Background

Rick Coburn is a partner practising in our Toronto office. Rick graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1990.

Areas of Practice

Rick practises environmental law, with an emphasis on environmental aspects of Brownfields development, corporate acquisitions and financing. He acts as defence counsel on regulatory prosecution and also appears regularly before the Ontario Municipal Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Rankings and Recognitions

• Martindale-Hubbell BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 Peer Review Rating

Professional Experience

• Advised on environmental aspects of numerous corporate, commercial and real estate transactions, including the conduct of extensive environmental due diligence in connection with Canada-wide acquisitions and financing transactions.
• Provides advice on project-based environmental approvals, including major construction and energy projects.
• Counsel before the Ontario Municipal Board on environmental, and national haulage planning matters and appears before the Environmental Review Tribunal on appeals relating to clean-up orders.
• Represents public and private sector clients on a full range of land and planning approvals, including official plan and group amendments, site plan control, and building permit issue.

Professional and Community Activities

• Co-Author of Toxic Real Estate Manual (Canada Law Book) updated annually.
• Other publications include "The Due Diligence Defence and Continuing Discharges" (1992), 3 J.E.L.P. 121; "The Federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process" (1991), 5 M.P.L.R. (2d) 324; "Role and Use of Environmental Audits" for the Environmental Regulation Course (Executive Enterprises, Inc.: 1991 and 1992); "Directors and Officers Liability for Environmental Harm" in The In-House Lawyer; "R v. Bata Industries Ltd. and the Evolving Content of Due Diligence", [1996] IJIL 137.