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  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2024

    The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024

    Julie Abouchar, Charles Birchall, Richard Butler, John Donihee, Matthew Gardner, John Georgakopoulos, Marc McAree, Jacquelyn Stevens, and Joanna Vince have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Environmental Law. Marc McAree is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Municipal Law. John Donihee, Julie Abouchar, and Charles Birchall are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law.

  • Law Firm of the Year 2024 - Best Lawyers in Canada

    "Law Firm of the Year" for 2024

    Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP is named “Law Firm of the Year” for Environmental Law in The Best Lawyers in Canada, 2024 Edition!

  • 2023 Lexpert/ALM 500 Ranked Lawyer

    Marc McAree is rated Most Frequently Recommended in the 2023 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide To The Leading Top 500 Lawyers in Canada.

  • Best-Lawyers---Firm-Logo-2023

    The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023

    Julie Abouchar, Charles Birchall, Richard Butler, Matthew Gardner, John Georgakopoulos, Marc McAree, Jacquelyn Stevens, and Joanna Vince have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Environmental Law. Marc McAree is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Municipal Law. John Donihee, Julie Abouchar, and Charles Birchall are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law. In addition, Charles Birchall and John Donihee have been selected "Lawyer of the Year" for Aboriginal Law by The Best Lawyers in Canada.

  • 2022 Lexpert ALM 500 Ranked Lawyer

    2022 Lexpert/ALM 500 Ranked Lawyer

    Marc McAree is rated Most Frequently Recommended in the 2022 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide To The Leading Top 500 Lawyers in Canada.

  • Best-Lawyers---Firm-Logo-2022_2004766

    The Best Lawyers in Canada 2022

    Julie Abouchar, Charles J. Birchall, Richard Butler, Matthew Gardner, John Georgakopoulos, Marc McAree, Donna Shier, Jacquelyn Stevens, and Joanna Vince have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Environmental Law. John Donihee, Julie Abouchar, and Charles J. Birchall are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law. In addition, Julie Abouchar is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Energy Law.

  • Lexpert ALM Ranked Lawyer 2021

    2021 Lexpert/ALM 500 Ranked Lawyer

    Marc McAree is rated Most Frequently Recommended in the 2021 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide To The Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

  • Lexpert Ranked Lawyer 2021

    Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2021

    Julie Abouchar, Charles J. Birchall, Richard Butler, Matthew Gardner, John Georgakopoulos, Marc McAree, Donna Shier, Jacquelyn Stevens, and Joanna Vince have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 Edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Environmental Law. Julie, Charles, and John Donihee are also recognized in the 2021 Edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Indigenous Law.

  • Willms & Shier - Best Lawyers 2021 Firm Logo

    Best lawyers 2021

    Donna Shier, Marc McAree, Julie Abouchar, Charles J. Birchall, and John Georgakopoulos have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Environmental Law. John Donihee, Julie Abouchar, and Charles J. Birchall are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law. In addition, Julie Abouchar is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canadafor Energy Law.

  • Willms & Shier - Law Firm of the Year Badge - 2021

    Law Firm of the Year

    Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP is named “Law Firm of the Year” for the practice of Environmental Law in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.

  • 2019-LR-Lawyer

    2020 Lexpert/ALM 500 Ranked Lawyer

    Marc McAree is rated Most Frequently Recommended in the 2020 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide To The Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

  • 2020 BestLawyers_Firm_Badge

    Best Lawyers 2020

    Donna Shier, Marc McAree, Julie Abouchar, Charles Birchall and John Georgakopoulos have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2020 edition of the Best Lawyers in Canada© in the field of Environmental Law. John Donihee and Julie Abouchar are recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada© for Aboriginal Law. Julie Abouchar is also recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada© for Energy Law.

Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP represents clients on a full range of environment, Aboriginal and energy law issues.  Our dedicated legal team includes seven Environmental Law Specialists certified by the Law Society of Ontario and lawyers with backgrounds in environmental science, geology and environmental planning.

For more than 40 years, industry and individual clients, business lawyers, environmental professionals, Aboriginal communities and governments have benefitted from our innovative, practical solutions and extensive knowledge in a broad range of practice areas:

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - corporate due diligence and risk management, brownfields strategy and contaminated site remediation, environmental assessment and approvals, air emissions, odour, noise, waste, wildlife and water law

ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION -

  • Environmental Civil Litigation - prosecution or defence of environmental lawsuits
  • Environmental Regulatory Defence of Prosecutions - defence of quasi-criminal environmental prosecutions by regulatory authorities and managing regulatory investigations
  • Environmental Appeals - appeals of regulatory orders and approvals to administrative tribunals and government decision-makers

ABORIGINAL LAW - Aboriginal consultation, resource sector agreements, capacity support for Aboriginal groups and businesses, dispute resolution, litigation and training

ENERGY - renewable energy and transmission projects, regulatory approvals and appearances before energy boards

NORTHERN - environmental impact assessments, land and water regulation, wildlife law and management, water law and policy, land claims implementation and Aboriginal law North of 60

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

Judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Willms & Shier is committed to keeping you up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, Aboriginal and energy law.

Explore our range of publications and subscribe to our e-publications to keep you informed:

Speaking Engagements

Willms & Shier lawyers are frequent and highly-valued speakers at many industry and legal conference across the country. Click here to view all of our upcoming speaking engagements.

In-House Workshops & Seminars

We are pleased to develop workshops/seminars on a range of topics for clients that qualify for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE). Contact us to request a seminar.

Articles 

Our lawyers post regular and timely articles on key environmental, Aboriginal and energy law developments affecting a range of industry sectors, governments, Aboriginal communities and individuals.

News 

Books 

Webinar Series

Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP is happy to announce the launch of our Webinar Series!

Each month we will be offering a 1 hour complimentary webinar.  Our lawyers will be sharing their expertise and knowledge on various topics regarding environmental law, Indigenous, law, and energy law.

For more details on our Webinar Series and to register, check out daily our:

If you have any questions regarding the webinar series, please contact: Salila Shetty - Manager, Marketing & Business Development.  Salila may be reached by email at sshetty@willmsshier.com

Feb 14, 2024

Register Now - Environmental Law 2023 Recap

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Featured Speaking Engagement

Apr 30, 2024

The Osgoode Certificate in Mining Law - Environmental Permitting

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Featured News

Feb 13, 2024

Lexpert Business of Law - What does an environmental lawyer do?

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