

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services) – Jeff was counsel for the Social Benefits Tribunal in this leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the jurisdiction of tribunals to deal with challenges to their decision-making based on human rights legislation.

Orlando Corp. v. Zellers Inc., and CT Securities Ltd. v. Oxford Properties. Ltd. – Jeff was successful counsel in these two Court of Appeal for Ontario decisions involving the interpretation of commercial leases.

Hewat v. Ontario – Jeff acted as counsel for the Canadian Bar Association as an intervenor in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the independence and appointment of members of the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

W.C.B. v. Ontario – Jeff was counsel for the Workers’ Compensation Board in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision dealing with the release of competitive information to third parties under freedom of information and privacy legislation.

Hudson’s Bay Company v. Ontario – Jeff was successful counsel to numerous shopping centre owners in Toronto in this Court of Appeal for Ontario case involving the constitutionality of municipal legislation.

Freidberg Ltd v. City of Toronto – Jeff was successful counsel in this Court of Appeal for Ontario decision regarding taxpayer remedies against municipalities.

Rowntree Beach Association v. Ontario (Attorney General)- Jeff was successful counsel in this leading case on original Crown surveys and the ownership of waterfront property in Ontario.

Michnick v. Bass Road Beach Association, 2015 ONSC 1936

Ellard v. Tiny Township, 2012 ONSC 280

GlaxoSmithKline Inc v Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15, [2011] OARBD No 234

James Dick Construction Ltd. v. Caledon (Town) (2010), 66 OMBR 263

Municipal Property Assessment Corp v. BCE Place Ltd (2010), 325 DLR (4th) 69

North Bay Plaza Ltd v Municipal Property Assessment Corp Region No 28 (2010), 66 OMBR 206

H & M Hennes & Mauritz Inc. v. T.E.C. Leaseholds Ltd., [2010] OJ No 1490

Begon v. Worrall, [2010] OJ No 210

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City), [2009] OARBD No 114

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2009), 309 DLR (4th) 250

Brookfield Properties Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2009] OARBD No 28

Kimvar Enterprises Inc., Re (2009), 61 OMBR 293

KWH Nomineeco Inc. v. Kitchener (City) (2009), 61 OMBR 349

BCE Place Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 9, [2008] OARBD No 278

Chrysler Canada Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (2008), 61 OMBR 57

Ontrea Inc. V. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2008), 51 MPLR (4th) 206

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 927

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 928

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Innisfill (Town), [2008] OMBD No 459

Oxford Properties Group Inc. v. Toronto (City), 2008 CarswellOnt 1735

Kimvar Enterprises Inc. v. Simcoe (County), [2008] OMBD No 211

1518756 Ontario Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (2007), 39 MPLR (4th) 196

Ontario Harness Horse Assn. v. Ontario Racing Commission (2007), 229 OAC 307

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 09, [2007] OARBD No 638

Home Depot v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 3, [2007] OARBD No 606

Bell-Northern Research Ltd. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 3, 9 and 19, 2007 CarswellOnt 5366

Cambridge (City) v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Region No. 21, [2007] OARBD No 589

Geranium Corp. v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner) (2007), 31 MPLR (4th) 229

Curtis Properties (Bridgeland) Inc. v. Toronto (City) (2006), 27 MPLR (4th) 140

Rocca v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment (2006), 54 OMBR 156

Erie Shores Golf and Country Club v. Essex (County), [2006] OMBD No 864

Tranchemontagne v. Ontario (Director, Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community and Social Services), [2006] 1 SCR 513

Werbeski v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program, Ministry of Community & Social Services), (April 21, 2006) S.C.C. 14

Georgian Glen Development Ltd. v. Barrie (City), [2005] 13 M.P.L.R. (4th) 194

Fox (In Trust) v. Caledon (Town) Committee of Adjustment, (July 20, 2004) 47 O.M.B.R. 385

Mississauga Business Park Inc. v. Mississauga Municipal Property Assessment Corp. Region No. 15 (May 28, 2004), 47 O.M.B.R. 442

Gioris v. Ontario (Director of Disability Support Program) (June 20, 2002), 161 O.A.C. 227

Carlro Holdings Ltd. v. Mississauga (City) and Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Region No. 15 (May 30, 2002), 44 O.M.B.R. 137

Ontario Property Assessment Corporation v. Praxair Canada Inc.(January 14, 2002), 155 O.A.C. 360

682056 Ontario Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Finance)(February 23, 2001), 41 O.M.B.R. 455

Metropolitan Hamilton Real Estate Board v. Ontario Property Assessment Corp., Region No.19,(February 19, 2001) 41 O.M.B.R. 471

Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. v. Pacific Centre Ltd. (December 6, 1999) 48 C.P.C. (4th) 338

Toronto (City) Zoning By-law 1997-0321 (Re) (October 16, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 239

Darius Alain Holdings Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (July 21, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 369

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. University/Elm Holdings Inc. (May 12, 1998) 37 O.M.B.R. 40

Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation v. Keppel (Township) (1998), 164 D.L.R. (4th) 511

Canadian Centre for Torture Victims (Toronto) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9(February 4, 1998), 36 O.R. (3d) 743

Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. v.Trentway-Wagar Inc., [1997] 35 O.R. (3d) 145

Trentway-Wagar Inc. v. Ontario (Highway Transport Board) (April 11,1997), 101 O.A.C. 293

Fanshawe Park Place (1988) Ltd. v. Sifton Properties Ltd. (April 7, 1997) 35 O.M.B.R. 28

Tarxien Corp., Re Court Ontario Securities Commission (December 13, 1996)19 O.S.C.B. 6913<

Decaire v. Wahta Mohawks First Nation (December 12, 1996) 124 F.T.R. 241

Pickering (Town) Zoning By-law 4621/95 (Re) Ontario Municipal Board (September 18, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 138

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 17 v. Hunt (July 19, 1996) 34 O.M.B.R. 1

748093 Ontario Ltd. et al. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 23 (May 27, 1996), 29 O.R. (3d) 106

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Ontario (December 8, 1995) 33 O.M.B.R. 202

Canadian National Railway v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 18, 1995) 32 O.M.B.R. 481

Mississauga (City) v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue), (April 12, 1995) 23 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.)

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Wedekind(1994), 21 O.R. (3d) 289 (C.A.)

Dome Petroleum Ltd. v. Ontario (Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 27) (July 24, 1992) 28 O.M.B.R. 47

Canada (Department of National Defence) v. Ontario (Workers’ Compensation Board) (November 16, 1992) 98 D.L.R. (4th) 122

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (May 11, 1992) 8 O.R. (3d) 220

Uniroyal Chemical Ltd., Re Ontario Environmental Appeal Board (February 4, 1992) 9 C.E.L.R. (N.S.) 85

Pensionfund Realty Ltd. v. Ontario(January 24, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 175

Royal Bank of Canada v. Niagara Falls (City) (January 14, 1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 147

Harbour Quay Developments Ltd. v Metropolitan Toronto (Municipality) (November 19, 1991) 6 O.R. (3d) 88

Myers v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 32(June 5, 1991) 3 O.R. (3d) 488

United Church v. Anderson (February 6, 1991) 2 O.R. (3d) 304

Ontario (Ministry of Community and Social Services, Director of Income Maintenance Branch) v. Conway (December 12, 1990) 75 D.L.R. (4th) 564

Greenwin Property Management v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (September 10, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 496

Evans v. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (June 25, 1990) 70 D.L.R. (4th) 486

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (April 27, 1990) 24 O.M.B.R. 460

Mod-Aire Homes Ltd v. Bradford (Town) (No. 2) (April 28, 1989) 23 O.M.B.R. 263

Tarailo v. Allied Chemical Canada Ltd. (April 4, 1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 288

Meyer v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd., McDermott (next friend of) v. Waycon International Trucks Ltd. (March 25, 1988) 38 O.A.C. 398

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Christie Gardens (March 10, 1988) 21 O.M.B.R. 410

Farr v. Attwood (February 16, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 543 (C.A.)

Medwid v. Ontario (Minister of Labour) (January 22, 1988) 63 O.R. (2d) 578

Group R. Ltd., Re (December 30, 1987) 38 M.P.L.R. 300

Movel Restaurants Ltd. v. Ontario Regiona Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (August 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 454

Allport Investments Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, No. 11 (May 21, 1987) 20 O.M.B.R. 250

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 29 v. McLennan (April 9, 1987) 59 O.R. (2d) 318

Metropolitan Toronto School Board v. Metropolitan Separate School Board (February 26, 1987) 20 O.A.C. 400

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Shelter Corp. of Canada (February 20, 1987) 19 O.M.B.R. 440

Sarnia (Township) Official Plan Amendment No. 21 (Re) (June 19, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 374

Serrie v. Vaughan (Town) (May 12, 1986) 19 O.M.B.R. 310

Temar Construction Ltd. v. West Hill Redevelopment Co. (January 29, 1986) 21 C.L.R. 156

Augustine Fathers (Ontario) Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 et al (November 12, 1985) 52 O.R. (2d) 536

Joshi v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 11 (July 23, 1985) 18 O.M.B.R. 88

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 10 (March 27, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 311

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 19 v. Neo Industries Ltd. (January 15, 1985) 17 O.M.B.R. 125

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner Region No. 12 v. Regal Paper Products Ltd. (November 19, 1984) 17 O.M.B.R. 141

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 14 (February 15, 1984) 45 O.R. (2d) 263

Pattison et al. v. Sceviour et al (October 18, 1983) 43 O.R. (2d) 229

Emily (Township) v. Johnson (March 11, 1983) 15 O.M.B.R. 371

Salvation Army, Canada East v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 22 (March 7, 1983) 21 M.P.L.R. 99

Scanti Investments Ltd. v. National Bank of Canada (March 7, 1983) 33 C.P.C. 113

Muskoka Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 19 (Re) (June 10, 1982) 13 O.M.B.R. 374

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 v. Sutton Place Ltd. (November 19, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 364

London (City) Planning Area Official Plan Amendment 154, 159, 160 & 16 (Re) (October 5, 1981) 14 O.M.B.R. 48

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. Buildevco Ltd. (April 14, 1981) 12 O.M.B.R. 467

Peterborough (City) Restricted Area By-law 1980-13 (Re) (March 6, 1981) 13 O.M.B.R. 253

Niagara Planning Area Official Plan (Re) (February 27, 1981) 11 O.M.B.R. 353

Weirdale Investments Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (C.I.B.C.) (February 6, 1981) 32 O.R. (2d) 183

Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 v. 397298 Ontario Ltd. (December 17, 1980) 12 O.M.B .R. 77

Peterborough (City) v. Smith (Township) (November 24, 1980) 12 O.M.B.R. 158

Hotel Toronto v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 9 (May 5, 1980) 11 O.M.B.R. 170

Campeau Corporation v. Gloucester (Township) (January 10, 1979) 22 O.R. (2d) 652

  • Repeatedly recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a leading lawyer in Professional Negligence matters (2022, 2023)
  • Recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2020
  • Repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in Administrative and Public Law and Real Estate Law
  • Repeatedly recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Litigation – Regulatory and Public Law, Property Law, Property Development, and Indigenous Law
  • Recipient of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators Medal for outstanding service to the administrative justice system of Ontario
  • Recipient of the Ontario Court of Appeal Medallion for contributions to the administration of justice
  • Dedicated Service Award, Canadian Bar Association – Ontario
  • Rated by Martindale Hubbell Ratings as “pre-eminent” (AV)
  • Managing Partner of WeirFoulds from 1999-2003
  • Former Member-at-Large, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
  • Co-Editor, Ontario Annual Practice, Thomson Reuters (a leading publication in civil and public law litigation)
  • Past Director, The Advocates’ Society
  • Member, International Property Tax Institute
  • Member and Past President, Canadian Property Tax Association
  • Member of the Secretariat, Civil Rules Committee
  • Past Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (Barristers’ Advisory Group – Bar Admission Course)
  • Member, Ontario Divisional Court Users Committee
  • Member of Administrative Tribunals Committee, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
  • Course Director, Policy-Making in Administrative Tribunals, Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Program in Law (LLM), Winter 2011 and Summer 2012
  • Head of Section for Public Law in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course from 1986 to 2005, prior to the Course changing to licensing examinations in 2006
  • Past Chair and Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section
  • Former Council Member, Ontario Bar Association
Called to the Bar
  • Ontario (1978)
Education
  • LL.M., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1983
  • Dip.L., University of Oxford, 1977
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1975
  • B.A., University of Toronto, 1972
Affiliations
  • ADR Institute of Ontario, Inc.
  • Canadian Institute for Administration of Justice
  • Canadian Property Tax Association
  • International Property Tax Institute
  • Lambda Alpha International (Honorary Land Economics Society)
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Toronto Lawyers Association
  • The Advocates' Society
  • The Osgoode Society
Speaking Engagements
  • Co-Chair, “Eight-Minute Administrative Law and Practice 2024”, Law Society of Ontario, Online, March 5, 2024
  • Speaker, “Property Taxes 101”, ICSC+Canadian Law, Toronto, ON, May 4, 2023
  • Speaker, “Legal and Regulatory Issues Facing Owners and Property Mangers”, PM Springfest, Toronto, ON, April 20, 2023
  • Co-Chair, “Six-Minute Administrative Law and Practice 2023”, Law Society of Ontario, Online, March 2, 2023
  • Chair and speaker, “Foundations in Adjudicative Tribunal Competencies: Insights from Reconsiderations and Appeals”, Ontario Bar Association, Online, June 22, 2022
  • Co-Chair, “Six-Minute Administrative Law and Practice 2022”, Law Society of Ontario, Online, March 1, 2022
  • Speaker, “Modernization Updates: How courts and tribunals – and we as litigators – continue to adapt to the changes necessitated by the pandemic, including a review of the upcoming changes to the Rules of Civil Procedure”, Litigating in the New Normal: What’s Next, WeirFoulds LLP, Online, November 30, 2021
  • Chair, “Foundations in Adjudicative Tribunal Competencies: Insights from Reconsiderations and Appeals”, Ontario Bar Association, Online, September 15, 2021
  • Speaker, “Assessment Appeal Preparation”, Institute of Municipal Assessors and International Property Tax Institute, Toronto (Online) June 24, 2021
  • Co-Chair, The Six-Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto (Online), March 10, 2021
  • Panelist, “Cross Country Legal Panel – Standard of Review Post Vavilov”, 54th Annual National Workshop, Canadian Property Tax Association, Calgary (Online), October 6, 2020
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “A Closer Look at Tribunals Ontario: Clustering and Expertise”, Six-Minute Administrative law and Practice, Law Society of Ontario, Toronto, ON, March 3, 2020
  • Moderator, “Crown Liability and Proceedings Act 2019: Practice and Procedure”, OBA Administrative Law/Public Sector Lawyers Program, Toronto, ON, December 4, 2019
  • Speaker, “Assessment & Taxation in Ontario: Looking Forward in Ontario Property Tax to 2020 and Beyond: Challenges and Realities”, Tribunals Ontario and Drivers for Change, 9th Annual RICS and IPTI Property Tax Seminar, Toronto, ON, November 26, 2019
  • Co-Chair, “Navigating Ontario’s New Tribunal System: Theory and Practice”, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, ON, October 30, 2019
  • Panelist, “Cross Border Legal Panel – Standard of Review”, 53rd Annual National Workshop, Canadian Property Tax Association, St. John’s, NL, September 17, 2019
  • Roundtable Speaker, “Mediation and Arbitration – Does it Work or is it More Trouble Than it is Worth?”, International Council of Shopping Centers, 2019 Canadian Law Conference, Toronto, ON, March 27, 2019
  • Speaker, “Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Building Owners & Property Managers,” PM Springfest, Toronto, ON, March 27, 2019
  • Co-Chair, The Six-Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 5, 2019
  • Panelist, “Challenges and Practical Issues: Timing, Disclosures, Board Expectations and Mediation & Resolutions”, 8th Annual RICS and IPTI Property Tax Seminar, Toronto, November 21, 2018
  • Speaker, “Tribunal Standing on Judicial Review”, Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Program in Law (LLM), Toronto, ON, November 16, 2018
  • Chair, “Assessment Case Law Update” Institute of Municipal Assessors Annual Conference, Windsor, September 18, 2018
  • Co-Chair, “Advanced Issues in Professional Regulation”, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, May 14, 2018
  • Co-Chair, “Professional Regulation Essentials”, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, May 14, 2018
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 1, 2018
  • Panelist: “Cutting through the red tape: Dealing with the difficult question of fair access” 7th Annual RICS and IPTI Property Tax Seminar, Toronto November 22, 2017
  • Speaker, “Dispute Resolution Approaches – Mediation and Arbitration”, Ontario Professional Planners Institute Conference, Collingwood, ON, October 5, 2017
  • Speaker “Top Recent Decisions Public Sector Lawyers Need to Know” OBA, Toronto, June 15, 2017
  • Co-Chair, “Charter Issues at Administrative Tribunals”, OBA, Toronto, ON, June 7, 2017
  • Speaker, “Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Building Owners & Property Managers,” Springfest, May 3, 2017
  • Roundtable Speaker, “Arbitration Clauses”, International Council of Shopping Centers 2017 Canadian Law Conference, Toronto, April 28, 2017
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 1, 2017
  • Speaker, “Administrative law – What Makes it Different “, Canadian Property Tax Association Ontario Open Forum, Toronto, February 13, 2017
  • Faculty, “MPAC Training Session: Negotiation Strategies and Techniques” The Advocates’ Society, September 20, 2016 , Toronto
  • Speaker: “Discovery-Past Present and Future Considerations “, The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario , September 14, 2016, TorontoChair and Speaker, “Municipal Tax Applications and Rebates”, Institute of Municipal Assessors Annual Conference, Niagara Falls, June 28, 2016
  • Speaker, “Special Purpose Properties: Market Value or Value to Owner”, Cross Canada Update, AEC Property Tax Solutions, Toronto, June 15, 2016
  • Panelist, “Current Issues and Challenges”, Ontario Property Tax Summit 2016, International Property Tax Institute, Niagara Falls, May 16, 2016
  • Roundtable Speaker, “Arbitration Clauses“, International Council of Shopping Centers 2016 Canadian Law Conference, Toronto, April 22, 2016
  • Speaker, “Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Building Owners & Property Managers,” Springfest, April 7, 2016
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 3, 2016
  • Co-Chair, Ontario Bar Association Annual Institute, Administrative Law “Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Expediency in the Digital Age”, Toronto, February 4, 2016
  • Speaker, Law Society of Upper Canada, “Discoveries: Five Years Post-Change”- Toronto, November 26, 2015
  • Chair, “Cross Canada Legal Update”, Canadian Property Tax Association National Workshop, Halifax, September 29, 2015
  • Panelist, “Assessment Case Law: Significant Assessment Decisions in the Past Year“, Institute of Municipal Assessors, Annual Conference, Ottawa, June 15, 2015
  • Panelist, Roundtable on Legal and Regulatory Issues for Property Managers and Owners, 21st Annual Springfest, Toronto, April 30, 2015
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, “Hot Cases and Leading Cases“, Planning & Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 16-17, 2015
  • Roundtable Speaker, “Realty Tax Grants“, International Council of Shopping Centers 2015 Canadian Law Conference, Toronto, April 15, 2015
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 10, 2015
  • Speaker, “Avoiding conflicts of interest: how the new Rules affect you“, Canadian Property Tax Association Ontario Open Forum, Toronto, February 10, 2015
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 10-11, 2014
  • Roundtable Speaker, “Arbitration Clauses” International Council of Shopping Centers 2014 Canadian Law Conference, Toronto, March 27, 2014
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 20, 2014
  • Panelist, “Safeguarding Real Estate Transactions“, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, November 13, 2013
  • Speaker, “Active Adjudication and Civility” SOAR Annual Conference, Toronto, November 7, 2013
  • Moderator, “New ARB Rules of Procedure: Challenges and Opportunities,” Institute of Municipal Assessors, Annual Conference, Kingston, June 24, 2013
  • Administrative Law Refresher and Overview, Administrative Law Practice Essentials, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, May 16, 2013
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 11-12, 2013
  • Chair, Clusters’ Update – Current and Emerging Issues, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, March 6, 2013
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, March 6, 2013
  • Speaker, Planning and Building on Professionalism: Dos and Don’ts for the Municipal Law Specialist, OBA Toronto, December 6, 2012
  • Co-Presenter, Legal and Regulatory Issues for Property Managers and Owners, Property Management Exposition & Conference, Toronto, November 28, 2012
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice, The Canadian Institute, April 19-20, 2012
  • Steering Committee & Speaker, Planning and Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 12-13, 2012
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, February 24, 2012
  • “A Guide to Judicial Review” , OBA Annual Institute, Toronto, Administrative Law Practice: Back to Basics, February 10, 2012
  • Speaker, “Legal Framework Governing Administrative Hearings: Procedural Fairness” 2nd Annual Fair Hearing Conference, Federated Press, Toronto, September 12, 2011
  • Speaker, “Devising Tribunal Rules That Work”, Canadian Institute, 11th Annual Advanced Administrative Law and Practice Conference, Ottawa, October 25-26, 2011
  • Speaker, WeirFoulds LLP 2011 Professional Development Series, Your Cornerstone Relationships; Your Practice, Your Colleagues and the Law Society, Toronto, October 13, 2011
  • Facilitator, Law Society of Upper Canada and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Professionalism and Practice Issues for Junior Litigators, Toronto, October 12, 2011
  • Co-Chair, Ontario Bar Association, Annual Update on Judicial Review, Toronto, October 4, 2011
  • Speaker, “Equity in the Assessment World”, Institute of Municipal Assessors, 55th Annual Conference, Niagara Falls, June 7, 2011
  • Speaker, “Winning Written Submissions”, The Advocates’ Society, Brown Bag Series: Winning Oral and Written Submissions, Toronto, May 25, 2011
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 14-15, 2011
  • Chair and Speaker, Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice, The Canadian Institute, April 12-13, 2011
  • Co-Presenter, Roundtable on Legal and Regulatory Issues for Property Managers and Owners, 17th Annual Springfest, Toronto, April 6, 2011
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, February 23, 2011
  • Chair, “Cross Canada Legal Update”, Canadian Property Tax National Valuation & Legal Symposium, Toronto, February 7-8, 2011
  • Speaker, “Municipal Property Taxes: New Complexities, Pitfalls, Opportunities and Strategies”, Federated Press, 12th Tax Planning for Real Estate Transactions, Toronto, January 26-27, 2011
  • Speaker, “Human Rights Code and Charter Jurisdiction”, Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario Training Seminar, Toronto, November 29, 2010
  • Speaker, “Emerging Issues from the Supreme Court”, Conference of Ontario Boards & Agencies (COBA), 22nd Annual Conference, Toronto, November 4, 2010
  • Speaker, “Equity and Assessments”, Assessment Review Board Training Seminar, Toronto, October 6, 2010
  • Co-leader and Speaker, “Fair Hearings”, Federated Press, Toronto, September 29-30, 2010
  • Speaker, “How to be a Good Expert Witness”, Canadian Property Tax Association, Inc., National Workshop, Quebec City, September 26-29, 2010
  • Speaker, “Roundtable on Legal & Regulatory Issues Facing Property Managers”, PM Expo Springfest, Toronto, April 28, 2010
  • Chair and Speaker, “Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice”, The Canadian Institute, April 19-20, 2010
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, Cambridge, April 15-16, 2010
  • Coach, “Do a Trial”, The Advocates’ Society, March 27, 2010
  • Chair, “Riparian Rights”, Ontario Bar Association, March 24, 2010
  • Speaker, “Taxes for Dummies (and Smart People Too), International Council of Shopping Centres, Canadian Law Conference, February 25-26, 2010
  • Speaker, “4th Decision Writing Workshop”, Ottawa, February 23-24, 2010
  • Co-Chair, The Six Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, February 23, 2010
  • Speaker, “National Valuation and Legal Symposium”, Canadian Property Tax Association, Inc., February 8-9, 2010
  • Speaker, “2009 National Roundtable on Administrative Law”, The Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, Halifax, May 29, 2009
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, April 28-29, 2009
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Fundamentals of Administrative Law and Practice”, The Canadian Institute, April 23-24, 2009
  • Co-Chair, The Six-Minute Administrative Lawyer, The Law Society of Upper Canada, February 24, 2009
  • Speaker, “Aboriginal Law, Consultation and Accommodation”, The Canadian Institute, February 18-19, 2009
  • Speaker, “Administrative Law 2008”, Ontario Bar Association, 18th Annual Operation Update, October 3, 2008
  • Speaker, “Standard of Review”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Administrative Law Update 2008, September 17, 2008
  • Speaker, “Administrative Law Update”, Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals (CCAT), Gatineau, June 27, 2008
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, June 9-10, 2008
  • Co-Chair, Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice, The Canadian Institute, April 28-29, 2008
  • Speaker, “Administrative Tribunals and Aboriginal Law Matters: Practical Tips and Strategies”, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, April 28, 2008
  • Speaker, “Arbitration (clauses): Do’s and Don’ts”, International Council of Shopping Centers, Canadian Law Conference, March 6, 2008
  • Speaker, “A Guide to Judicial Review”, CATC, Justice is Appealing: Effective Appellate Litigation, February 5, 2008
  • Speaker, “Privacy Issues Regarding Databases”, Canadian Bar Association, 2nd Annual Privacy Law Summit, November 5, 2007
  • Speaker, “The New Administrative Law”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, October 24, 2007
  • Speaker, “Hot Topics in Constitutional, Charter and Human Rights Law: What’s New? What’s on the Horizon?”, The Canadian Institute, Advanced Administrative Law & Practice, October 19, 2007
  • Moderator, Cross Canada Legal Update, CPTA National Workshop, Victoria, October 1, 2007
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, May 8-9, 2007
  • Speaker, “Bias and Lack of Independence: Substantive Issues”, The Canadian Institute, Fundamentals of Administrative Law Practice, April 19-20, 2007
  • Speaker, “Property Tax Issues”, International Council of Shopping Centers, 2007 Canadian Law Conference, March 1, 2007
  • Speaker, “Bits-n Bites: Additional Bill 51 Amendments”, The Planning Forum, One-Day Conference: The Planning Act: Bill 51, February 19, 2007
  • Speaker, “First Nations’ Ancestral Sites and Legal Issues”, Ontario Professional Planners Institute, Conference on Planning & Archaeology, Utopia, February 16, 2007
  • Speaker, “Getting Beyond the Backlog: Understanding Aboriginal Title, the Claims Process, Compensation Issues and Implementation Challenges”, Canadian Institute, National Conference: Aboriginal Law and Consultation, February 14, 2007
  • Speaker, “Pre-Trial Remedies: An Overview”, Ontario Bar Association, 2007 Annual Institute of Continuing Legal Education – Civil Litigation, February 5-6, 2007
  • Guest Instructor, LL.M. Programme in Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Osgoode Hall Law School, October 2006
  • Speaker, “Cross Canada Legal Update – Ontario”, Canadian Property Tax Association, National Workshop, Montreal, September 23-27, 2006
  • Moderator, “Special Taxing Regimes Pros and Cons”, Canadian Property Tax Association, National Workshop, Montreal, September 23-27, 2006
  • Commentator, “Exclusive and Concurrent Jurisdiction”, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice Roundtable, Ottawa, June 9, 2006
  • Speaker, “Unauthorized Delegation and Fettering of Discretion”, Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Law Section program, Current and Upcoming Local Government Issues, June 6, 2006
  • Steering Committee and Speaker, Planning & Development Law Forum, May 9-10, 2006
  • Co-chair, “Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice“, The Canadian Institute Conference; Speaker, “Independence and Impartiality – Recent Developments”, Toronto, April 27-28, 2006
  • Speaker, “Bill 53: A Template for New Municipal Taxation?”, Canadian Property Tax Association, April 12, 2006
  • Co-chair, New Directions in Administrative Law & Practice, Osgoode Hall Law School, National Forum, September 20 – 21, 2005
  • Speaker, “Best Practice(s) before the Divisional Court”, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section Program, June 13, 2005
  • Steering Committee, First Annual Planning and Development Law Forum, Cambridge, May 10-11, 2005
  • Co-chair, Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice, The Canadian Institute Conference, Toronto, May 2-3, 2005
  • “Best Practices and Procedures in Corporate, Commercial and Civil Litigation Case Management”, Insight Information Co., 3rd Annual Law Clerks’ Forum, Toronto, March 7-8, 2005
  • “The Tax Provisions”, WeirFoulds LLP Conference, Ontario’s New Brownfields Law, Toronto, October 27, 2004
  • Co-chair, Fundamentals of Administrative Law & Practice, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, April 22 – 23, 2004
  • “Impartiality and Independence of Administrative Decision-Making”, The Canadian Institute, Fundamentals of Administrative Law and Practice, Toronto, April 22-23, 2004
  • Chair, The Public Inquiry: Public Accountability or Distraction? Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section Program, March 30, 2004
  • “Property Tax Allocation Issues”, International Council of Shopping Centers, Canadian Law Conference, March 4, 2004
  • “Aboriginal Claims”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Best Practices for Recreational Property Transactions, March 3, 2004
  • “The Constitution and Administrative Discretion”, Ontario Bar Association, The Constitution in Your Administrative Law Practice, March 2, 2004
  • “Determining the Standard of Review: The Pragmatic and Functional Analysis”, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice Seminar, Standard of Review in Administrative Law, May 29, 2003
  • Co-chair, Meeting Your Obligations Under Ontario’s New Safe Drinking Water Act, The Canadian Institute Conference, April 7-8, 2003
  • “Standards of Judicial Review”, Annual Update on Judicial Review, January 21, 2003, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section program, cited by the Supreme Court of Canada in Toronto (City) v C.U.P.E., Local 79 [2003] 3 S.C.R. 77
  • “The Standard of Review: The Common Sense Evolution?” The Canadian Institute, Administrative Law & Practice, October 7, 2002
  • “The Municipal Revenue Function under the New Municipal Act, 2001”, The Canadian Institute, Ontario’s New Municipal Act, June 10-11, 2002
  • “Effectively Using Motions to Attack an Opponent’s Case”, The Canadian Institute, Advanced Civil Procedure Conference, Strategically Deploying the Ontario Rules to Build and Win Your Case, April 8, 2002
  • “Recourse for Clients: New Areas of Litigation”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Property Tax Assessments 2002, February 27, 2002
  • Moderator, “Effective Advocacy”, Ontario Bar Association, Annual Institute, Fundamentals of Administrative Law and Practice, January 25, 2002
  • “How to Successfully Argue a Judicial Review Application”, The Canadian Institute, December 4, 2001
  • “Getting Behind the Numbers: A Focus on Taxation of Real Property”, Canadian Property Tax Association, October 30, 2001
  • “Municipal Tax and Property Assessment Reform in Ontario”, Ontario Bar Association, Annual Institute, February 1, 2001
  • “Taking the Ontario Municipal Board to Court”, Ontario Bar Association, March 2001
  • “Leasehold Tax Apportionment”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Property Tax Assessments, January 18, 2001
  • “Practical Considerations in Divisional Court”, Ontario Bar Association, Taking the Tribunal to Court, October 20, 2000
  • Co-chair, “Administrative Tribunals 2000”, Osgoode Hall Law School, June 10, 1999
  • “Appealing Property Taxes”, Osgoode Hall Law School, Tax Appeal Procedures 1998 and Beyond, January 19, 1998
  • “The British Columbia AVA System”, Infonex, Property Tax and Assessment Reform, September 18-19, 1997
  • “Complaints and Disciplinary Proceedings Under the Regulated Health Professions Act”, The Canadian Medical Legal Conference and Dental Legal Update, June 5 – 6, 1997
  • “Minimizing Taxes on Commercial Properties”, Insight, Reducing Municipal Property Taxes, February 28, 1995
  • “Shopping Centre Apportionment”, The Canadian Institute, Real Property Assessment and Business Taxes, November 23, 1994
  • “Administrative Law in the Charter Era An Overview”, Ontario Bar Association, Charter Issues in Administrative Proceedings ­1990 and Beyond, February 8 -10, 1990
  • “Plans of Subdivision, Site Plan Agreements, Levies and the Ontario Municipal Board”, The Law Society of Upper Canada, The OMB for the Non-Specialist: Keeping It In-House, 1989
  • “Challenging Government Action: The Charter and Administrative Law” (co-authored with M.J. Dougherty), The Law Society of Upper Canada, Administrative Law: Deflecting the Glacier, 1988
Latest Insight & News

Additional Publications:

  • Ontario Annual Practice (Co-editor), annual publication on civil and public law litigation
  • “The Discretion of the Director of the Ontario Securities Commission” (1975), 13 Osgoode Hall Law Journal 735.
  • “Administrative Remedies: Tribunal Creativity and Judicial Control”, Special Lectures of the Law Society of Upper Canada, 1995.
  • In Defence of Chippewas of Sarnia Band v. Canada (Attorney General)” (2002) 81:3 Canadian Bar Review 727, co-authored with Justice Paul M. Perell.