Justin’s practice focuses on administrative and public law, defamation and privacy law, and commercial litigation. His clients appreciate his clear thinking, sound judgment, practical advice and strong courtroom advocacy skills.
In his administrative and public law practice, Justin represents clients in judicial reviews, as well as in hearings before tribunals, including the Ontario Securities Commission, sports law tribunals, academic discipline tribunals and human rights tribunals. He also acts as independent legal counsel to a number of regulators.
Justin has represented clients in constitutional challenges involving freedom of expression, voting rights, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure and other Charter protections.
Justin acts for clients in defamation cases. He has a particular interest in “anti-SLAPP” proceedings, having written and lectured on this topic and represented interveners before the Supreme Court on the leading cases in this area. Justin also has experience in proceedings for extraordinary relief that often arise in defamation cases, including Norwich Pharmacal orders, injunctions and de-indexing/“take-down” orders. Justin acts for media parties in seeking access to court documents, as well as resisting publication bans and production orders. He also advises clients on the civil and regulatory aspects of privacy law, having recently authored a book chapter on this topic.
In his commercial law practice, Justin represents clients in litigating contract and shareholder disputes, oppression remedy cases, employment law matters, commercial fraud cases, defending against class proceedings, and a wide range of other commercial disputes. He has taught courses on contract law and professional discipline at Wilfrid Laurier University’s business school, where he graduated with a BBA in 2006 (gold medalist).
Justin has developed an expertise in the area of civil forfeiture proceedings. He has twice been appointed as amicus curiae in civil forfeiture cases and has published a “primer” on the subject (in For the Defence magazine).
Justin holds a J.D. from the University of Toronto. In 2009-2010, he served as law clerk to the Hon. Justices Laskin, Goudge and MacFarland of the Ontario Court of Appeal. He teaches administrative law and serves as the co-editor of the Stockwoods Administrative and Regulatory Law Case Review. In addition to having his work published in academic journals and legal magazines, Justin’s writing has appeared in the op-ed pages of the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and National Post, and he has been a featured guest on CBC Radio’s As It Happens and the Canadaland podcast.
Updated July 2023
