Specialized Knowledge and Expertise

The firm’s Environmental Law group covers a wide range of areas to meet the ever expanding impact of environmental law on today’s world. Over the past decade, there have been fundamental changes in the laws governing our environment. Equally fundamental changes will continue into the future, imposing ongoing challenges for business and industry. Siskinds’ Environmental Law group is well qualified to respond to these challenges and represent clients in litigation matters and administrative proceedings, advise clients on environmental compliance issues, assist clients in obtaining permits and regulatory approvals, represent clients in obtaining financing for projects with significant environmental implications, and provide assistance on environmental issues in corporate and real estate transactions.

The Environmental Law group is not an isolated practice area, but an integrated part of the firm that provides efficient, effective representation for our clients. Our goal is to offer a practical and results-oriented approach that integrates the solution with each client’s objectives and goals.

We provide a full spectrum of environmental services and our initial focus is to avoid, mitigate and manage environmental liability and risks through prevention programs, operational and transactional due diligence, environmental risk and compliance audits, negotiations and contractual safeguards.

However, when potential environmental liabilities arise, we have extensive experience in dealing with regulatory agencies and in defending against environmental prosecutions. We also have substantial experience in enforcing parties’ private remedies – both the enforcement of contractual terms and bringing claims for environmental compensation. Our environmental lawyers strive to reduce liability and transform environmental compliance obligations into opportunities.

Ensuring environmental compliance is extremely important in these days of more aggressive enforcement of environmental laws by all levels of government, including at times the possibility of criminal penalties. This group works with clients to identify compliance issues and determine the most efficient and practical way to properly resolve those issues.

There are numerous federal, provincial and local environmental and planning laws currently in force. Our clients depend on us to address the most complex regulatory issues and to help ensure compliance with the existing myriad of laws impacting their project, business, real estate transaction, corporate deal, industrial operations or land development. Our environmental lawyers continually monitor the frequent and often confusing changes in environmental and planning law and regularly counsel and represent clients on the issuance of environmental and related land use permits.

Within the environmental practice area our Environmental Law Group is focused on the following areas.

Compliance Counselling

Compliance counselling is the foundation of our environmental practice. Siskinds' encourages a preventative approach to help clients avoid problems before a crisis occurs. We seek to find compliance solutions that enhance business opportunities while ensuring environmental protection. Our Environmental Law Group regularly assists clients in complying with federal, provincial and local environmental laws regulating air and water quality, the management, transportation, recycling and disposal of waste materials, and the protection of natural resources.

Transactional Practice

The review of land use and environmental issues, both real and potential, is a crucial step in the purchase or sale of any business or real property, as well as in leasing and financing transactions. Our breadth of experience enables us to identify environmental and land use issues at an early stage in transactions and to help protect clients from unanticipated costs and risks. Wherever possible, we help clients develop innovative solutions to land use and environmental problems that otherwise could frustrate business transactions. We also have extensive experience in brownfield redevelopment.

Permitting and Development

We assist all types of clients in obtaining the necessary land use and environmental permits and approvals. Our Environmental Law Group is experienced in all aspects of the permitting process for new or expanded industrial, energy, commercial and residential developments and we regularly deal with the myriad of agencies that regulated development in Ontario.

Environmental Litigation

Our Environmental Law Group emphasizes communication and negotiation in resolving conflicts; however, we recognize that litigation is sometimes the only practical means of protection our clients' interests. Our group has the legal and technical experience necessary to handle environmental and land use cases skilfully and cost-effectively.

Most importantly, Siskinds’ Environmental Group continually strives to provide tireless, creative and effective advocacy and solutions for our clients.