Tom is the former Chair of our Administrative Law Group and practices municipal law, land use planning and development and administrative law. His practice focuses on land use law with a particular emphasis on matters leading to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, the Assessment Review Board and the Niagara Escarpment Commission. He has appeared regularly before courts of various jurisdictions including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Divisional Court.
Tom’s practice includes a full range of development applications and planning matters acting for municipalities, developers and ratepayers’ groups. These applications have ranged from commercial developments to plans of subdivision and non-profit housing co-ops, to rural severances and minor variances. He regularly advises municipalities on a variety of municipal and planning matters. He has substantial experience in expropriation matters as well as assessment appeals. He has a great deal of experience in matters under the Niagara Planning and Development Act, including submissions to the Niagara Escarpment Commission and appeals under the Act.
EDUCATION
- Admitted to Ontario Bar – 1972
- LL.B, University of Western Ontario – 1970
- B.A., University of Western Ontario – 1967
- Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in municipal law: local government and land use planning and development
ASSOCIATIONS
- Member – Law Society of Ontario
- Member – Ontario Bar Association, a branch of the Canadian Bar Association
- Former Member of the Executive of the Municipal Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association
- Member and former President – Lincoln County Law Association
- Former Member of the Board of Directors of the St. Catharines Downtown Association
- Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Symphony
- Former Member of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels
- Former Member of the Board of Directors of Hospice Niagara
- Long-time active Member and Honorary Solicitor of St. Thomas Anglican Church, St. Catharines
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Speaker at several Ontario Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Programs
- Co-author of “A User’s Guide to Municipal By-laws”
