Julia Schatz has broad experience in a wide variety of commercial litigation and arbitration matters including, class actions, contractual interpretations, litigation related to the agribusiness sector, pesticide data compensation negotiations and arbitrations, environmental, construction and real estate disputes. She also advises on a broad range of regulatory matters in the agribusiness and food industries, including in relation to the registration, recall and compliance requirements in the Safe Food for Canadians Act and the Pest Control Products Act.
She has appeared before all levels of court and various administrative tribunals as well as in arbitration proceedings. In her early career she was co-counsel for a group of physicians at the Krever Inquiry into the Blood System in Canada and represented the Ontario Hospital Association at a widely publicized Coroner's inquest into the state of Ontario's hospital emergency rooms.
Environmental
Julia has particular expertise in environmental litigation and renewable energy. She has acted as lead counsel on behalf of owners, previous owners, neighbours and environmental consultants in contract, nuisance, s. 99 EPA and negligence claims related to contaminated sites and has advised clients on issues arising in relation to renewable projects, including under Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) contracts.
Pesticides, Food and Agribusiness
Julia has specific expertise in pesticide registration and regulation, having advised pesticide manufacturers and distributors, about the federal and provincial legislation and regulations governing the registration and sale of pesticide products in Canada with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, compliance matters, licencing and permit obligations and data compensation issues. Julia has also helped draft data compensation, supply, distribution, settlement, formulating, repackaging and other agreements for clients, and has assisted with final offer arbitrations on behalf of companies under the PPIP regime. Julia has also assisted clients with what constitutes a normal farm practice under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.
In addition, she has experience advising clients on the registration and licence/permit requirements for food, animal feed and fertilizers and compliance obligations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act with respect to the food supply.
Construction
Julia has strong experience in construction project disputes under CCDC 2 contracts and other contractual arrangements, including P3 arrangements. She advises owners, developers, project managers, contractors and subcontractors regarding their rights and obligations on deficiency, delay, project management and cost over-run claims, including with respect to condominium developments, and under the Construction Act.
Real Estate Litigation
Julia’s real estate-related litigation expertise extends to advising and litigating disputes regarding the escheat of forfeited property to the federal or provincial Crown, contaminated property claims, easements, restrictive covenants, cautions and certificates of pending litigation, ground rent arbitrations, issues arising in relation to agreements of purchase and sale and land transfer tax appeals. In addition, she has assisted both landlords and tenants in leasing disputes.
Memberships
Julia is a member of the Advocates' Society. She is also a member of Toronto CREW (Canadian Real Estate Women), and a member of the American Bar Association. She is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association and Women in Agribusiness. She was a long-standing executive member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section. A regular contributor to the Ontario Bar Association's Environews newsletter, Julia is a frequent speaker at professional conferences on a variety of topics including environmental litigation.
Bennett Jones