John Georgakopoulos

Partner

Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by The Law Society of Ontario

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Address:
  • 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900
    Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 2V6
Phone:
416-862-4826
Email:

Bio

John Georgakopoulos devises focused strategies to resolve complex environmental legal issues for clients.

John was formerly a scientist with Ontario’s environmental regulator. He uses his extensive technical knowledge and environmental legal experience to create clear and actionable plans to achieve clients’ objectives.

John has significant experience advising clients on various environmental legal issues including environmental aspects of corporate commercial and real estate transactions, contaminated site and brownfield redevelopment, environmental risk and liability management, environmental due diligence, regulatory approvals and compliance, air emissions, noise and odour management, greenhouse gases, carbon trading and climate change disclosure, the import and export of products, engines and chemical substances, environmental insurance, and environmental litigation.

His diverse client base includes industrial manufacturers, waste management companies, agricultural businesses, property developers and real estate investment trusts (REITs), lenders, insurers, and municipalities.

John assists clients with regulatory inspections and investigations, provides strategic advice to help clients maintain compliance with environmental laws, and negotiates resolutions with regulators on behalf of clients. John litigates environmental claims, including defence of environmental prosecutions, administrative appeals and hearings, and environmental civil litigation.

John is recognized as a leading environmental law practitioner in Canada and is a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario. He is a repeatedly recommended Leading Lawyer by Lexpert in environmental law and is acknowledged by his peers by being named to the Best Lawyers in Canada for environmental law.

Education

  • Certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario (2016)
  • Called to the bar of Alberta (2013)
  • Called to the bar of Ontario (2008)
  • LL.B., University of Ottawa (2007)
  • M.Sc., Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto (1999)
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Environmental Science and Management, University of Toronto (1997)

Organizations

  • Canadian Brownfields Network—member (2015-)
  • Air & Waste Management Association—Board Member, Ontario Section (2011-)
  • Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association—Vice President and Board Member (2009-)
  • Ontario Bar Association and Canadian Bar Association—member (2008-)
  • Law Society of Ontario—member

News

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Work Highlights

  • Environmental Litigation: Settlement of Environmental Civil Litigation About Contaminant Migration

    Represented commercial property owners to negotiate a settlement in favour of the clients in excess of $1 million for migration of contamination from a former gas station onto the clients’ properties.

  • Environmental Litigation: Appeal of ECAs for Food Manufacturers

    Representing multiple food manufacturing clients to oppose the issuance of Environmental Compliance Approvals to a neighbouring industrial operation with high environmental risk.

  • Environmental Litigation: Defence of ECA Appeal Before the Environmental Review Tribunal

    Defending the appeal of a client’s Environmental Compliance Approval for a wastewater treatment system and stormwater system before Ontario’s ERT.

  • Regulatory Approvals and Compliance: Response to Federal Investigations of On–Road and Off-Road Vehicle and Engine Importers

    Represented on-road and off-road engine and vehicle importers during investigations about compliance with federal air emissions standards. Prepared due diligence submissions, resulting in closure of the investigations without regulatory prosecution.

  • Regulatory Approvals and Compliance: Environmental Regulatory Advice to International Steel Manufacturer

    Advising a steel manufacturing client about regulatory requirements for air, noise, odour and waste management issues. Assisting client to obtain regulatory approvals including an Environmental Compliance Approval for an on-site landfill.

  • Regulatory Approvals and Compliance: Environmental Regulatory Compliance Advice to Major Petroleum Company

    Advised a multinational oil and gas company about responding to complex regulatory matters concerning industrial environmental approvals. Responded to regulatory investigations and neighbouring complaints. Guided client through inspections, investigations and requirements by the environmental regulator, resulting in the client avoiding regulatory enforcement action.

  • Environmental Risk and Liability Protection: Environmental Law Advice to Estate and Estate Trustees

    Provided environmental legal advice to estates and estate trustees to minimize and manage environmental liabilities associated with contaminated property held by the estate.

  • Environmental Risk and Liability Protection: Municipal Acquisition of Federal Harbour

    Advised a municipality about potential environmental risks, obligations and liabilities  (civil and regulatory) associated with the client’s acquisition of a federal harbour with contamination issues. Advised on environmental terms to be negotiated in the divestiture agreement to address environmental liability.

  • Environmental Risk and Liability Protection: Procurement of Financing to Develop Contaminated Site

    Assisted a developer client to obtain $10 million in construction financing for commercial development on contaminated land. Prepared submission to lender explaining potential exposure to environmental liability associated with the transaction.

  • Environmental Risk and Liability Protection: Strategic Environmental Law Advice for a REIT

    Advising a real estate investment trust with a portfolio value of approximately $2 billion about environmental risks and liabilities associated with its portfolio. Created action plan for addressing and ranking environmental issues and setting priorities or action to deal with environmental risks and liabilities as part of the client’s environmental management program.

  • Environmental Risk and Liability Protection: Environmental Due Diligence on Share Purchase

    Provided strategic legal advice to a multinational industrial client on a $1.65 billion share purchase. Represented the client during negotiations concerning environmental risks and liabilities associated with complex industrial facilities impacting the transaction.