Lawyer Profile
John M. Buhlman
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
John Buhlman is an experienced litigator who acts on complex environmental and commercial litigation. A key part of his practice involves advising clients on regulatory compliance with environmental laws.
John is the former head of the firm’s litigation practice. With degrees in both engineering and law, he practises in the areas of environmental law, litigation, and administrative law, and has appeared as counsel on matters in all levels of the courts in Ontario, and before several administrative tribunals, including the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Board of Directors of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, the Commercial Registration Appeal Tribunal, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. John also acts as a mediator and arbitrator and is a Mediation and Arbitration Member of the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Ontario.
John assists clients in resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. He acts regularly in complex cases involving commercial disputes, injunctions, real estate issues, shareholder disputes, environmental claims, environmental law issues, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, insurance coverage, class actions, and torts.
John acts for Pit and Quarry owners with respect to approvals under the Aggregate Resources Act.
John acted for a multi-national chemical company in defending against Orders issued by the Ministry of the Environment relating to contamination of groundwater. After the longest environmental hearings in Ontario, the case was settled advantageously for his client. John also acted for the same client defending lawsuits arising out of the contamination. The claims were all settled.
John successfully defended a retailer in a multi-billion dollar class action relating to PVC mini-blinds containing a lead stabilizer. The action was dismissed early on a motion for summary judgment.
John successfully acted for a landlord seeking to recover substantial damages for breach of a lease from a tenant which held the lease through a shell company. The action was settled advantageously for his client.
John acted in the leading case on the inspection powers of a Provincial Officer working for the Ministry of the Environment.
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1981 (ON)