Christopher’s practice involves all aspects of both municipal law and land use planning and development matters. Prior to joining SV Law, he was in-house counsel to several municipalities in Southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Christopher also practised municipal, planning and land development law at a firm based in Orangeville, Ontario. He is, therefore, uniquely positioned to understand municipal law and land use planning and development matters from both public and private sector perspectives, and he brings that insight to resolving his clients’ legal issues.
The municipal law side of Christopher’s practice includes by-law and policy drafting, municipal tax sales, heritage matters, public procurement, municipal conflicts of interest, municipal elections and audits, privacy and freedom of information, ward boundary appeals, municipal restructuring, and P3 projects.
On the land development side, Christopher acts for homeowners, businesses, developers, and other private sector clients. He also represents municipalities and other public-sector bodies across Ontario.
Christopher helps his clients navigate the complex land development process. He provides strategic advice, opines on land use planning and development issues; planning- and zoning-related matters, including re-zonings, plans of subdivision, site plans, minor variances, and severances. Christopher has experience negotiating and drafting various land development agreements. He has appeared before the Ontario Land Tribunal (and its predecessors, LPAT and OMB), municipal councils and committees.
Among his other degrees, Christopher has a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in English Common Law from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and a Master of Laws (specializing in Administrative Law) from Osgoode Hall Law School. While studying towards his LL.B., he spent a term clerking for the judges of the Ontario Court of Justice. Prior to being called to the Ontario Bar, Christopher articled in the Toronto office of a leading national law firm.
In his spare time, Christopher enjoys, among other things, hiking, cycling, skiing, golf, travel, film, live theatre and concerts, and fine art appreciation.
Representative Work and Notable Transactions
- Grandview Ravines Inc. v. Brantford (City), [2015] CanLII 81802 (O.M.B.).
- Lancaster v. St. Catharines, [2013] ONSC 7631, [2012] CarswellOnt 12351, 2012 ONSC 5629 (Ont. S.C.).
- Manuel v. Ontario (Registrar, Motor Vehicle Dealers Act), [2012] 214 A.C.W.S. (3d) 271, 290 O.A.C. 185, 31 M.V.R. (6th) 75, 2012 CarswellOnt 4184, 2012 ONSC 1492 (Ont. S.C. (D.C.)).
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R. v. Kanda, [2008] O.J. No. 80, 2008 ONCA 22, 233 O.A.C. 118, 88 O.R. (3d) 732, 289 D.L.R. (4th) 304, 227 C.C.C. (3d) 417, 53 C.R. (6th) 331, 41 M.P.L.R. (4th) 199, 56 M.V.R. (5th) 1, 76 W.C.B. (2d) 398, 2008 CarswellOnt 79 (Ont. C.A.).
- 1673233 Ontario Inc. (c.o.b. Eurohaven Spa) v. Brampton (City), [2008] O.J. No. 4983, 52 M.P.L.R. (4th) 308, 244 O.A.C. 85, 173 A.C.W.S. (3d) 267, 2008 CarswellOnt 7326 (Ont. S.C. (D.C.)).
- Brampton (City) v. Dilloo, [2008] O.J. No. 2235, 90 O.R. (3d) 149 (Ont. S.C.J.).
- Re City of Brampton Zoning By-law No. 5-2007 (2007), 57 O.M.B.R. 234 (O.M.B.).
- R. v. Pawar (2007), 36 M.P.L.R. (4th) 90, 73 W.C.B. (2d) 763, [2007] O.J. No. 1566, 2007 CarswellOnt 2464 (Ont. S.C.J.).
- Grosvenor v. East Luther Grand Valley (Township) (2006), 32 M.P.L.R. (4th) 20, 53 R.P.R. (4th) 176, [2007] O.J. No. 5562, 2006 CarswellOnt 8577 (Ont. S.C.J.) affd [2007] O.J. No. 241, 2007 ONCA 55, 84 O.R. (3d) 346, 278 D.L.R. (4th) 483, 219 O.A.C. 381, 32 M.P.L.R. (4th) 1, 145 A.C.W.S (3d) 959, 2007 CarswellOnt 337 (Ont. C.A.).
- SITQ National Inc. v. RNH Holdings Ltd., 2004 CanLII 44995 (On SC).
- Walt Disney Co. v. Doe, 2002 FCT 375.
Speaking Arrangements
- “Environmental Clean-Up Orders: Not Just the Realm of the Province Any More,” presentation made at the Meeting of the Municipal Law Departments Association of Ontario, February 29, 2008.
- “Inspections vs. Investigations: Ensuring Procedural Safeguards in Municipal Law Enforcement", paper presented at the Prosecutors' Association of Ontario Fall '99 Workshop.
- Member, Law Society of Ontario
- Member, Ontario Bar Association
- Member, Wellington Law Association
- Municipal Law Departments Association of Ontario, Department Head (2009 to 2023)
- Rexdale Community Health Centre, Member of the Board of Directors (2000 to 2003)