John J. Wilson
John Wilson practises public law in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office — chiefly in the areas of Indigenous, administrative and constitutional law.
As part of Gowling WLG’s Indigenous Law group, John has assisted First Nations in litigation involving the interpretation and application of modern and historic treaties, resource revenue sharing, contested elections, membership eligibility, and the duty to consult. He also advises First Nations clients in self-government negotiations and on the submission and negotiation of claims under the Specific Claims Policy. He also has experience in Indigenous class action litigation.
In the administrative law space, John has assisted various clients, including First Nations, organizations, and individuals in judicial review applications in various courts. He has appeared before the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
John has also advised on division of powers and Charter issues, including freedom of association, equality rights, and rights to life, liberty and security of the person. He is co-author of Halsbury’s Laws of Canada, Constitutional Law: Division of Powers.
John also coaches a team at the Kawaskimhon National Moot, an annual Indigenous law moot hosted by law schools across Canada.
Before joining Gowling WLG, John earned his Juris Doctorate at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he worked as a research assistant for two professors on Indigenous and constitutional law issues. Prior to law school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts, Honours, in Philosophy from Queen’s University where he sat on the Alma Mater Society’s Judicial Committee.