John George Pappas

John’s passion for local government and his analytical approach to solving complex legal problems make him a valued team member and trusted advisor. Leveraging his past experience working in municipal government, John draws on his knowledge of the unique challenges faced by the municipal sector to provide thoughtful and practical advice to clients.

John is a partner in the firm’s Municipal, Land Use Planning & Development Group. He practises in all areas of local government and municipal law, as well as development law. John appears regularly before municipal councils, committees and boards, various administrative tribunals and agencies, and the Ontario Courts. He provides counsel and representation to municipalities across Ontario on various matters, including municipal powers and jurisdictional issues, ethics and governance, building regulation, by-law drafting and enforcement, and complex commercial/contractual issues. John also has significant experience in municipal elections law, including advising municipal clerks and administrators on the operation of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 , acting as independent legal counsel to several municipal compliance audit committees and assisting with prosecutions of election campaign finance offences.

As a member of the firm’s Municipal Accountability Group, John acts on integrity commissioner matters and closed meeting investigations.

Outside of the office, John is an avid fly fisher and is a member of Trout Unlimited Canada.

Speaker, "This Post From Olivia Chow Has Us Asking Some Questions About Election Rules," The Deb Hutton Show, iHeartRadio (April 14, 2026).

Speaker, "There's a Statistical Tie in the Mayoral Race," The Deb Hutton Show, NewsTalk 1010 (March 4, 2026).