John Vellone
Biography
John has a comprehensive energy law practice covering a breadth of corporate, commercial and regulatory issues with a particular focus on Canadian electricity markets and infrastructure revitalization. He is a Partner and National Leader of Energy, Resources and Renewables Sector, encompassing the Power, Oil & Gas, Mining and Forestry sectors. His clients include Provincial and Territorial governments, system operators, regulated utilities, developers, investors, and lenders. He provides counsel concerning corporate, commercial and regulatory aspects of the electricity and natural gas industries and power project development for a variety of technologies.John also has a comprehensive technology law practice encompassing the breadth of corporate/commercial matters. He has particular experience drafting and negotiating agreements for hardware, software and information technology services.
John is on the executive of the Natural Resources and Energy Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, is an executive member of YPE (Young Professionals in Energy) of Toronto, and is a member of the Board of ZooShare Biogas Co-operative Inc. (which is developing a 500kW biogas electricity generation facility at the Toronto Zoo).
John was both a summer student and an articling student at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP before joining the Firm as an associate in 2008.
Joanna Vince
Biography
Joanna Vince, B.Sc. (Hons.), J.D., is a partner and Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. She has significant expertise representing a wide range of clients with environmental issues, civil claims and prosecutions, orders and appeals. Joanna provides advice about environmental aspects of the purchase, sale, remediation and development of contaminated land. She helps quantify and manage environmental risk, provides solutions for environmental due diligence and compliance, and assists with negotiations with environmental regulators to prevent orders and prosecutions. Joanna also helps clients navigate the environmental regulatory process, environmental assessments and approvals for manufacturing and other industry, energy, mining, natural resource and infrastructure projects, and helps clients obtain approvals for air, noise, waste and sewage.
Joanna represents plaintiffs and defendants in environmental civil litigation. She also defends individuals and companies against environmental regulatory prosecutions. Joanna appears before administrative tribunals including the Environmental Review Tribunal, Ontario Municipal Board, National Energy Board and Ontario Energy Board to appeal or uphold regulatory orders and approvals. She advocates for client interests in energy and transmission projects and pipelines.
Joanna advises First Nation and Inuit communities, resource proponents, and environmental boards and tribunals connected with natural resource development in Canada’s near and far north.
In addition to her law degree from the University of Toronto, Joanna also received a Certificate in Environmental Studies and a B.Sc., (Hons., High Distinction) in Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Toronto. Joanna is called to the bar in Ontario, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
