John J. Wilson
John Wilson practices public law in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa 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 modern and historic treaties, contested elections, membership eligibility, and the duty to consult. He has also assisted with the submission and negotiation of claims under the Specific Claims Policy.
In the administrative law space, John has assisted various clients, including First Nations, organizations, and individuals with the preparation of judicial review applications and appeals in the federal and Ontario courts.
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 maintains an active interest in each of these areas, having published relevant work in the McGill Law Journal and the Ontario Bar Association’s Constitutional, Civil Liberties, and Human Rights Law bulletins.
Before joining Gowling WLG, John earned his Juris Doctorate at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he worked as a research assistant for two Osgoode 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.