Fogler, Rubinoff LLP has recently added three lawyers and two law clerks to our Environmental Group. This group which includes Charles Birchall, Rodney Northey, Ross Francis and Kristi Ross have worked with Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments, mining companies, First Nations, public interest groups and residents. Their experience includes providing advice in the development of federal and provincial legislation, providing advice on environmental issues that effect land use, species at risk, environmental assessment and approvals. They have appeared before various levels of the courts and tribunals with respect to environmental issues. This team, together with Fogler, Rubinoff LLP's specialists in other practice areas, can address virtually all aspects of environmental law from a corporate and litigation perspective. Additionally, Fogler, Rubinoff, LLP is very pleased to introduce this group's expertise with approvals processes to clients seeking to get their projects efficiently and effectively through the approvals processes. In less than two months, existing and new Fogler Rubinoff LLP clients are taking full advantage of this special experience and focus.
Our Environmental Team
Charles Birchall (partner, 1981 call) began his career at a major law firm in the area of corporate commercial and energy law. In the late 80s, Chuck was Chief of Staff to the then-Attorney General of Ontario. Since his return to private practice in 1989, Chuck has focused on environmental law full-time, including participation in a major environmental hearing into Ontario energy plans, transaction due diligence, and negotiations and orders respecting contaminated lands. Since 1998, Chuck has practiced outside of Ottawa, and has been retained to provide advice and participate in the development of federal legislation, including environmental protection, species at risk, and environmental assessment. Other current work includes advice to mining companies on environmental approvals and First Nation consultation. Chuck is on the Executive of the Canadian Bar Association National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law section, and teaches a course on environmental assessment and planning law at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.
Rodney Northey (partner, 1990 call) has specialized in environmental law full-time his entire career, beginning in 1990 at a large downtown Toronto law firm. He specializes in environmental assessment and approvals, and has acted as legal counsel in more than 30 reported decisions on environmental law across Canada. He has been retained by all levels of government, and has also acted for First Nations, public interest groups & residents on the environmental aspects of land use, energy, waste, transit, water, mining and aggregate activities. His recent work includes advice to the Ontario government on environmental assessment reform in the energy, transportation and waste sectors, and for public and private sector proponents facing complex federal and provincial environmental assessment and planning approvals. Rod currently teaches a graduate course on environmental protection within the Osgoode Hall Municipal Law LL.M. program. He is also recognized as a specialist in environmental law by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Both Chuck and Rod are recognized among "Canada's Best Lawyers" for environmental law. They are also named as Highly Recommended Individuals in the Practical Law Company’s (13th ed., London England) for Canada, Environmental Law.
Ross Francis (partner, 1988 call) deals with environmental issues arising as a part of commercial transactions. As well, he has assisted numerous clients in remediating contaminated properties. Following a successful career in the Canadian Football League, Ross articled with a major Toronto law firm and practiced with that firm for 5 1/2 years. He moved from there to Bramalea Inc., a large publicly traded real estate development and management company, where he served as that company's corporate secretary. Ross then came to Fogler, Rubinoff LLP in October 1995 where he has practiced as a member of the Business Law Department.
Kristi Ross (associate, 2004 call) is trained as a land use planner and has been practicing environmental law full-time in Ottawa since the start of her career, after clerking at the Federal Court of Appeal. She provides advice on environmental approvals and compliance, the remediation and risk assessment of contaminated lands and planning and zoning matters. She has also acted as counsel in matters before environmental and land use tribunals. Current work includes an appeal on behalf of a small waterpower energy proponent, and a municipality on a waste disposal site appeal. Kristi is a member of the Executive of the Ontario Bar Association's environmental law section, and shares teaching responsibilities for the course on environmental assessment and planning at the University of Ottawa described above.
Together, this team addresses virtually all aspects of environmental law from a corporate and litigation perspective.