John De Vellis

John's multi-faceted practice includes commercial litigation, condominium law, labour and employment law, education, professional negligence, and energy law. His experience includes everything from counseling investors in major fraud cases to serving clients in wrongful-dismissal suits.

As a member of the firm's Renewable Energy law practice, John has represented customer and industry groups in hearings before the Ontario Energy Board. He assists renewable-energy developers with corporate issues, commercial agreements, land acquisition, and regulatory issues pertaining to the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-inTariff (FIT) program. The FIT program is North America's first comprehensive and guaranteed, pricing structure for energy generated from renewable sources.

John joined the firm in 2006 after spending three years with another firm practicing civil litigation and corporate/commercial law, and one year as legal counsel to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which is a consumer rights organization based in Ottawa.

John is a lawyer with a strong attachment to the community. When in law school, he spent eight months working at a legal aid clinic in Toronto's Parkdale community, and he currently offers his time to a Long-Term Disability and Employment Law Clinic run by Wellspring, a not-for-profit organization that helps cancer patients. He has also volunteered with Pro Bono Law Ontario, which provides legal counsel to those who can't afford representation. In addition, he is on the board of a community-run daycare centre, and he coaches young soccer players.

John has also spoken on such topics as Social Media in the Workplace and has been a guest judge for students at Osgoode Hall Law School and Sheridan College and a guest instructor at Humber College.

John graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002. Prior to law school, he earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from York University, and a Master of Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto. He has worked as an Economist with the Ontario Ministry of Finance.