John Wilkinson

Partner

Toronto
416.947.5010

John Wilkinson

Experience

Practice Areas

John Wilkinson practises corporate and commercial law for businesses and not-for-profit organizations and institutions. His experience spans the education sector, IP/IT and privacy, professional regulation and sports law.

Clients for whom John works range from public companies to owner-managed businesses, and from universities to private foundations. John’s expertise includes law related to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder agreements, commercial employment agreements, risk management, intellectual property, charities, sports and Olympic law and professional regulation.

Significant Transactions

John has acted in mergers, acquisitions, financings, outsourcing transactions and public-private arrangements.

Awards

  • Recipient of the 2019 John Hackett Memorial Award by the Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS)
  • Recipient of the 1995 Province of Ontario Volunteer Service Award

Professional Activities

  • President, Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Western Ontario: Confidential Information, Access and Privacy, 2008
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Western Ontario: Confidential Information, Access and Privacy, 2006
Called to the Bar
  • Ontario (1987)

Education
  • LL.B., Dalhousie University, 1985
  • B.A. (Hons.), University of Toronto, 1982
  • Canadian Securities Course, Canadian Securities Institute, 1987
Affiliations
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • President of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS)
  • National Association of Colleges and University Attorneys
  • Toronto Board of Trade
  • Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club

Community Involvement

Member of the Mayor’s Pan/Parapan American Games Reference Group

Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC)

Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Sports Council and Toronto Emerging Athletes Mentorship (TEAM) Fund

Corporate Directorship

Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC)

Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Sports Council and Toronto Emerging Athletes Mentorship (TEAM) Fund

Board Member of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES)

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Learn about the updated Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act", WeirFoulds LLP, October 18, 2021
Speaker, "What Universities and Colleges Look for in Locating Campuses and Satellite Campuses", WeirFoulds Municipal Infrastructure Forum, Etobicoke, Ontario, September 12, 2017
Speaker, "Crisis Management: Expecting the Unexpected –- Practical and Legal Responses to the Inevitable", Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation Conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 2-3, 2016
Speaker, "The Intersection of Privacy, Social Media & The Workplace", WeirFoulds LLP, Toronto, Ontario, October 20, 2016
Speaker, "Crisis Management: Expecting the Unexpected –- Practical and Legal Responses to the Inevitable", Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation Conference, Toronto, Ontario, September 2-3, 2016
Presenter regarding "Canada and Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Legislation, and CRA Audits" at the Not-For-Profit and Charity Finance Leadership Certificate program offered by the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario's Professional Development Institute on Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Speaker, "BYOD and Privacy", WeirFoulds Employment & Labour Group Client Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, April 17, 2015
Co-presenter, "Workplace Whistleblowing: Elements & Considerations", 2015 Professional Development Seminar, WeirFoulds LLP, February 24, 2015
Presenter, "Policy-Making and Legal Risk Management" on February 12, 2015 at the "2nd High Level Policy Development Course" (a Federated Press event)
Presenter, "Corporate Records Management" at 15th General Counsel's Role in Maximizing Board Effectiveness in Toronto (Federated Press) on December 2 & 3, 2014

Publications

Legend: GeneralLitigationPropertyCorporateGovernment

News

Legend: GeneralLitigationPropertyCorporateGovernment

In the Media

Legend: GeneralLitigationPropertyCorporateGovernment

Printable PDF (opens in new window)
Media Contact