John J. Wilson

John is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office.

Specializing in administrative law, John helps clients navigate, settle, and, where necessary, litigate disputes with public authorities and regulators.

He works across industries and regulated sectors, including agriculture and supply management, recycling and the circular economy, universities and colleges, ports and shipping, insurance and financial services, energy, and professional regulation.

John has appeared at all levels of the Ontario and Federal Courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada, with a particular focus on judicial review and appeals.

He also acts for regulators, public bodies, and organizations who retain him on matters of statutory authority, statutory interpretation, and policy and procedure.

John also maintains a broad Aboriginal law practice. He has acted for First Nations and Inuit governments in litigation involving the duty to consult, disputed elections, and modern treaty interpretation. He was also part of the team responsible for the settlement of the McLean Indian Day Schools Class Action.

In the constitutional realm, John has broadly advised on and litigated division of powers, parliamentary privilege, and Charter issues. He has had the honour of acting as appellate counsel for both the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Speaker of the Senate.

John is co-author of Canadian Administrative Law (4th Edition), as well as Halsbury's Laws of Canada - Administrative Law, and Halsbury's Laws of Canada - Constitutional Law: Division of Powers.

He is also an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he has taught Administrative Law.

John is a graduate of the University of Oxford (BCL), Osgoode Hall Law School (JD), and Queen's University at Kingston (BA, Honours).