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Gabrielle K. Kramer

Partner

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6113

Expertise

Elyn Minassian

Practice Assistant

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6429

Gabrielle provides environmental risk management strategies to both public and private clients, directing complex environmental claims, advising on new and historic losses, defending regulatory proceedings and advising on transactions. Gabrielle also advises on related insurance issues, municipal law, expropriations law and real estate issues having acted as counsel in numerous cases.

Gabrielle has extensive appellate experience and has represented clients before all of the courts in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. She represents a variety of private and public-sector clients before the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Gabrielle is a member of the firm's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiative.

She serves clients in English and French.

Gabrielle provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Experience

  • Counsel to Husky Oil Operations Limited, defending and prosecuting environmental claims, negotiating lease transactions and providing strategic advice with respect to environmental issues.
  • Acted for U.S.-based venture capital firm Bedrock Industries in acquisition of Stelco steel manufacturing plants for approximately CAD $500 million. The transaction included arrangements governing historic environmental liabilities.
  • Acted for Brookfield Homes (Ontario) Limited in successful summary judgment against claim for $6 million for alleged toxic mould exposure.
  • Prosecuting and defending varied environmental litigation for industries and private individuals; defending environmental offences; and conducting discoveries, pre-trials, trials, arbitrations, appeals, mediations and negotiations.
  • Providing insurance coverage services, including legal opinions, litigation and document management services to leading insurers respecting environmental insurance issues.
  • Providing coverage advice to excess insurer of Enbridge in respect of Michigan oil spill; serving as counsel to American Defence Committee in Exxon litigation involving refineries and service stations across the United States and Canada.
  • Drafting environmental insurance policies for a number of leading insurers.
  • Defending professional liability claims, including for environmental consultants, environmental contractors, real estate appraisers, listing agents and brokers.
  • Advising on environmental aspects of corporate, commercial and real estate transactions, including the conduct of extensive environmental due diligence in connection with both international and Canada-wide acquisitions and financing transactions.
  • Defending and challenging the exercise of public administrative authority.
  • Acting in projects including Toyota Development in Woodstock, and York Region Rapid transit, road extensions and widening, intersection installations, landfill sites, reservoir sites, and sewage treatment.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Ontario Bar Association, Environmental Law and Municipal Law Sections
  • Member, The Advocates' Society
  • Past-president, Ontario Expropriation Association

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer judge, Environmental Law Moot
  • OBA Environmental Law Mentorship Program

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2022) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Environmental Law).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2022) ofChambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Environmental - Nationwide).
    • Environment: Toronto-based Gabrielle Kramer represents a range of public and private clients, including municipalities and oil and gas companies, engaged in regulatory proceedings and contamination disputes.
    • Environment: "I have been impressed with Gabrielle, her subject matter knowledge and her knowledge of sector experts."
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2022) of Chambers Global (Environment).
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition (and since 2016) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Insurance Law).
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition (and since 2019) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Environmental Law) and in 2024 for Insurance Law.
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2022) of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1992
  • JD, University of Toronto, 1990
  • BA (Hons.), University of Toronto, 1987