Jennifer Lynn Danahy

Jennifer Danahy is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office, practising exclusively in the area of environmental law.

As a solicitor, Jennifer works proactively with clients to deliver timely, practical legal advice on environmental matters. This includes providing advice to lenders, borrowers, vendors and purchasers in relation to the environmental aspects of corporate transactions, assisting clients with the design and implementation of Environmental Management Systems and Best Management Practices, and the conduct and review of compliance audits.

Jennifer works closely with General Counsel and Environmental Health and Safety managers to provide guidance on compliance options, and advice to boards of directors, following the conduct of audits. She also helps clients anticipate and respond to new developments in environmental law, and provides regular training on environmental due diligence.

Jennifer is also an experienced litigator, appearing regularly before the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Divisional Court. Her tribunal practice includes arguing successful appeals of Ministry of the Environment (MOE) orders and instruments and responding to challenges brought by neighbours or citizens' groups under the Environmental Bill of Rights , the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA).

Jennifer's court practice includes the defence of environmental prosecutions at the municipal, provincial or federal level, handling civil law litigation involving contaminated sites, and administrative law proceedings. Her environmental defence work can involve municipal by-law violations, charges under the federal Fisheries Act or Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 , or provincial legislation such as the EPA or OWRA. Civil law litigation involves bringing or defending claims involving contaminated sites, while administrative law proceedings typically seek to have a government decision declared invalid, or to enforce or to restrain a specific government action.